In the Field with the Nikon 100-400mm Lens
I have long said the Sigma 100-400mm lens was good enough and there was no need to upgrade to the Nikon 100-400mm lens. But late last year I did upgrade to the Nikon 100-400mm lens. Once I became more fond of the 100-400mm focal length in general for my landscape photography, I came up with reasons to upgrade!
I’ve had an opportunity to go on several outings with the lens. In this video, I talk about the Sigma lens, the three reasons I justified the upgrade, and my thoughts on the Nikon 100-400mm lens. I also spend some time using the lens from Dantes View and composing some small scenes from the grand landscape.
🎥 Videos Referenced
Sigma 100-400 One Lens Challenge - • Sigma 100-400 One Lens...
Content:
00:00 - Intro
00:32 - Why a 100-400
02:52 - The Sigma 100-400
04:01 - Three Reasons
06:47 - Nikon 100-400
08:39 - Nikon 100-400 Cons
10:10 - Nikon 100-400 Summary
12:44 - At Dantes View
16:01 - Wrap Up
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Reason 4: It's a great wildlife lens. I took a 4 week trip to Africa and carried a Nikon Z8 with the 100-400 and a Z7 with the 24-200. With the 1.4 tele adapter you have 560mm. It also retracts when you close it making it fit into a smaller bag. I have the Nikon Z180-600 which I really like but it's a very large and heavy lens. (it did not go to Africa) It does not retract which makes it better in bad weather but it's tough to pack it, you need a big bag. The 100-400 with the 1.4 adapter is every bit as sharp as the larger lens and much easier to manage. Versatility, sharpness, size, function, it's all there. Granted it's not a bargain but you do get what you pay for! Don't leave home without it!
You have some great points! I'd been curious about how well the tele converters worked with it, handy to have in the bag for those times you want just a little more reach (or to do some wildlife photography!). I do like the portability of the 100-400 as well, the retractable bit is probably a necessary con for that pro - I find it fairly easy justifying taking with me on most trips.
I've used the 1.4 adapter on the 180-600 and it really degrades the image at the extent of the lens. I don't ever plan to use that combo. The 100-400 is the sharpest lens I've ever used and it plays very nicely with the 1.4. At 560mm it's f8 which in good light is just fine. I've used Nikon's F mount 80-400, 200-500 and neither of those come close to image quality from the 100-400. On the Africa trip, we flew on several small planes that had strict weight limits. I was allowed 15 kilos total for those flights so the 100-400 with the adapter was the only choice. That weight included all gear, clothes and everything. It's fortunately we were in a tropical place and I didn't need heavy clothes! I'd choose the camera gear over clothes every time.@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography
@@jonreed1905 Great to know the 1.4 adapter is a solid performer. Just might end up getting one! I always get nervous with the adapters with how much of an image quality hit there might be. I primarily do landscapes, so F8 isn't a big deal for me as I tend to have a tripod with me and be in that aperture range anyways. And I hear you on prioritizing the camera gear over the clothing!
Thanks for this review! I bought this lens for my trip to Antarctica and was really happy with the wildlife and landscapes I took with it. It’s a zoom lens that I’ve always wanted since for years I wanted to buy the Nikon 80-400 for my D850. But that lens was never perfect and I couldn’t see spending the money on it. The 100-400 is an investment but I feel that I’m going to get a lot of use with this lens for future vacations where I might need to capture something close and yet can use it for landscapes. Also I can’t wait to use my new maven filters on it when they arrive. I really enjoy your videos. Keep them coming.
The lens is certainly an investment, it is such a joy to use which helps! I bet it did great in Antarctica (sounds like an amazing trip!). I've definitely been using mine with MAVEN filters! Appreciate the comment - thank you!
Last summer I finally started transitioning to mirrorless from Canon DSLR. Nikon had great deals on a refurbished Z7 II along with the 24/70 f /4 for only an additional $400 more. So I jumped on that and got the S 70-200 f/2.8 when on sale. Same size and weight as the 100-400. It is a beast but great lens. I think for my photography, landscape mostly here in PA this was still a good choice. Original intentions were to get the 24-120 and 100-400. That would have been just a lot more. One can’t go wrong with either system. Really liking your videos and photography!
I love my Z7 II! Such a great camera. And I think the 24-70 f/4 is a really solid lens as well. I still have my 24-70 even after moving to the 24-120. I think the 70-200 f/2.8 works great for areas like PA, Ohio, etc. Things tend to be less "grand" or expansive if you will, so 200mm of reach works out pretty well. I get out west enough, and even a couple of spots in West Virginia where I like the 100-400. I used a 70-300 in the Ohio area for a good length of time and it worked. Glad you like the videos and such! I appreciate the comment!
So funny, sounds just like my situation. Except mine was the Tamron, not Sigma. I had the same excuses plus in 2021 I had to send my Tamron in for repairs. Didn't want it to flake out on me again (I was in Valley of Fire when it died on me - the worst!). That's my reasoning. Lol I'm gonna check out that tripod collar though. Thanks!!
Oh wow - flaking out in Valley of Fire must have been super disappointing! I haven't been there yet, but it looks like an amazing place and would love to visit.
@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography it’s an awesome place for sure. Yeah, I was on my first trip to the southwest, ever. I rented a Cruise America RV and had a big ole trip planned around the first Outsiders photo conference in Utah. I ended up having an 80-400 lens shipped from LensRentals for the second half of my trip to my next campground. Was that lens ever a beast! Phew! But, better than nothing.
Thanks for the video. Looks like you had a plethora of composition possibilities. I would have a hard time restraining my enthusiasm if I had new lens at location like that.
Yep! It was like a kid in a candy store! Lots of great scenery, hard to distill it all down into compositions!
Great review, thank you! The 100-400Z is a fantastic lens--sharp, light, and close focusing, as you mentioned in the video. One con, for me, though, is the lens hood. Feels very flimsy. I also don't like the locking mechanism on the lens hood. It seems unnecessary and fiddly to use, especially with gloves.
Glad you liked it! I probably missed the lens hood con, with the step-up ring I have on the lens nearly all the time for filters, I almost never have the lens hood on, so I missed that the attachment mechanism is fiddly.
@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography Got it, thank you! One more question... since you were out in DV... I was there many years ago and the blowing sand was giving me serious anxiety about possibly damaging my camera and lenses. That was back in film days when niether cameras nor lenses were well sealed. Our Nikons now are much better in that regard, but any concerns you had while you were out there? That 100-400 is a pricey lens to get some grit in the gears :-0
@@gregl.7465 The day I went to the dunes, there was a haze of sand and dirt in the air, but the winds had passed for the most part. I had two camera bodies with me and I had the 24-120mm on one and the 100-400mm on the other and put them on in the car, that way I didn’t have to change lenses while out in the dunes. If it had still been windy when I was in the dunes, I might have had some reservations. (Probably still would have done it, but with a bit higher anxiety hoping everything worked out okay!)