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View Full Version : Received my Nikon AF-S300 f2.8 G VRII - 9 images


Lance B
10-09-2010, 10:23am
Picked up my new AF-S 300 f2.8 G VRII and too it to the zoo for a quick trial run with my 1.4x TCII and 2x TCIII. First thought are that it is quite handholdable, but not for long! The IQ is unbelievably good with the TC's attached - I haven't even tried it without them yet! VR works a treat - some here were 1/40sec @ 420mm = about 3.5 stops. The ones of the tigers were at 1/25 sec were pushed up to the glass of the enclosure and are therefore not completely handheld. The glass did reduce contrast somewhat, but that was recovered quite well in PP.

Anyway, here are some samples:

1.4x TCII = 420mm shots

D700 + AF-S 300 f2.8 VRII + 1.4x TCII = 420mm, 1/320sec, f/6.3, ISO 500

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280532/original.jpg

D700 + AF-S 300 f2.8 VRII + 1.4x TCII = 420mm, 1/125sec, f/6.3, ISO 800

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280534/original.jpg

D700 + AF-S 300 f2.8 VRII + 1.4x TCII = 420mm, 1/25sec, f/6.3, ISO 800

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280536/original.jpg

D700 + AF-S 300 f2.8 VRII + 1.4x TCII = 420mm, 1/25sec, f/6.3, ISO 800

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280538/original.jpg

D700 + AF-S 300 f2.8 VRII + 1.4x TCII = 420mm, 1/100sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280544/original.jpg

2x TCIII = 600mm shots:

D700 + AF-S 300 f2.8 VRII + 2x TCIII = 600mm, 1/250sec, f/6.3, ISO 1600

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280540/original.jpg

Crop of above shot:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280542/original.jpg

D700 + AF-S 300 f2.8 VRII + 2x TCIII = 600mm, 1/1,000sec, f/6.3, ISO 1600

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128267553/original.jpg

Crop of above shot:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/128280546/original.jpg
Art Vandelay
10-09-2010, 11:06am
They look great with both the 1.4 and 2.0 extenders.
kiwi
10-09-2010, 11:19am
nice indeed
Cage
10-09-2010, 11:36am
Nice Lance.

They are almost as sharp as the 300* :p

Cheers

Kevin
DJT
10-09-2010, 12:04pm
Crikey, you can't be to upset about the quality of these can you.
I like the tiger ones, are you sure you didn't take these in the jungle - awesome :wd:
Lance B
10-09-2010, 12:06pm
They look great with both the 1.4 and 2.0 extenders.

Thank you. Yes, I am over the moon about the quality as I want to do some birding photography and with the 2x TCIII the 300/2.8 gives top quality 600 f5.6. :) If I get a D300s as a crop factor camera (which I am seriously thinking of getting), I will have what equates to a 900mm f5.6!! :D
Lani
10-09-2010, 12:07pm
Congratulations on your new purchase, Lance. Impressive results indeed....got any pics of the lens on camera?
Also what pp, if any did you do?
Lance B
10-09-2010, 12:07pm
nice indeed

Thank you Darren. :)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 12:08pm
Nice Lance.

Thank you, Kevin.


They are almost as sharp as the 300* :p

Cheers

Kevin

Almost, but not quite. ;)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 12:10pm
Crikey, you can't be to upset about the quality of these can you.

Thank you very much. Yes, I am as happy as a pig in the proverbial. :)


I like the tiger ones, are you sure you didn't take these in the jungle - awesome :wd:

LOL. If I were in the jungle, I think I'd like about at least 1200mm of lens on a crop camera between the tiger and me. ;)
PH005
10-09-2010, 12:10pm
Excellent indeed. I've got Lens Envy.
Lance B
10-09-2010, 12:15pm
Congratulations on your new purchase, Lance. Impressive results indeed....got any pics of the lens on camera?
Also what pp, if any did you do?

Thank you for your kind comments, Lani.

I haven't any photos of the camera on lens, but I will try to get some posted for you when I get the chance.

My workflow is:

Shoot RAW 14 bit and convert to 16 bit TIFF in Capture One Pro 5. Whilst in Capture One Pro 5, depending on the requirments, I may adjust saturation, contrast, WB, lens aberrations like distortion/CA etc, and any other adjustments required. Once converted to TIFF, I open up in Photoshop and I may do noise reduction and crop or any other adjustments required, then resize for web convert to 8 bit for jpeg and then sharpen using Power Retouche plug in.
jervisbay
10-09-2010, 12:42pm
Fabulous photos!! I'm suffering from lens envy.
old dog
10-09-2010, 1:00pm
wonderful results Lance. Very nice combo you have now. I think I feel a little envy creeping into my soul......:eek:
mcdesign
10-09-2010, 3:00pm
wonderful results Lance. Very nice combo you have now. I think I feel a little envy creeping into my soul......:eek:

Multiplied by two! a friend has the f4, also a great lens, I have added to my wish list again but can't justify one when I have the 120-400 Sigma!

Great shots by the way, you will have great fun with it and also with macro shots as well!!
Lance B
10-09-2010, 3:14pm
Fabulous photos!!

Thank you for the very kind comments. :)


I'm suffering from lens envy.

As long as it's just lens envy. ;)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 3:17pm
wonderful results Lance. Very nice combo you have now.

Thank you very much, and yes it is a great combo that I am super happy with.:)


I think I feel a little envy creeping into my soul......:eek:

Never!! ;)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 3:20pm
Multiplied by two! a friend has the f4, also a great lens, I have added to my wish list again but can't justify one when I have the 120-400 Sigma!

Understandable, the Sigma is a great zoom.


Great shots by the way, you will have great fun with it and also with macro shots as well!!

Thank you very much. Yes, the TC's mean the same close focus distance as the 300 without the TC's, so the 2x TC means that I have twice the magnification as the 300 bare. :)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 3:21pm
Excellent indeed. I've got Lens Envy.

Thanks for the kind comment. :)
ving
10-09-2010, 3:25pm
not too shabby at all. :)
sid
10-09-2010, 4:31pm
Crisp is the word for it. Lovely pics. The cropped shot of the (falcon?) is awesome !!
Lance B
10-09-2010, 4:40pm
not too shabby at all. :)

Thank you very much, David. :)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 4:43pm
Crisp is the word for it. Lovely pics. The cropped shot of the (falcon?) is awesome !!

Thank you very much, Sid! :)

It is a Wedge Tailed Eagle. The thing that I find incredible is that it is shot at ISO1600 and with a 300mm f2.8 with a 2x TC attached and the quality is unbvelieveable even cropped!
mongo
10-09-2010, 4:55pm
Seriously enviable glass with results to match.
Mongo must acquire your address for constructive theft purposes. :D


.... If I get a D300s as a crop factor camera (which I am seriously thinking of getting), I will have what equates to a 900mm f5.6!! :D

Serious question: - Why do you need a D300s when you have a DX format on the D700 ???
Sar is working with less than 5 megapixels with his D2h and gets amazing results. Mongo would really like to know the advantage you hope to get with the D300s over your D700 in Dx mode.

cheers Mongo
Lance B
10-09-2010, 7:00pm
Seriously enviable glass with results to match.
Mongo must acquire your address for constructive theft purposes. :D

Thank you for your nice comment, Mongo. :)


Serious question: - Why do you need a D300s when you have a DX format on the D700 ???
Sar is working with less than 5 megapixels with his D2h and gets amazing results. Mongo would really like to know the advantage you hope to get with the D300s over your D700 in Dx mode.

cheers Mongo

Not having actually used the DX format on the D700, I am only commenting from belief rather than actual results.

I would say that the results would be ok from the DX crop on the D700, but I would rather have the extra Mp that is offered by the D300s. Having said that, the crop of the Wedge Tailed Eagle above would be close to the DX crop of the D700 anyway and that turned out quite well. I may do some experimenting.
I @ M
10-09-2010, 7:10pm
Clearly a defective sample!!!!
Send the lens and converters down here for a year month week or so to let me dial them in properly. :D
Wayne
10-09-2010, 9:23pm
Lance, stunning shots. It is a lens on my to buy list, that or the 400/2.8.

What would you say the detriment on AF speed is when comparing the new TCIII with the bare lens AF speed?
Big Pix
10-09-2010, 9:40pm
Shots look great, nice & sharp....... you will love this lens on a D300 body......

I have the same setup with a 2.8 300mm Sigma...... after seeing your pixs I might start using it again
Lance B
10-09-2010, 10:25pm
Clearly a defective sample!!!!
Send the lens and converters down here for a year month week or so to let me dial them in properly. :D

LOL. I think I can put up with the defects, Andrew. ;)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 10:27pm
Lance, stunning shots. It is a lens on my to buy list, that or the 400/2.8.

Thank you Wayne. The 400/2.8 would be great, but i think we are starting to get into the realms of non handholdable!


What would you say the detriment on AF speed is when comparing the new TCIII with the bare lens AF speed?

There is little slow up, and it is noticeable, but not really a problem.
Lance B
10-09-2010, 10:28pm
Shots look great, nice & sharp....... you will love this lens on a D300 body......

Thank you, BP.


I have the same setup with a 2.8 300mm Sigma...... after seeing your pixs I might start using it again

I would recommend it, it's good fun. :)
flashpixx
10-09-2010, 10:59pm
wow Lance these results are excellent! Clearly in the right hands the 300/2.8 is a magnificent piece of glass... (goes to check bank balance...) Lance.... can i bororow your new lens? I'll only keep it for a year or 10 ;)
Lance B
10-09-2010, 11:43pm
wow Lance these results are excellent! Clearly in the right hands the 300/2.8 is a magnificent piece of glass... (goes to check bank balance...) Lance.... can i bororow your new lens? I'll only keep it for a year or 10 ;)

Hey, thanks for the nice comment, Gordon. Much appreciated! :)
cupic
10-09-2010, 11:58pm
Great examples from a lens that speaks in quality rather then monetary (well almost):eek:
When the balls bounces my way this is a consideration that wont take too long to acquire TFS

cheers
Flora
11-09-2010, 12:41am
Wow lance, just great ! Love the tiger shots as favourites. :th3:
Lance B
11-09-2010, 9:04am
Great examples from a lens that speaks in quality rather then monetary (well almost):eek:
When the balls bounces my way this is a consideration that wont take too long to acquire TFS

cheers

Thank you for the very nice comments. Much appreciated!:)
Lance B
11-09-2010, 9:05am
Wow lance, just great ! Love the tiger shots as favourites. :th3:

Thank you for the nice comments. The tigers are my favourites as well. I was lucky that he/she was in a mood for looking at people. :)
PH005
11-09-2010, 9:49am
[QUOTE=mongo;675093]Seriously enviable glass with results to match.
Mongo must acquire your address for constructive theft purposes. :D



Very Very VEEEry Good, :lol:
hame33
11-09-2010, 7:06pm
Great pic's Lance and thanks for sharing your work flow as well (i have capture one as well but no Photoshop)
hame33
12-09-2010, 9:17am
Lance would it be asking to much to ask you to post a pic of 1 of your pictures un eddited appart from brining it down to the size (and convert to jpeg )alowed for the site so i can see the differance your work flow has made. or is that a dumb q.u or one that should not be asked .I am still new to this site and learning what goes on here
Lance B
12-09-2010, 4:05pm
Great pic's Lance and thanks for sharing your work flow as well (i have capture one as well but no Photoshop)

Thank you for your nice comments, hame33. :)
Lance B
12-09-2010, 4:06pm
Lance would it be asking to much to ask you to post a pic of 1 of your pictures un eddited appart from brining it down to the size (and convert to jpeg )alowed for the site so i can see the differance your work flow has made. or is that a dumb q.u or one that should not be asked .I am still new to this site and learning what goes on here

I shall see what i can do.