Best budget lens for wildlife photography on a Nikon camera?

Question

Ive been shooting with my D750 for years mostly doing portraits and some street stuff but im finally heading out to Yellowstone in about three weeks and realized i have nothing longer than my 85mm prime which is obviously gonna be useless for bears or elk. I thought about just cropping my shots but I know the image quality will tank and I really want to catch some decent detail without being a mile away. I am looking for something that wont break the bank because im mostly a hobbyist and cant justify those crazy 600mm f4 prices even though they look amazing.

My specific needs are:

Budget: $800 to $1000 max (used is fine)

Use case: Large mammals in Yellowstone and some birding at home

Body: Nikon F-mount (Full Frame)

Portability: I need to be able to hike with it for at least 3 or 4 miles

I've been looking at the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 because I love native glass but people keep saying its a beast to carry around all day. Then there are the Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm options which give more reach but I worry the autofocus might be sluggish on my older body. Does the Tamron G2 actually hold up or should I just suck it up and get the heavy Nikon zoom? Just looking for the best bang for my buck before I head out west...

Richardhuche · Accepted Answer

The D750 is still a beast for wildlife if you have the right glass. When I was doing a road trip through the Tetons, I actually went with the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 because I wanted that extra 100mm on the long end for birds. People trash third-party AF sometimes but on the D750, the G2 is actually pretty snappy once you update the firmware via the tap-in console... it tracked bison and even a few faster hawks without hunting too much. Heres the technical trade-off compared to the Nikon options:The Tamron has better weather sealing for those random Yellowstone rain showers.You get 600mm instead of 500mm which matters more than you think for small birds.The zoom ring throw is shorter so you can go from 150 to 600 faster.Flex zoom lock is a lifesaver when youre hiking with the lens pointed down. Tbh the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary is the lightest of the bunch if weight is the absolute priority, but the build quality feels a bit more plasticky compared to the Tamron. If you can find a used G2 for around 800 or 900 bucks, that is basically the sweet spot for your budget. Just make sure the previous owner updated the firmware or buy the dock yourself... it makes a huge difference in AF consistency on older F-mount bodies.

Pamelarhymn · Answer

> I've been looking at the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 because I love native glass but people keep saying its a beast to carry around all day. Honestly man, people arent exaggerating about that Nikon. I tried lugging the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR through Glacier last year and it was a total nightmare. My back was killing me after just two miles. Its sharp, sure, but the zoom throw is way too long and it is just... massive. Unfortunately, I also had some issues with the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary hunting for focus on my D750, which is frustrating when an elk is actually moving. It just wasnt as good as I expected for birding either. If you want the best middle ground, Id grab the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. You can find them used for around $900. Its way easier to hike with than the Nikon and the build quality is solid. AF is plenty snappy for Yellowstone... just dont expect it to feel like your 85mm. Its still a lot of glass to haul.

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Best budget lens for wildlife photography on a Nikon camera?