[JJ_SO]

...I believe that in this category you will need a lens to better service your needs than just buying the better lens.

 

Valid point.

 

I wanted a strong tele to shoot some sports, at first comes in my mind an event called "Bike Days Solothurn" (nearly 24.000 visitors, half of them photographers  ). Part of that is a fair, various races in the woods and some show events like MTB dirt jump. I like to catch the bikers when they are at 7...8 m high in the air from a closeby city wall. Distances soemwhat between 5 and 50 meters and it's difficult to access closer points to get that perspective.

 

Also, I like to try my luck on animals, birds (but nothing rare or exotic). Moon shots would be nice, too.

 

Since I never use a car to transport my gear (instead public transport and / or bike ) I carry that stuff - so one aspect IS weight.

 

I'm no pro in aspect of sports shooting, the professional part of what I'm doing is documentation of machinery. So I'll buy the lens for fun, not for making money.

 

Without experience with long teles It's hard for me to tell if its better to have a HQ prime a little bit shorter and crop afterwards or get a better image quality framing as close as possible. If the Nikon lens always snaps AF, I save 1 ... 5/3 stop of ISO and if the crop is as good as the closer framed long tele, I could be happy with the prime. My back sure would be happier if not some subconscious devil tells the brain "now you could take two more lenses with you..."