Hi Folks
Is anyone out there using a Nikon 80-400 VR lens for aviation photograhy?
I am considering saving up to buy one ready for the new season. It would be used with a Nikon D70 body and would replace a Nikon 70-300ED, (not the ‘G’ model), and a rather unwieldy Sigma 170-500 – both of which were originally purchased to use with a Nikon F80 35mm camera.
Any comments, (for or against), would be much appreciated before blowing £1000+ and incurring the wrath of ‘er indoors!
Thanks a lot
By: Jur - 24th October 2005 at 14:13
I’ve considered getting this lens too but, especially after reading reviews complaining about the slow autofocus, I decided to get the AF-S Nikkor 4/300 instead with a 1.4x converter. This lens is tack sharp and has much faster focus than the 80-400.
On the plus side of the 80-400 are the VR (vibration reduction) capabilities and good optical quality.
By: Delta - 24th October 2005 at 13:53
Other half has had to buy the Nikon 80-400 for the D70 because he suffered kicks on the auto-focus on the Sigma 80-400.
He has the exact setup that you are looking for the answers to, but hasn’t yet made it to the airport to photograph the planes, if you can hold off for a couple of weekends, I will dispatch him to the airport and then he can give you a run down on the performance and quality.
(for some reason the Sigma 80-400 inside mechanism seemed to jerk violently and intermittantly during auto focus, don’t know if it was down to the lens,camera or combination of the two, hence he went for the Nikon lens, having to pay the extra £400) (Sigma = £800, Nikon = £1200)
He was given some advice by Nikon users at the airport and was recommended to use Nikon lenses. Also consider using an analogue lens, bearing in mind that analogue lenses are more powerful on digital cameras, than the numbers state.
Dependant on weather and your location, if you are available to meet up mid week, or Sunday at Manchester Airport, you can have a go with his if you want.
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October 24, 2005 at 12:51 pm