Nikon 300 f4

[john_idaho]

I am going to Alaska in September to photograph bears in Katmai NP.  I have a Nikon D70s, Nikon 80-200 f2.8, and a Nikon 300 f4.  I will be taking the 80-200 but am wondering if I should take the 300 and a 1.4 extender thus giving me an f5.6 420 or should I buy a new 80-400 lens?  I would like the Nikon 80-400 but may be limited to a Tokina 80-400 if I go that route.  Suggestions or comments welcome.

[jcote]

John,

This is sort of a subjective call. Everybody has their prejudices. Mine is that I love the 300 f4 Nikkor. Both of your choices involve compromise because neither is as good as a super tele like the 500 f4 or 600 f4, but those choices are impossible for most folks.

What you need for bears is length so the Zoom part of the 80-400 doesn't do you much good and the 80-400 is at its worst on the long end anyway. The 300 f-4 is really good with a 1.4TC.

Save yourself some dough. Keep the 300 and buy the TC. Get a nice wine cork or a small super-ball and jam it between the tripod foot of the 300 and the lens body for slower shutter speeds if you are going to use a tripod. The 300 f4 is a fantastic and much overlooked lens...in my subjective and prejudiced opinion.

[cricketer 1]

I agree with post 2, the 300 f4 is a great choice.  I use mine (AF not AF-S) with a Kenko PRO 300 x1.4 teleconverter with excellent results.  Nikon does not offer a teleconverter for the AF 300mm f4, but does with the AF-s version.
Enjoy your trip,

[CJL]

[/quote]

I agree with post 2, the 300 f4 is a great choice.  I use mine (AF not AF-S) with a Kenko PRO 300 x1.4 teleconverter with excellent results.  Nikon does not offer a teleconverter for the AF 300mm f4, but does with the AF-s version.
Enjoy your trip,
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Any of the current Nikon teleconverters, with a simple modification, can be used (in manual focus mode) with the old AF 300mm f4 lens, and they perform much better optically than the Kenko/Tamron converters.

[Hank]

I'd take both for sure before I'd spend money on either 80-400.  As noted, you can use the 300 with a TC.  Mine is a very sharp combo.  I use my 80-200 even more,  because it's so versatile for framing larger views of the bear in its habitat.  In my experience those "bearitat" shots sell much better than run of the mill nostril and fang shots.  The 300+TC will be fine for frame filling shots in many settings at Katmai, too.

[BryanHansel]

I'm with everyone else on this one. The 300 f/4 is a sweet lens that certainly has a great look to it. I've used mine with a 1.4x many times and am always happy with the results.