evilsivan

<p>Just for fun, I am curious, when I am at Oleta River State Park in Florida, hoping catch some birds, I will have the following gear<br> D750,D7200, 70-200 f4, 300 pf f4, TC1.4II<br> which lens should I put on which camera to start with? </p>

<p>Thanks for the tips guys!</p>

<p>Hey guys<br> I had literally the same dilemma. A month ago I rented a 200-500 and a D7200 for a trip to a state park in Iowa. For this coming trip I'll try the 300 f4 and D7200, plus my own D750 70-200 f4 and tc1.4. I will be in North Miami Beach and Vero Beach so if you have any more suggestions for the area please share. I am not an experienced birder and when I rented the 200-500 a month I go I was expecting eagles, but there were not any. I discovered the 200-500 is not a great lens for shooting my children in a forest. Other than that I would like to try it again, maybe in a trip to Florida. This time I went with the 300 f4 because I haven't tried it yet and also it will be easier to carry. The 200-500 was sharp and had good focus but it wasn't super snappy, and the zoom ring is huge and takes several turns to zoom its extent, handheld it is extremely difficult if not impossible. It will be a fun lens to try again someday, and for now I am excited for the 300f4.</p>

<p>I don't think you can beat the Nikon. But its sooo heavy and pricey. A friend of mine gave me a Tamron 2407- f2.8 and it was way lighter than the nikon and reasonably sharp and contrasty, though not as quick to focus and not as sharp and contrasty. For my money, I'll pay for the Nikon and lug it around. Just can't be beat.</p>

<p>Soon we'll be able to stick a jpeg to the fridge, that'd be brilliant. I do miss shooting film, I loved color slide film back in the day. Anyhow, welcome! I always wanted an FM-something or other but I was a little too young for that time period, still have my N6006 though I have only used once since I got my first DSLR in 2007.</p>

<p>Welcome! How long have you had your D610? Give it some time, digital can grow on you, especially when you don't have to pay for film and processing anymore! What happened to your Leica gear?</p>

<p>Maybe you can find a youtube video?</p>

I love my Nikon 1.8. Focus is fast and sharp, didn't need fine tuning. It's not expensive either.

<p>I believe the conventional wisdom is when shooting a fast moving subject with a fast shutter speed is to NOT use VR. Daniel where did you hear "people saying that VR is good for fast action wildlife and sports shooting?"</p>

The D750 was a huge step up from D7000, can't speak to the D7100 though. I like the tilt screen but I don't use it too often, it is useful with kids. I got the D750 with the 24-120 and I just didn't like the lens very much. Seemed like a good compromise on paper but for me it was too many compromises. That said, seems like I'm in the minority about the lens. most pnetters who have it seem to love it. The D750 focuses super fast and sharp even in pitch black where I can't even see the subject, the D750 can somehow.

Buy a used non-vr one from a reputable dealer and try it for a week. VR would be great but we all have constraints.

Yeah this seriously went off the rails! Pretty unusual for Pnetters. That's teh interwebz for you... But yeah don't overlook the 35mm if you ever go full frame. This lens is my most used lens at this point. I just can't believe the Tamron or Sigmas are as good, but like everyone else on this site and the world, I suffer from confirmation bias ("Since I chose it, it is the best option").

Thanks for sharing Jerry. I can't wait to try my rental copy of this lens in 11 days. Curious that your D7100 says "crop mode".

I went from a D7000 and a 70-200 f2.8 (version 1) to a D750 with the 70-200f4. I definitely appreciate the lighter lens and the D750 sensor was way improved from the D7000 so I did not miss losing the stop from the 2.8 to the 4. Never used the 300 f4 but I'll bet its fun. The D750 focuses great even in dim light, I even trust it when my eyes literally cannot see the subject, the D750 will nail the focus with a 1.4 or 1.8 lens. My point being that the D750 can auto focus an f4 lens in dim light.

I am not sure why there isn't more support for the nikon 35mm f1.8. This is a great lens and only a half stop slower than the 1.4 at, what, a third of the price? It has a a good fast focus and my copy at least is sharp wide open. The build quality is good, not super rugged. I myself am done with non-Nikon lenses at least for now.

The Nikon 35mm f1.8 is an awesome lens and a great value.

I loved my D7000 with Nikon 17-55 f2.8 and Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VRI. You'll get best results with the Nikon lenses, but they're pricey and heavy.

I just rented the 200-500 for five weeks from now, it seemed like a few places had them available, or said they would by the end of October. That will be a good way to see if it's something I'd like to have. I hardly ever do birds or wildlife, so even if I don't ever buy one, I know I will have fun using it in a few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised its harder to rent in Switzerland.

I really like the Nikon 35mm f1.8 on my D750. A lot cheaper than the f1.4. I also use the Nikon 24-70 f2.8 but it is a beast.

Good point Shun. I think I'll rent either the 80-400 or the 200-500 for the fall cabin trip and then try the other in our spring trip. Here are some typical pics

I usually bring the whole gear kit, but hike with just two lenses, usually the 24-70 and 70-200f4 (maybe the tc in my pocket). I might whip out the fast primes for campfire time or night time. I think it would be fun to have a second body and a new to me lens, hence the 200-500 or 80-400. There are always eagles at the park which I never get decent pics of. I'll post a link to some typical pics.

Low light is important, campfires, etc. But I do have the D750 and some 1.4's and 1.8's for that. The D7200 might be ideal for the hikes and birds. Now to decide between the 80-400 and the 200-500.

Good question Shun, the hikes are not long, maybe two hours tops. Since we're hiking with 4 and 7 year olds, nothing too ambitious. I am capable of lugging around 2 bodies and some lenses around for a few hours. I had never considered that I'd get zoomed in too much. I didn't even know that could happen. Matt, good idea about the D7200. I was saying that I don't want to use a D7000 because I've done it before.

I am heading to a State Park cabin with the family in November for a weekend.. I'll bring my kit D750 + 35mm, 50mm, 24-70 and 70-200 f4 and my TC1.4II. There are usually some eagles and the hikes are fun and beautiful, but I hate swapping my lenses out (mostly the 24-70 and 70-200) so I thought maybe it'd be fun to rent a telephoto and a body. So, a few questions Which lens? The 200-500 can be had for fairly cheap ($50/4days) from lensrentals or I could rent a 300 f2.8 from another company for $150/3days. Maybe something else? I think the 200-500 makes sense because I might actually by one one day. Then, what body to rent? I sold my D7000 so I could bring my D80 (yawn) or rent a D750 for pretty cheap (already have one so yawn), a D3 would be fun, I never used one, but the D4 and D4s are pretty spendy but I always wanted to shoot with one. A Df would be pretty cheap but probably not great for birding. I could borrow a friend's D7000 (yawn). Do you guys have any opinions? (Just kidding I know you do!).

<p>I want one and I don't know why. I mean, I'd use it occasionally. Want.</p>