I am headed to Alaska in a little over a week to photograph brown bears in Katmai NP. The trip leader recommends a 100-400 mm lens. When I made plans for this trip (almost 2 years ago and pre-covid), I had expected that the 100-400S lens in Z mount would be out by now. I also sold my 80-400 mm G lens (I had a good copy) last year. I plan to take a Z7II, Z6II and either a D500 or D850. I'm set on the shorter end (14-30 f4, 24-70 f4, and 70-200 f2.8 in Z mount). But still debating what to take for a longer lens or lenses.
I'm thinking about:
200-500 mm Nikon zoom. Good lens and a zoom, but a bit heavy (the PFs have spoiled me) and not the fastest AF. The zoom takes a fair amount of turning to go from the short end to the long end or back.
500 mm PF. My favorite lens, but no zoom flexibility and may be a bit long for many shots. So I could pair it with a 70-300 mm AF-P FX lens (on the D500 or D850) or the 70-200 f2.8 with a 1.4x TC in Z mount (on the Z6II) and carry two bodies/lenses on a double black rapid strap. (We will likely be shooting handheld most of the time.)
70-200 mm f2.8 with the 2x TC in Z mount, giving me a 140-400 mm f5.6 on a Z7II. Playing around with this combo some this week. Wonder how it will do with autofocus and fast action.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
I'm thinking about:
200-500 mm Nikon zoom. Good lens and a zoom, but a bit heavy (the PFs have spoiled me) and not the fastest AF. The zoom takes a fair amount of turning to go from the short end to the long end or back.
500 mm PF. My favorite lens, but no zoom flexibility and may be a bit long for many shots. So I could pair it with a 70-300 mm AF-P FX lens (on the D500 or D850) or the 70-200 f2.8 with a 1.4x TC in Z mount (on the Z6II) and carry two bodies/lenses on a double black rapid strap. (We will likely be shooting handheld most of the time.)
70-200 mm f2.8 with the 2x TC in Z mount, giving me a 140-400 mm f5.6 on a Z7II. Playing around with this combo some this week. Wonder how it will do with autofocus and fast action.
Any thoughts or suggestions?