What telephoto lenses do Nikon users use for wildlife?

[Markulous]

I'm not a Nikon user, using Canon 20/30/40D (moved to Canon for business reasons) but would swap to Nikon if I could afford to and use:
Canon 100-400 IS which achieves OK results (love the 'pump' focus as makes it easy to zoom and manual focus)
Canon 300mm f/4 IS which achieves great results
Sigma 105mm which is great
Sigma 150mm which is nearly as good
Sigma 150-500 OS which is my current preferred - great OS (much better than Canon), faster AF than Canon, sensible strap, good results
Kenko 300 pro 1.4x TC
Canon 1.4x TC

[Tobyh]

I'm a Nikon user (D300) and mainly at this point I use a Sigma 50-500. It's a good lense but does have it's limitations of course. I'm currently looking to get a decent prime but cost is appalling at the moment.

I've been looking at the 300mm F2.8 prime with the idea of using converters but I'm really struggling to find decent pictures as examples. Maybe I'm too picky but the ones I have seen I think I'm matching with my Bigma - just haven't found the right set of examples I think. I'd ideally like a Sigma 500mm prime but they are scarce on s/h market (i know where just one is) and it's still a hefty chunk of change.

I also use a Sigma 180mm for macro work and with a TC can be used for close birdy work too.

TobyH

[RichBrew]

Originally Posted by momji1971

The only problem I can see changing to a ff sensor would be at the moment your 100-400 has an equivalent view of a 150-600mm lens (might be more on canon). Your gonna lose a lot of reach. .

What you lose in reach you gain in shallower depth of field, thus better isolation of subjects with long lenses.

I have two 300mm lenses that I use, both for wildlife and landscape photography. The f/4 AF-S Nikkor, which can focus down to five feet or so, and the f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor, which has to be shot with to appreciate its qualities.

Both of the lenses have superb optics and are of metal construction, taking the TC-14EII tele-converter with virtually no loss of image quality, although it is wise to stop the lens down one stop when using it, giving maximum apertures of f/5.6 and f/4 respectively.
I shoot the 300mm f/2.8 wide open all the time as things don't improve at smaller apertures, which is also a boon in low-light situations. I use the f/4 version when I want to travel light. This lens also produces excellent image quality when used at maximum aperture.

RichBrew

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Anyone got four and a half grand spare?

A mere bagatelle!

The Olympus Zuiko 300m f2.8 is £5500! Mind you, it weighs 3Kg.

Jim

[Jonsfotos]

Originally Posted by DanJeffery

I don't want this to degenerate into a Canon vs Nikon vs other formats debate/argument.

I am a canon user contemplating switching to Nikon. One of the things holding me back is that I love my canon 100-400L lens.

I wonder, Nikon users, what long lenses do you use for wildlife photography?

Dan,
I use the Nikon 300AFS F4 with Nikon D700 & D200 bodies with the TC1.4 AND 1.7 Converters.Used in conjunction with a Gitzo monopod,it is light, easy to carry and I have had some lovely images (birds in the main ).However , i have been very impressed in what i have seen of the Canon 40D and the 400 F5.6 USM setup.The images i have seen have been first class and the sharpness is excellent.The only gripe i have with Nikon, is there is nothing similar to the Canon in the Nikon range in prime lenses, except the 400 2.8 AFS VR and at over six thousand in price,...ouch !!.Apart from the very robust Nikon camera Chassis, i can see no point in changing over if I were using Canon equipment.With my set up, i just try that bit harder to get closer to my subject.

Jon