nana

<p>Went thru the same and decided on the Sigma 24-105. The build quality itself is more than enough to convince me. Very sharp images @ F4 and the VR works! If possible, go to a local shop and try it yourself.</p>

<p>I have both 70-300 VR and 70-200 2.8 VR. 70-300 is the one I carry for a walk around lens in the woods. 70-200 is more for indoor events (I used to shoot Indian dance events on stage) and for my studio shoots.<br> Recently, on my visit to Alaska, I took the 70-200 with 1.7 TC since this combo is better than the 70-300 VR. I like the 70-300 for its weight but have to be careful to get good sharpness at the long end.</p>

<p>Nice review. I am also upgrading from my D300s and D810 is going to be my first FF DSLR. You have not said anything about how the view finder differs from the D300. Are they marginally different or it is another 'wow' factor?</p>

<p>I just came back from a similar tour about three weeks back. I started the cruise from Vancouver to Skagway and then land tour to Dawson City and finished up with Anchorage.<br> I carried my D300s with Sigma 24-105 as a walk around lens, Tokina 16-24 2.8, and 70-200 VR with 1.7TC for wildlife. Carrying the camera was not bad except the weight. The Tokina and the Sigma were most used and 70-200 with 1.7 TC was used only in the Tundra wildlife tour. I wish I had received the Tamron 150-600 which would have been the best for the Grizzlies we saw from the bus!<br> Some of my trip photos are here<br> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78541896@N00/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/78541896@N00/</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>Vacuum cleaner?<br> NEVER! Don't use house hold vacuum cleaners. It will generate a lot of static and will destroy the electronics.</p>