Best & Cheapest zoom lens for Nikon D3000?

sticker

Hi all, recently bought a D3000 - Its my first SLR and I love it! getting great results and learning a lot!

I'd like to source a good *but cheap* (!) zoom lens - A local camera shop said the Sigma 70-300 apo would be the best solution.

Would you guys agree - there seems to be a cheap price here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sigma-70-300mm-70-300-mm-APO-DG-Macro-Lens-Canon-EF-/370381880772?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item563c7afdc4

Thanks in advance

CabanSail

The cheapest zoom lens you will probably get is the Kit Lens which came with the camera. This would probably be the 18-55mm VR lens.

The lens you have linked to would be fine as a longer zoom, but as it's in Hong Kong you will have to pay VAT & fees on it, which would not make it that cheap.

If that is the range & speed you are looking for then maybe have a look on Adverts.ie for a similar lens secondhand.

magicbastarder

i picked one of those lenses up (the APO one with the motor - there's a version without a motor, but you'd want the one with the motor) for €210 in dublin.

the one you linked to is a canon mount, btw.

sticker

CabanSail wrote: »

The cheapest zoom lens you will probably get is the Kit Lens which came with the camera. This would probably be the 18-55mm VR lens.

The lens you have linked to would be fine as a longer zoom, but as it's in Hong Kong you will have to pay VAT & fees on it, which would not make it that cheap.

If that is the range & speed you are looking for then maybe have a look on Adverts.ie for a similar lens secondhand.

Thanks for the prompt reply!

I have the 18-55mm VR lens lens, I'm just looking for an added zoom level. You are quite right re: the fees - the average shipping is $79! before anything else!

I was just wondering what budget lens are available and where's the best spot to buy pricewise! I will investigate the adverts option as a first avenue though - thanks!

sticker

magicbastarder wrote: »

i picked one of those lenses up (the APO one with the motor - there's a version without a motor, but you'd want the one with the motor) for €210 in dublin.

the one you linked to is a canon mount, btw.

I'm new to all things SLR! - what the difference between the motor/without motor? thanks...

magicbastarder

the D3000 doesn't have a focus motor built into the body, whereas most nikon bodies do - thus, most affordable nikon lenses don't have focus motors in them - which means they would be manual focus only on your camera.
sigma have a motorised and a non-motorised version of that lens as a result, depending on what nikon you have.
it quite confusingly means there are four versions, between APO and non-APO, and motorised and non-motorised. the APO motorised version is the most expensive.

Nforce

Not the cheapest...but the best bang for your buck would be the Nikon 70-300mm VR (Vibration Reduction). This will work fine on your camera body. You may be able to pick up a decent secondhand example for ~€300.

charybdis

Good.
Cheap.
Zoom.

Choose two.

sticker

Thanks all - Much apprecaited!

I had a quick butchers on Adverts - Any thoughts on these - Some may be older!

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=229705

http://www.adverts.ie/215260/lenses/nikon-af-s-dx-zoom-nikkor-55-200-mm-f-4-56-g-ed-lens-in-black/

Please excuse if these are bogey choices - I'm new to all this!

EDIT: Don't see a lot of 70-300mm VR around the €300 mark.

sticker

charybdis wrote: »

Good.
Cheap.
Zoom.

Choose two.

Considering this is a non-professional purchase, just a hobby kinda thing, the important point would be ease of use for me - There must be non-Nikon lenses that will provide a good job for less buck...? My assumption being Nikon will be significantly more than spurious models!

Nforce

You've heard the saying......"Buy cheap, Pay twice".

We've probably all been there. Just had a look on Adverts and the last couple of 70-300VR's sold for around €320, so I wasn't too far off the mark. Trust me...this lens is perfect for an amateur or pro alike. Fast,quiet focusing and very sharp images.

sylvesterallein

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/741934/art/sigma/70-300-mm-f4-5-6-dg-macro.html

We just bought this one a couple of weeks ago, it works well.

You can see some of the pics here:
www.flickr.com/photos/LordLoafer

thecivvie

Currys have NIKON AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200 mm f/4-5.6 G ED Lens in black for €169, Pixmania have the same for €325. Seems a good lenses but no VR

I picked one up in Galway yesterday and this is the result

sticker

Thanks again for the advice guys - what do you recon of this one for €150?

No VR though -

http://www.adverts.ie/215260

Nforce

sticker wrote: »

Thanks again for the advice guys - what do you recon of this one for €150?

No VR though -

http://www.adverts.ie/215260

Not much of a deal @ €150 considering thecivvie has mentioned above that you can pick one up brand new for 20 yoyos more.

sticker

Nforce wrote: »

Not much of a deal @ €150 considering thecivvie has mentioned above that you can pick one up brand new for 20 yoyos more.

:rolleyes: Oops! Sorry, my bad! thanks...

CabanSail

There are a lot of very very good shots that have been taken on lenses without VR, also without AF for that matter. Now both are nice to have but then so is a Ferrari, but we cannot all afford everything we want.

If you have limited funds, as seems the case, and you do need the extra reach, then look for the best glass without the gadgets. Used well these will reward you with some great photographs. Nikon really do not produce bad lenses. There are quite a few older ones about & I have seen the 70-300 f4 - f5.6 G being sold for around the €70 mark. It will work fine with your D3000 but is not a VR lens. I have one here I bought with my D70s but am giving to my Brother in Law rather than take back to Australia with me (how I will fit the rest in I don't know) but it worked fine for me before I could afford to get faster glass with VR. It still would except I am spoiled. It is a good lens, but not one of their best, but still great value for money.

Below is a shot taken with that lens, long before I knew much about PP, so fairly much straight from the camera.

sticker

CabanSail wrote: »

There are a lot of very very good shots that have been taken on lenses without VR, also without AF for that matter. Now both are nice to have but then so is a Ferrari, but we cannot all afford everything we want.

If you have limited funds, as seems the case, and you do need the extra reach, then look for the best glass without the gadgets. Used well these will reward you with some great photographs. Nikon really do not produce bad lenses. There are quite a few older ones about & I have seen the 70-300 f4 - f5.6 G being sold for around the €70 mark. It will work fine with your D3000 but is not a VR lens. I have one here I bought with my D70s but am giving to my Brother in Law rather than take back to Australia with me (how I will fit the rest in I don't know) but it worked fine for me before I could afford to get faster glass with VR. It still would except I am spoiled. It is a good lens, but not one of their best, but still great value for money.

Below is a shot taken with that lens, long before I knew much about PP, so fairly much straight from the camera.

Sorry for the delay getting back to you CabanSail - many thanks for the advise - great image by the way!

Tin Foil Hat

I ordered the AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR DX from here last night for €155 brand new.

http://simplyelectronics.net/mainproduct.php?pid=762

sticker

Tin Foil Hat wrote: »

I ordered the AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR DX from here last night for €155 brand new.

http://simplyelectronics.net/mainproduct.php?pid=762

Many Thanks Tin Foil Hat -

Anyone think this might be the one to go for?! Looks pretty good (with VR built in!)

TinyExplosions

Simplyelectronics has some... mixed reviews online...

here and here as well as here advise a large amount of 'buyer beware'

sticker

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Simplyelectronics has some... mixed reviews online...

here and here as well as here advise a large amount of 'buyer beware'

Ouch! Glad I didn't go for an impulse buy! Many thanks TinyExplosions!

Tin Foil Hat

sticker wrote: »

Ouch! Glad I didn't go for an impulse buy! Many thanks TinyExplosions!

Ouch indeed!
A long few days coming up methinks.:mad:

magicbastarder

ring your CC company and inform them of the purchase and see if they can pull it.

ozymandius

Conns had a couple of pre-owned Nikkor AF-S 55-200 NON-VR lenses last week. Priced at 100 - 150 I think. Cheap and cheerful zoom with a bit of warranty.

Tin Foil Hat

sticker wrote: »

Ouch! Glad I didn't go for an impulse buy! Many thanks TinyExplosions!

I tried to cancel this order, but they sent it out anyway. Delivery is from Hong Kong, which was not made clear on their website.
So,
a) I'm probably getting a 'grey' import and
b) I may be stung for VAT and import duty.

A sneaky dishonest company. Keep well away.

skelliser

just spotted this on pixmania, seems like a good price and has vr
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/536785/art/nikon/af-s-dx-vr-zoom-nikkor-55.html

thecivvie

I was going to go for that one but decided that I prefered €60 in my pocket and went for the one with VR at Currys.