Lens Help

Downunderwild

Downunderwild

Member
Can anyone help with the final decision with purchasing one of the following lens for my AF 102;
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f4.5 ...
Tokina 80-400 f4.5 ...
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f2.8...
Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 ...
regards
 
Questions, questions.

What do you intend to shoot with these long lenses? If it's wildlife or things like aircraft in flight, longer is almost certainly better. Do you need the extra focal length of the 300mm Lumix or 400mm Tokina? If so, that quickly narrows your choices. But you also give up a stop and a half of light with either one of them -- pretty significant for more general production use, where 200mm will probably be more than long enough.

Do you have a really excellent, sturdy and smooth tripod? The 200mm lenses might be as much as you can handle without top-notch (and heavy) support equipment.

Do you have, or are you prepared to buy, a rail and lens support system? The Panasonic is the only one of these lenses that might be light and compact enough to work without one.

The Panasonic has OIS that works with the AF100; the others don't. (Even so, hand-holding with a lens this long is likely to be pretty hit or miss.)

It looks to me like the Tokina is discontinued -- are you talking about a used copy? That could make it a bargain, or a nightmare!

I'd probably prefer the Nikon to the Tamron unless the latter was an irresistably good buy.

- Greg
 
Greg Smith said:
Questions, questions.

What do you intend to shoot with these long lenses? If it's wildlife or things like aircraft in flight, longer is almost certainly better. Do you need the extra focal length of the 300mm Lumix or 400mm Tokina? If so, that quickly narrows your choices. But you also give up a stop and a half of light with either one of them -- pretty significant for more general production use, where 200mm will probably be more than long enough.

Do you have a really excellent, sturdy and smooth tripod? The 200mm lenses might be as much as you can handle without top-notch (and heavy) support equipment.

Do you have, or are you prepared to buy, a rail and lens support system? The Panasonic is the only one of these lenses that might be light and compact enough to work without one.

The Panasonic has OIS that works with the AF100; the others don't. (Even so, hand-holding with a lens this long is likely to be pretty hit or miss.)

It looks to me like the Tokina is discontinued -- are you talking about a used copy? That could make it a bargain, or a nightmare!

I'd probably prefer the Nikon to the Tamron unless the latter was an irresistably good buy.

- Greg
Click to expand...

Thanks Greg, the required lens are mostly to be used for wildlife shots (non flying), amidst rainforest habitat, light can be a problem sometimes especially early morning and late noon, although at night we have surplus and portable illumination. Have sturdy tripod and rail support available. Some of the wildlife would be at distance 25 meters or less. So my predicament is finding the best suited lens for my project, and having not experienced the capabilities of all these above mentioned lens, I'm uncertain.
I'm asking wide and far the opinion of those that have experience these lens closest to my requirements. The Tokina that I was referring to was the Tokina AT-X 840 D AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 (Nikon mount) and that one still available. The Nikon and Tamron are very closely priced. But seems the majority of opinions are directing me to the Nikon. Any further support that you can share or anyone else would be great to place my uncertainty to rest.
 
f2.8 makes it a virtual no brainer for the Nikon because of your requirement.

Go to the shop and try one (or both) on your camera.
 
Nikon by all means. I have the 80-200 f2.8 from my still photographer sports days as well as the 300 EDIF f4. Both lenses are well suited to the AF100, though they both need ample rail support.

I'm shooting Canon these days and with the release of the Birger will be shooting the Canon 70-200 f2.8.
 
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I was recently up in Cairns and the Daintree and it can be pretty dark in the rain forests. I would definitely go for f2.8. I have the Nikon 80-200 f2.8 and am very happy with it and redrock lens support.
 
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