Lenses for Wildlife

I am an amateur photographer. I own a Nikon D5000 and a Nikon 70-300mm zoom lens. Since my interest is in wildlife photography, I have decided to buy a Nikon 300mm f/4, but am also confused between Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 and Sigma 120-400mm. Which would be my best option? Anil Thakre, via E-mail The AF-S VR Zoom- Nikkor 70300mm f/ 4.5- 5.6G IF ED is a good lens. The prime 300mm f/ 4 is better in terms of image quality ( it is also ‘ faster’ than the other), but then you will lose the advantage of zoom in terms of convenience of framing. The 300mm f/ 4 offers a lens collar, the 70- 300mm does not. The lens collar helps to easily convert from horizontal to vertical format without disturbing the balance, when the camera is tripod mounted. The Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 obviously has a greater ‘reach’ and also has a lens collar. Like most zoom lenses of this nature, it loses a bit of its sharpness at the longer end (the same could be said of the Nikkor 70-300mm!). The Nikon 80-200mm is a good lens but is not adequately ‘long’ for wildlife. So now we need to choose between the Nikon 70-300mm (which you already possess), the Nikon 300mm f/4 and the Sigma 12-400mm. Considering the crop factor of your camera (1.5x), the maximum effective focal length would be 450mm (with the Nikkors) or 600mm with the Sigma. Now consider what kind of wildlife photography you would like to do – large animals/birds, or smaller animals/birds? Would you ( generally) shoot from a ‘ hide’? Would you generally shoot hand-held or use a tripod? How close do you expect to be to your subjects? The 70-300mm is easier to hand-hold at 725 g; the Sigma 120-400mm (1750 g) will tire you out quite fast. The 300mm f/4 is no lightweight either (1440 g). For large subjects, 450mm equivalent may often be okay but for smaller subjects ( like birds), even 600mm equivalent will often fall short. If you can somehow manage with your existing 70-300mm (equivalent to 450mm at the longer end), you’ll save yourself quite a lot of money; if not, try to get someone’s 120-400mm lens and try it out. You will be satisfied with its image quality. The reason I am being so cautious is because once you purchase a lens, no shopkeeper will take it back or exchange it for another. Good luck.