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300 2.8 ED IF

Author	Post

Posted by iPlaid: Thu May 2nd, 2013 11:01

1^st Post

Ok - so I have an opportunity to purchase one of these older AF fast tele lenses for a pretty decent price. I'm going on a safari in 3 weeks and I am contemplating buying this and taking it instead of my 80-400. I have a D3s and a D7100 as well as a 70-200 and both 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters.

The big question - should I buy this lens? I can probably sell it for at least what I'll pay for it (beats 600 dollar rental fee). Do I really need it? Yes, it's fast -but it's also heavy. Shouldn't I be ok with the 80-400 and other gear?

Talk me out of this guys...or talk me into it...I'm really torn. (It's not the VR version, nor the AF-S version - so it is older, but it is in excellent condition).

Posted by Robert: Thu May 2nd, 2013 13:08

2^nd Post

Buy it, so long as the focus is snappy.

Good glass doesn't guarantee good photographs but it sure helps, especially in adverse conditions.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by jk: Thu May 2nd, 2013 16:12

3^rd Post

If it is the AFI version then I would say get it if you really need it. It wil lbe useful for your eventing pictures as well.

If it is AF-D then you would be better off with the 80-400.

Personally I would take the 80-400 on safari as with modern cameras the 'reach' is more important than the max aperture.

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Posted by iPlaid: Thu May 2nd, 2013 16:15

4^th Post

That's a good point - I have a D3s and a D7100 and both work really well with high ISO (if necessary). In fact - I regularly sell shots that I have done at 8000iso for indoor horse events because that's what I have to work with! With RAW, it's really not that bad either...

The 80-400 is much lighter - but does need to be stopped down for sharpness.

Posted by jk: Thu May 2nd, 2013 16:46

5^th Post

iPlaid wrote:
That's a good point - I have a D3s and a D7100 and both work really well with high ISO (if necessary). In fact - I regularly sell shots that I have done at 8000iso for indoor horse events because that's what I have to work with! With RAW, it's really not that bad either...

The 80-400 is much lighter - but does need to be stopped down for sharpness.
That is my thought as well! But with lens stopped down to f8 you should be OK. There is plenty of light in Africa except at either end of the day.

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Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Fri May 3rd, 2013 01:51

6^th Post

I,
A word of caution:
If you have Nikon TC-E tele-converters, they may not be compatible with pre-AF-I/AF-S lenses (unless the TC has been modified).
Regards, Gilbert

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