Good lenses for Nikon D3000 ( Dx format body) for birding.

[suneelmekala]

Hi All,


After using my Nikon D3000 with 18-55mm lenses for more than 3 years I would like to add a good lenses for wildlife and especially for birding.

I read a lot of reviews and suggestions but I am not able to zero down on any lenses compatible for my camera. Here are a few options which I validated, now I request your expert advice and experience to help me choose one. - Thanks for helping

1) AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR - (I am little reluctant to buy this as I feel (based on the reviews) the length will not be good enough for birding)

2) AF Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4-5.6G (4.3x) - (As this is Fx format it will equivalent to 105 - 450mm on a Dx format camera). But internally it is cropping the image and D3000 is 10.75 megapixel Dx format camera. So not sure how would be the image quality at high zoom.

3) AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4D IF-ED with or with out TC - I read that this is the best lenses for amateur birding and the combination with 1.4 TC is great, but again this is Fx format lenses and not sure if this is good for my camera. If this lenses is good then would 1.4 TC make any remarkable difference?

I have one more basic doubt about the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4. I read a lot of reviews praising this lenses, but I don't understand why don't people use AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED which would give greater flexibility and cheaper? I know that 70-300 is not compatible with TCs, but read many reviews that many people use AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4 without any TC generating great shots. I know I must be missing something very basic here.

4) Is there any other Dx format lenses which I can use with/without TC with out compromising quality and length?

5) Any other suggestion ?

Thanks again,
Suneel Mekala.

 

[TonysTouch]

Any 300mm lens will have a maximum equivalent focal length of 450mm (without a teleconverter) on a DX camera. As far as cropping goes, you will still get the same resolution image. The only time it will cut out resolution is if you use a DX lens on an FX camera.

The only lenses that will fully work on a D3000 are AF-S lenses. AF lenses will meter but will not autofocus.

http://www.ichimusai.org/2008/08/17/the-difference-between-dx-and-fx-lenses/

 

[coastalconn]

Birding is very demanding. It depends on how serious you get into it. All 3 lenses will give you the same image size. The 300 F4 will be sharper, focus faster and allow higher shutter speeds. The 70-300 VR will be good on focus speed but will need to be stopped down a little. The 55-300 is ok but the focus is a tad on the slow side. Another Option is the Tamron 70-300 VC. I had the 55-300 and have the 70-300 Tamron but find them too short for what I do, so now I shoot a Tamron 200-500 (not af-s, so it wouldn't work on the D3000)

It depends on your idea of birding. If it is more casual and for ID type purposes, the 55-300 will work. If you want to get into birds in flight like I did, it becomes very demanding, I had to get a different body. I had a D5000 then a D90 and now a D300. It also takes a lot of time, including birds routines, getting really sneaky and positioning yourself based on where the sun is. I wear full camo these days and on my days off I can spend 8-10 hours chasing birds. Often 500+ shots to have a few keepers...

55-300 - D90

Got so close but... by krisinct, on Flickr
Tamron 70-300 VC - D90

Sparrow Portrait - 2 by krisinct, on Flickr

 

[Patrice]

FX/DX crop confusion.

On your DX camera all lenses of the same focal length, DX lens or FX lens, will give you the same field of view. Some argue that a FX lens might give you a bit of an advantage in terms of image quality since your sensor would be using the central portion of the lens where its performance is likely optimal.

The consumer zooms you listed will have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 at their longest focal lengths, which is where you'll likely be using them, add a TC to them and you're in f/8 territory. Close down a bit to avoid wide open aperture on a cheap leans and you are then trying to work at f/11 or f/16. A 300 mm VR at f/4 is a good choice giving you quality optics and a reasonable aperture with decent image wide open. With a TC on that 300 f/4 you would get tremendous reach but a max aperture again of f/5.6. Also good would be a 70-200 f/2.8 VR 1 with or without TC. Remember that at these super (equivalent) long focal lengths good technique becomes critical to image quality. Even minuscule camera movements will ruin your image, so VR is good and a good solid tripod is recommended. Bird in flight (BIF) is a few steps up in terms of difficulty, technical requirement and skill.

 

[Alan92RTTT]

I use a d5000. I used to use the nikon 55-200 which is very similar in build to the 55-300. I also have the 70-300. I like 70-300 more than I did the 55-200 its feels like a better lens and seems to produce better/brighter images. I like some of the small features that are missing from the 55-300. (ability to manually adjust focus in autofocus mode for example)

I am far from a pro but I am happy with the results.

Last year we took a trip to Disney with a stop at Animal Kingdom. I took a bunch of pictures with the 70-300 and my 18-105 You can find them here Disney 2011 -12/25/11 - Animal Knigdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom


I few samples from the 70-300

SubjectDistance: 11.90 m
ISOSpeedRatings: ISO 1250
ShutterSpeedValue: 1/4000 sec (12 APEX)
ApertureValue: F8 (6 APEX)
FocalLength: 300 mm

SubjectDistance: 3.55 m
ISOSpeedRatings: ISO 1250
ShutterSpeedValue: 1/320 sec (8.3 APEX)
ApertureValue: F5.6 (4.97 APEX)
FocalLength: 270 mm

 

[greybeard]

DX lenses are usually less expensive because they only have to project a smaller image for the APC format. The FF lenses have to project a bigger image and thus are more expensive. Using a FF lens on a DX camera as a rule works really well because you are only using the center of the image which is the sharpest. So therefore, you will get good results with FF lenses. The 300mm f/4 should produce the best images because it is a prime lens which as a rule produce sharper images than a zoom.