500mm Lens

It would depend on your need. Do you have a need for a 300 or a 400 or does the 70-300 suit you well?

I pined away for the 400 canon L series for a long time and then I saw one in person… it was as long as my leg and weighed 1000 pounds (ok ok slight exaggeration) but seriously, there was no way I could carry that thing on a 10 mile hike with everything else I had. I decided real quick that although I probably wanted it.. I didn’t NEED it because it would never leave the closet. It was one of the wisest decisions I have ever made.

Here are nikon’s fast super-telephoto lenses:=&sb=bs%2Cupper(ds)&sq=asc&sortDrop=Brand%3A+A+to+Z&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&shs=&ci=8456&at=Brand_Nikon&at=Lens+Type_Super+Telephoto&basicSubmit=Submit+Query

Not one of them are under $8,000. So, unless you’ve got a really good job, you’ll be saving for a while. Now, about where you should go from your 70-300mm VR (a very good lens, by the way), I recommend the 80-400mm VR: - In terms of speed, they are on the same level, both have VR, but with this lens you get another 100mm reach for $1400. As far as super-telephoto lenses go, they get very expensive. A 300mm f/2.8 is not in the super-telephoto range, but still costs upwards of $5,000: - which does you no real good as your 70-300 has the same focal length at its long end. Sure, all of those fast and long lenses are superb. But, unless you are a sports photojournalist or nature photographer, ten grand for a lens is not amateur, or even the semi-pro/weekend wedding photographer material. The slower super-telephoto lenses made by manufacturers like tamron and sigma are a lot cheaper than the nikon lenses and will get the job done but are not for pros.

Third party zoom and super-telephoto lenses:=&sb=bs%2Cupper(ds)&sq=asc&sortDrop=Brand%3A+A+to+Z&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&ci=8456&shs=&at=Brand_Sigma&at=Brand_Tamron&at=Lens+Type_Zoom+Tele+(70mm)%2FSuper+Tele+(600mm)&at=Lens+Type_Super+Telephoto&advancedSubmit=Submit+Query

Why not get Nikon’s 1.4x adapter..?

Your 300mm becomes a 420mm and on most camera’s with a 1.5 crop factor that is like seeing thru a 630mm now..

You saved a ton of $$ and made the load you carry much lighter..

Just an idea.

Bob - Tucson

PS - I have fairly good luck with Nikon’s 500mm f/8 mirror lens on my Fuji S-2 and S-5

Fuji S-2 shot -

Fuji S-5 shot -

This shot of the Red Tail Hawk was hand held BTW, looking straight up.

The lens is rather small and light weight. Their no longer made anymore but can be found if one goes looking.