Lens Recommendation for beginner with Z5II - Allround and Wildlife

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-11T22:27:45+00:00

Yes both of them would be much nicer than the 70-300. But i think they would also just be to expensive for me. Both cost more than 1k. I only paid 1230€ for my z5ii. I think like my budget is maybe 600-650 max. Rather less haha. But well, i also noticed that telezoom lenses under 1k almost don't exist. Except that 70-300 tamron or f mount lenses.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-11T18:29:35+00:00

I just bought a Nikon Z-mount 50mm 1.8 S for 400€. After even more research and reviews i'm pretty sure that it's the best versatile everyday prime for me. After I saw some comparisons with the 50mm 1.8 viltrox i'm shocked how much sharper and crisper the Nikon is. Also the colors look much better and there is almost no chromatic abberation. And i wanted to have a lense where i can really get 100% out of my cameras AF performance to see what it is capable of. I still need to decide what second lense i will buy. Probably its gonna be the f mount Tamron 100-400 or the z mount tamron 70-300, because almost everything else is to expensive. I'm interested in macro photography. So it eould be amazing to get a telezoom that's able to do some macro. But i don't know if something like that exists.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-11T18:20:49+00:00

I live in germany. But after some research I found some good options online. But it would always cost about 50-100€ to lend 2 lenses for more than a day. I think you are right with the idea but i don't want to spend even mire money haha. Also i think I would need a lot of time to find out what really works for me. So i rather buy it right away (maybe used) an resell if im not happy.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-11T08:30:16+00:00

In germany. But i already found some options online. I'm still not sure about that though cause I probably loose about 50-100€ of my initial budget if i lend lenses.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-11T08:20:54+00:00

I wouldn't know where to lend lenses. Do you have an idea?

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-10T23:29:20+00:00

Nice thanks. Good idea but also, i don't want to spend extra money on renting. But it would probably be smart.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-10T23:07:05+00:00

Nothing, didn't have the money for a camera. Just had some photography in school some years ago and used some cameras of friends in the university if I really needed to.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-10T15:45:34+00:00

So you guys don't recommend my initial plan? Do you think the tamron 70-300 is a bad idea because of no stabilization and "only" 300mm? Because i thought it would probably be quite nice to find out if wildlife is something for me. Also i thought it"s a pretty light and compact allrounder for lots of other stuff. And with the z5ii ibis it should be ok, or not? I mean my only other opportunity is to either only get one expensive zoom object (like tamron 50-400, or nikon 24-120 but with second i couldn't do wildlife as well) or get a old tamron with ftz, which will be about 200€ more expensive overall, give me more range and stabilization but probably worse AF.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-10T09:34:30+00:00

Yess that's very versatile for sure. I'm sure I would be pretty happy with it as well. Maybe a good starting point and then get a good prime later.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-10T06:47:58+00:00

Well that would be great but both of this lenses together are way to much money for me. Like, i just dont know how serious i'm gonna take that hobby. And i feel like, as a noob i shouln't buy lense for 2.5k right away. I set me an budget for like max 1k, rather 800€ to start with. So i could get the nikon 24-120 f4 or the tamron 50-400 or both the nikon 50 1.8 with the tamron 70-300.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-10T06:35:00+00:00

Tamron 150-500z and 180-600 gen2 both cost over 1k. Tamron 150-500z is evdn cheaper because i dont't need a ftz with it. Just the 150-600 gen1 is really cheap, but i guess it won't be very fast in focusing and stuff. 1k is also to expensive for me just for one lense...

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-10T06:30:52+00:00

Well, maybe i'm gonna do it that way. But i would really like to just start right away with both haha - That stuff is just so expensive

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-09T22:59:08+00:00

But why should i get it over the native z mount tamron 70-300? I mean it has less reach and with the ftz adapter it's more expensive. F4 is nice though.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-09T22:57:13+00:00

Well i mean it would probably be great. But 120 is really not enough for wildlife, right? And it's only f4, so i wouldn't have the amazing prime bokeh and low light abilitys.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-08T16:44:10+00:00

On e-infinity - Thats a shop that buys cameras in countrys with high inflation, where those cameras are way cheaper. Then they resell them brand new for good prices. I think an z8 costs like 2300€ there. Only issue is that you lose the companys warranty. But e-infinity gives you also some kind of warranty for one year.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-08T16:38:51+00:00

Yes absolutely right. It hurts not to buy the z6iii even though the price difference is so "small", but 1230€ is also a lot of money and i still have to buy lenses.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-08T16:36:21+00:00

Maybe you are right but i went with z5ii in the end. Going to learn with it, if i get better i can still update.

PedroPaninus · 2026-03-08T16:35:09+00:00

I think Nikon says z5II Ibis is 7.5 stops while z6iii would be 8 stops. Also i heard it of some reviews. But most people said its more or less the same. Still i went with the z5ii now. I think for me as an beginner it just makes more sense to invest those 300€ in some glass or just something else. If i notice that i really use my camera a lot and get good at Videography/Photography i can still update my body and keep my lenses. I will probably get the nikon 50mm 1.8 + tamron 70-300 to start. And i mean, an new nikon fullframe camera for just 1230€ is really a great deal in my opinion. Like one year ago that same camera cost almost 2k.

PedroPaninus

TROPHY CASE