Nikon / Nikkor telephoto lens advice please!

[nigel_b]

D300s should focus just fine.

[DOXHOPE]

Im a great exponant of the f4 1.4tc combo, because it works so, so well...and after hearing about the use of the 1.7 I may invest in this too..just loosing 2 stops of light has always frightened me.
I totally agree with the above about using a good lense on a mediocre camera, the lense for me is so important. I now shoot with the f4 combo on a D300 and D700 I keep the D700 for low light situations as I can shoot up to 1600iso with no work on noise reduction in phototshop, and to 2400 with some work on images.
I also shoot totally hand held, but, I am now contemplating getting one of those tripod things..
A GSW taken in poor light, (iso 1600) using the Nikon F4 1.4 combo..

[KentYeti]

Lovely photo indeed.

Yes, the tripod was a bit of a step for me. Much pride to swallow. And it does almost limit me to perching or slow moving birds when I am using it. Altough I am not far off getting some decent shots of Avocets coming into land at Oare with it as their flight plan is quite predictable and fairly slow.

I think what we are showing here is that a Nikon set up based around a 300mm prime lens is a fairly good way to go.

Bryan

[DOXHOPE]

Originally Posted by Jonsfotos

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Definitely get the 1.7 Converter Nigel, you will not regret it.I use mine on a 300mm AFSII 2.8 and have had some great shots.The Goldfinch was taken only this morning and in less than ideal conditions.The 300 is a heavy lens to lug around all day so the 300 F4 would be a better choice if one is on the move a lot.Results are excellent using this converter at all apertures and i have no regrets in buying it.It also works fine on the 300 F4 AFS.

Jon

That is a very good image of a malegoldfinch..well done

[cdbdi]

Originally Posted by KentYeti

A lot of good common sense there.

But re a tripod. I've taken all my shots with the 300mm on it's own, hand held. No problem at all. Just about essential as well not to use one for BIF. Also managed BIF OK with the 1.4 TC on with no tripod. Working up to using the 1.7TC hand held now. Not there yet but it will come.

And yes, very hard on my left shoulder. Using a lot of Max Strength Heat Rub to ease the pain and swelling.

But for very fast moving, close up shots of BIF, (the Hobby being a perfect example), both myself and a number of others I stood with in May at Stodmarsh had to come down to 300m alone for those birds. And using a tripod would almost certainly have meant no photos of them in flight.

But I have just started using a tripod for the first time ever in daylight for still photography, (after 50 years of hand held still photography!). For shots of things like my garden Gold Finches and Robins where I am slowly moving closer to them, and am using a tripod so I can stop down to get a reasonable depth of field of them perching. I.e using a slow shutter speed and 100 ISO or close to that. As well as being able to have the camera fixed pointing at the main perching spot, so I don't have to move it when they arrive. Using my old video back up tripod. A Manfrotto with a pan handle and a fluid head. Not as good as my Vinten Vision 5, but still very useful. And it just fits in the boot of my VW Polo. The Vinten Vision most certainly will not!

This shot, by the way, was taken this morning. Nikon D80, Nikon 300mm Prime plus Nikon 17TC. I.e a 500mm F6.7 combo.

At first glance it looks very ordinary. Because it is!

But it's the first solo visit I've seen of one of this years young Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

And the weather was appalling. Very dull and damp. Really very gloomy indeed. And shot through the closed double glazed panels of my kitchen window.

1/125 sec, 400 ISO and F6.7, (just showed as "low"). But underexposed by a full stop as I didn't want to go lower than 1/125th sec. But shot in RAW, so edited easily.

Oh. "Hand held" too! Left hand cupping the very front of the lens hood and resting on the very, very narrow wooden strip of the Georgian style window panels. Have to cup it with my hand as the lens hood will not rest on that narrow strip of wood without being held.

I think it says a great deal indeed about the combination of the Nikon 300mm Prime with the 1.7 TC.

The 300 f4 certainly does give some impressive shots. You are right about the tripod, on some shots its impossible to use one. I am the same as everyone else when if I don't have to take it with me I feel better afterwards! lol. The extra quality it can give is subtle especially if cropping the image later on, I can't remember percentages about sharpness lost etc, I guess it depends on the type of picture you are taking as you pointed out. Ie, tripod a must with landscapes, and macro shots.

I must also get out of the habit of using my own terms for equipment, my own personal dictionary! I always refer to prime lenses as a higher f value, from f2.8-f1.4, not just the fixed focal length. My failing there, being self taught as well.

I did have a Sigma AF400mm f5.6, not the best lens in the World but got some pretty good shots with it handheld too before it gave up the ghost. Taken on a D300.

A fieldfare.

[pedalman]

I know this post is a lot late but ive just joined the forum and stumbled across this thread.
I read some one saying that £1000+ lens might be wasted on them because they are a complete novice ............wrong, good quality lenses are never wasted on anyone beginner or pro , its better to spend money on good quality glass than a new camera body with a few million pixels more.
What did the original question person get eventually ??