[slackline]

Might find this and the subsequent response from dave and cofe a useful starting point.

[Johnny Brown]

Good advice from Dave, I missed you were on Nikon, Canon do a 400.5.6 that would be ideal, on Nikon you're stick with various 300s. Beware of the sigma 300/4, not all work on newer bodies.

There are old manual primes out there that may work with an adapter, and some (very) manual aperture control. Mine was a Sigma APO 400/5.6, decent and small. If they made them in Olympus there must be some around in Nikon. I don't need mine anymore but it doen't look like it would be possible to adapt it to nikon.

[Johnny Brown]

MXV has just gone bust. They were one of the best second hand shops.

[dave]

The other other option for the deperate would be to find a 500mm f/8 reflex lens. But personally I'd sooner roll up down the bird-hide with a 50mm f/1.4 with three stacked x2 teleconvertors. shick-a-ding.

[Johnny Brown]

That is well outside the fucking box. Good call. Underrated lenses actually, nearly bought one for the eclipse. SonY are making one, the doughnuts will rise again.

[cofe]

Good advice from Dave, I missed you were on Nikon, Canon do a 400.5.6 that would be ideal, on Nikon you're stick with various 300s. Beware of the sigma 300/4, not all work on newer bodies.

There are old manual primes out there that may work with an adapter, and some (very) manual aperture control. Mine was a Sigma APO 400/5.6, decent and small. If they made them in Olympus there must be some around in Nikon. I don't need mine anymore but it doen't look like it would be possible to adapt it to nikon.

that's the best advice i've read on this thread.

[Johnny Brown]

Get a grip, you still think that lens is bad? They can't all be perfect.

[cofe]

3 out of 4 sigma lens are shit in my experience. it's back from repair today. i'd need a gun to my head to buy another sigma lens.

[slackline]

I must have got the 1 our of 4 with the 10-20mm I got from steveg then, t'is great and no faults yet.

[dave]

3 out of 4 sigma lens are shit

still statistically got the edge over tamron then.

ditto that on the 10-20 slackers.

[Tris]

I must have got the 1 our of 4 with the 10-20mm I got from steveg then, t'is great and no faults yet.

Yeah - I was impressed with the 10-20, very nice

I doubt I would buy another Sigma though, too much of a gamble..

[Tris]

What about the other other other option of this?

I can't walk closer, but a few modifications to a clip stick could get me:



I'll need to beef up my arms a bit first though 

[tomtom]

Unless anybody knows of a cheap way (under £250) of getting a 400mm zoom? Second hand 400mm lenses seem to go for extortionate prices on Ebay.

Who What are you planning to stalk take pictures of that requires such a long focal length?

[Tris]

It's for a dead fit feathered birds..

Option 4 - tape one of these mothers on my lens:

[tlr]

If the picture really matters, and its a one off then definitely just rent a lens. http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/ are suposed to be very good. A 400mm L will only cost £50 for a week, and the image will be miles better (allowing tighter crops) than the other options you are talking about.

Even 400mm is not a lot for birds in the wild, so quality and the ability to crop is vital.

[dave]

400 L is no good on a nikon though. Closest on that site for £50 is the long end of a 80-400vr, which is a good and handy lens, i've used one a couple of times.

Of course the buying-then-selling option is more effort but is effectively unlimited rental for free if you do it right.

[Johnny Brown]

Maybe tlr is really ken rockwell.

[Tris]

Maybe tlr is really ken rockwell.

www.analvolcano.com

[tlr]

400 L is no good on a nikon though. Closest on that site for £50 is the long end of a 80-400vr, which is a good and handy lens, i've used one a couple of times.

Of course the buying-then-selling option is more effort but is effectively unlimited rental for free if you do it right.

Good point, and well presented. I may have conveniently forgotten that the question was about Nikon.

My point is that a decent lens is relatively cheap to rent and is capable of producing a much better image than a cheap 300 with a teleconverter.

Talk Photography has a lot of second hand stuff on it if you fancy that route; as Dave says its a virtually free way to get the use of a lens if done cleverly.

[Johnny Brown]

Found a video of Cofe checking his Sigma for focussing issues:

[cofe]

That is my favourite shirt I have to say. I find best way to check for lens issues is to look for this lettering on the side: 'SIGMA'.

[Johnny Brown]

I'd love to be able to get a 400/5.6 for £50

Seventy quid c/w nikon mount. These have a good rep.

[dave]

the downside is you're likely to get taken out menezes-style by the met as soon as you use it.

[Tris]

These have a good rep.

Brilliant - thanks very much for posting this...

I will start to do some research - it does look like fairly hardcore though 

I'm not sure I'd be taken that one on holiday...

[Tris]

Nikon have announced a new teleconverter.

offering an affordable and portable gateway to extend telephoto reach

The Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III will be available in January with an RRP of £449.99