www.photography.cafe

All with D700 and 80-400VR, handhold, iso800


66% crop, 270mm, F8, 1/6400 sec


100% crop, 400mm, F8, 1/2500 sec,


400mm, F8, 1/1600 sec


400mm, F8, 1/2000 sec


Politicians...
400mm, F8, 1/2500 sec


92mm, F8, 1/8000 sec


100% crop
400mm, F8, 1/1000 sec


145mm F8, 1/6400 sec



Thanks for looking.

There's some great pcitures there Stany. How do you find the combination?

It looks great to me even at 100%

In terms of detail in the feather on the water and the horses eye are stunning - looks like the D700 is handling the highlights well too.

James wrote:There's some great pcitures there Stany. How do you find the combination?It looks great to me even at 100%
In terms of detail in the feather on the water and the horses eye are stunning - looks like the D700 is handling the highlights well too.

Hi James,
Thanks for your reaction. To my opinion the 80-400VR is Nikon's most underestimated lens. It's simply tack-sharp, even @ 400mm and if you can handle it, together with the focus limiter it isn't that slow focusing.

Are you sure?

I am looking at a new lens for motorsports and wildlife to replace or compliment my 70-300VR and am looking at the Nikon AFS 300mm f4, the 70-200VR f2.8 and the Sigma 100-300mm, it's just really difficult to try them out. I had been considering the 80-400VR, but heard that the AF speed is just too slow. I have seen simliar level results to yours from other users though, it does look great optically.

Do you think that I should try to find it to try out too if I can?

The reason I am after so long a focal length is to get close ups of riders and also whole vehicle shots from a long way away, my 70-300VR lives at 300mm wide open at the moment at these events and my other camera normally has a wideangle or 105VR.

James wrote: I am looking at a new lens for motorsports

For motorsports 80-400VR is not the right lens, too slow focusing.

Hi, on the DP forum i saw your bird photos on your site which are excellent, i use the 80-400 lens with a d300 body and do get some good results for my purposes.I would like to ask what no.of focussing points you generally use ie.single,11 , 21.I take the same type of shots as you and leave it set for 21 point, your photos are very sharp and i am curious to know what you do.Hope you do not mind me contacting you like this ,
regartds
john trussell

JTrussell wrote:Hi, on the DP forum i saw your bird photos on your site which are excellent, i use the 80-400 lens with a d300 body and do get some good results for my purposes.I would like to ask what no.of focussing points you generally use ie.single,11 , 21.I take the same type of shots as you and leave it set for 21 point, your photos are very sharp and i am curious to know what you do.Hope you do not mind me contacting you like this ,
regartds john trussell

Hi John,

I use 51 selection AF points and for dynamic AF I use most of the time 9 points. After one year I'm still experimenting with 3D tracking but I got some good results already: http://www.fotografie.fr/n3-080824-AFtrackingD700.htm
Finding the perfect AF settings is TMHO the most difficult thing to find out with modern DSLR's.