Cheap Nikon Telephoto zoom

trican

Hi all,

Sorry for another one of these threads... I'm looking for a cheap telephoto zoom (must have an aperture ring). I've been considering the Sigma 70-300mm APO or the Nikon 70-300 ED . I understand both at soft between 200-300 and quite slow but for the price give pretty decent performance.

Anyone who has either of these lens care to comment? Or indeed sell one to me?!

Kintarō Hattori

The Sigma is excellent value for money, it is generally regarded as the best telephoto lens for the money. Unfortunately searching has been disabled so I can't give you the previous threads on this topic but for price vs performance the Sigma usually comes out as the one posters recommend.. Below are some shots I've taken with it myself:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liamandagnieszka/3856800601

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liamandagnieszka/3799916947

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liamandagnieszka/3504137227/in/set-72157622446614194

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liamandagnieszka/3505262264/in/set-72157622446614194


A great value lens, just make sure you go for the APG DO version should you decide to go for the Sigma. It's a heavy lens and the focusing ring could be smoother but I can't complain. If I wanted something sharper I'd be paying a hell of alot more money.

trican

The "APG DO version" is worth going for then? I ask as I see on Ebay that the "DL" version seems €30-€50 cheaper.


Anyone have one for sale at a reasonable price!?

Kintarō Hattori

trican wrote: »

The "APG DO version" is worth going for then? I ask as I see on Ebay that the "DL" version seems €30-€50 cheaper.


Anyone have one for sale at a reasonable price!?

Most folk here will tell you that the cheaper version is not really worth going for. I got mine about a year ago from Conns for €199. I think it's gone up in price but ring around the usual suspects and see what they are charging.

Conns, Gunns, Camera Exchange etc.

Thirdfox

Must have aperature ring?

I think neither of the lenses you mention have aperture rings - they are all "G" lenses (or the equivalent thereof).

If you don't need the 300mm reach then I'd like to suggest the 55-200mm Nikon VR lens. Cheap and cheerful - I got mine for 230 euro new 2 years ago.

My samples:







Oh and as for ultra cheap - I got a 200mm f4 AI Nikkor for 50 dollars. It's old, cheap, has an aperture ring, manual focus, manual exposure but at f8 is much better than my new 55-200 (not surprising as a prime lens).

Kintarō Hattori

Thirdfox wrote: »

Must have aperature ring?

I think neither of the lenses you mention have aperture rings - they are all "G" lenses (or the equivalent thereof).

I'm pretty sure the Sigma does. Can't find a decent image online to confirm it but from memory I'm fairly certain it has one.

DaireQuinlan

Or consider the older nikon 75->300 zoom. Its the predecessor to the 70->300s. It's about twice as long and twice as heavy as the plasticky 70->300s, but apparently has the edge quality wise. I bought mine years ago in a fit of enthusiasm. Never really used it, I'm more a normal->wide angle person I've discovered, and the f/5.6 at the long end sorta kills it.

trican

Yeah from looking at pictures on Ebay the Sigma does have an aperture ring.

Interesting suggestion about the 200mm AI lens Thirdfox - I do like the mechanical feel of those old lens

Thirdfox

Normal version


APO version

I'm pretty sure that neither has an aperture ring. Is there any particular reason you want/need one?

As for the old manual focus ones - just remember that without the split prisms of the film cameras manual focus is slower. Manual exposure slows things down too and the old AI lenses are generally for fun and not if you're going to be doing some serious photographic work. Having said that I used to shoot with a 50mm f2 pre-AI lens (even for commercial shots).

DaireQuinlan

Thirdfox wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that neither has an aperture ring. Is there any particular reason you want/need one?

As for the old manual focus ones - just remember that without the split prisms of the film cameras manual focus is slower. Manual exposure slows things down too and the old AI lenses are generally for fun and not if you're going to be doing some serious photographic work. Having said that I used to shoot with a 50mm f2 pre-AI lens (even for commercial shots).

I'd presumed trican has either some film camera or one of the aperture ring enabled digitals (D200/300 and above). Actually to add to that, I originally got my 75->300 when all I had was an FE-2. Very difficult to focus at 300 (f/5.6) because half the split prism blacks out at most angles. V. annoying. F/4.5 was a little better but you still had to wiggle the head a little to get a good focus confirmation. That was another reason that led to me not really using it that much.

Nisio

ah so that's why the yoke blacks out on by FM when I'm trying to focus, I should probably be focusing then aperture and not the other way around?


(sorry for off topic)

DaireQuinlan

Nisio wrote: »

ah so that's why the yoke blacks out on by FM when I'm trying to focus, I should probably be focusing then aperture and not the other way around?

(sorry for off topic)

Shouldn't make any difference, when you're focusing the lens should be open to it's maximum aperture, it only stops it down when the shutter button is pressed. The problem is when the maximum aperture of the lens is high. You'll start seeing the problem around F/4 or so, gets pretty bad around the f/5.6 mark.

So if you have one of those slow zooms mounted (say f/3.5->4.5 or 4.5->5.6) you'll have difficulty focusing. You generally have to slide your eye very slightly from side to side to get the two halves bright. Its a PITA all right.

gary82

I got the Sigma 70-300mm APO from Pixmania and I'm very very impressed!

Browsing this link convinced me to buy: http://www.flickr.com/groups/_sigma_af_70-300mm_f4-56_dg_apo_macro/pool/

Be careful though as there are versions for Nikon with and without the built-in motor. Some cameras (like my D60) require the built-in motor to autofocus.

bogman

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Unfortunately searching has been disabled

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