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  • Need Advice: Wildlife Photography Gear Upgrade

    Posted by Aniruddha Bhattacharyya on June 6, 2025 at 10:45 pm

    Hi all, I’m looking to get serious about wildlife photography and need help deciding between two upgrade paths. I currently own a 14-year-old Nikon D3200 with a faulty 18-105mm kit lens (non-functional AF and VR). Nikon service cheekily suggested replacing the lens is economical instead of repairing it.

    My Options:

    1. Stay with Nikon: Buy a used/new 300mm f/2.8 F-mount lens for my D3200.

    2. Shift to Sony (preferred):

    Camera: Sony A7R V (fairly set on this unless there’s strong reason not to)

    Lens: Either

    a) 100-400mm GM

    b) 400-800mm G

    My Questions:

    1. Is it worth investing in a new lens for the D3200, considering its outdated specs (4 fps, ISO 6400 max, 1/4000s shutter)?

    2. If I go the Sony route, which lens would you recommend? I prioritize image quality over reach, and from my research, the 100-400 GM seems sharper than the 400-800 G. I believe I can crop (or use a 1.4x TC/crop mode) to get a reach very close to the 400-800 if needed. Would love your thoughts—especially on whether the 100-400 GM’s image quality justifies picking it over the extra reach of the 400-800 G. Thanks in advance!

    Aniruddha Bhattacharyya replied 4 days, 11 hours ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Abhiditya Sharma

    Member
    June 7, 2025 at 2:17 pm

    I think second option is good to sound as having a good spec is better than invest in old one

    One more suggestion that rather than sony 7r v go with a1 or a9iii they are better option

    And for lens go with 400-800 because with tele converter on 100-400 it also double the f no like (5.6 x 2 ) and it also make image softer

    So at last consider my suggestion

    Bonus tip if possible search for canon r 6ii or r5ii and lens 100-400 or 200-800 option

  • Sudhir Shivaram

    Administrator
    June 11, 2025 at 5:28 pm

    You can also consider the Sony 200-600 for the reach and flexibility along with the Somy A7RV.

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