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Help me choose Nikon lens for safari photography at Kruger National Park


4 years 6 months ago #662381 by bhromonkari
Hi

DSLR newbie here! I am looking to buy a Nikon AFS lens for my Nikon D5100. As of now, the only two options available are the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR and Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

https://www.dpreview.com/products/nikon/lenses/nikkor_55-300_4p5-5p6g_ed_vr/specifications
https://www.dpreview.com/products/nikon/lenses/nikon_70-300_4p5-5p6g_vr/overview

It seems that the 70-300 might be the obvious choice, but it was released a few years earlier than the 55-300 (2006 as opposed to 2010, of course both are old!). Which one would you recommend for wildlife photography? I will be staying at a private lodge and birding is not a priority.

Many thanks!!
,
4 years 6 months ago #662431 by effron
The 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR would be my choice of the two, nothing better in that price range....You will find in time though that 300mm doesn't get you close enough for serious wildlife photography.
Why so serious?
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4 years 6 months ago #662437 by Shadowfixer1
Why are those your only options? Why not something like the newest version of the 80-400? That is a much better option in my opinion.
www.betterphoto.com/?ramshots
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4 years 6 months ago #662438 by bhromonkari
Should have mentioned in my original post that I have a low budget ($250 max) and time constraints (I leave in four days) and these two are the only options available in my city at the moment.
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4 years 6 months ago #662440 by Screamin Scott
With that low of a budget, you won't find many decent choices. I have gone to older manual focus lenses but with the D5100, that isn't the best alternative. I'd likely go to the 70-300 myself.
Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/
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4 years 6 months ago #662481 by effron

Shadowfixer1 wrote: Why are those your only options? Why not something like the newest version of the 80-400? That is a much better option in my opinion.


Yup, or the Tamron or Sigma 150-600 f/5-6.3?
Why so serious?
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4 years 6 months ago - 4 years 6 months ago #662482 by Screamin Scott

effron wrote:

Shadowfixer1 wrote: Why are those your only options? Why not something like the newest version of the 80-400? That is a much better option in my opinion.


Yup, or the Tamron or Sigma 150-600 f/5-6.3?


Did you see that his budget was only around $250.... None of those lenses are that cheap....He'd be better off renting a lens....
Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/
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4 years 6 months ago #662498 by effron
Wasn't in the original post and I didn't see the follow up......That's not going to get much glass.

"Did you see that his budget was only around $250.... None of those lenses are that cheap....He'd be better off renting a lens...."

I agree with that.
Why so serious?
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The following user(s) said Thank You: bhromonkari
,
4 years 5 months ago #665006 by Nikon Shooter

Screamin Scott wrote: He'd be better off renting a lens....



:agree:
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 5 months ago #665013 by effron
+2
Why so serious?
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