which zoom lense?

[stupidbloke]

looking to purchase a cheap and relatively good lense was looking at the 55-200vr from nikon. however heard its not built well and aimed at d40/x users. using a d80 was looking at the sigma 70-300 going at 350. which would be better? or any other recommendations?

thanks in advance

cheers!

 

[ExplorerZ]

is built that impt to you? are yo going to abuse the lens? :dunno:
I see this lens as the best value as of now... <400 you get 1/2 SWM and VR...

 

[stupidbloke]

well i hand a chance to hold it...felt like (im really sorry to say this just my opinion) a toy. but i probably try again

 

[ExplorerZ]

well i hand a chance to hold it...felt like (im really sorry to say this just my opinion) a toy. but i probably try again

:dunno: i tink d80 kit lens ain't much better... its just bigger and heavier... otherwise almost the same.

 

[XC Pictorial]

Built aside, the 55 200 is a good and sharp lens, even the non VR version.

With VR, it is really a steal at >400... :bsmilie:

 

[cichlid]

well i hand a chance to hold it...felt like (im really sorry to say this just my opinion) a toy. but i probably try again

It felt like a toy becoz its small and light..until u handle big and heavy lens, may be then u will appreciate its compactness....

 

[calebk]

It felt like a toy becoz its small and light..until u handle big and heavy lens, may be then u will appreciate its compactness....

Hohoho big and heavy lenses. I used to think that big and heavy means more solid, but now I know that big and heavy actually means more aches at the end of the day.

 

[Override2Zion]

looking to purchase a cheap and relatively good lense was looking at the 55-200vr from nikon. however heard its not built well and aimed at d40/x users. using a d80 was looking at the sigma 70-300 going at 350. which would be better? or any other recommendations?

thanks in advance

cheers!

The Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro is quite a good set of lens. I think you can get a brand new one for about $330 (May even be cheaper). I guess it all depends on what you wanna shoot, a start range of 70mm can be quite crippling when you wanna capture landscapes.

The Nikkor 55-200mm VR is light and portable. Though comprising mainly of plastic, i am worried, not gonna drop it or whack it right? For its price tag, i think its a good balance between features, quality and cost.

 

[daydreamz]

Got a quote from OP for the 70-300 Sigma for $270. It's a grey set of course with their shop warranty but it does not bother me coz their service is very good and I would only be concerned about warranty on my more expensive lenses ($1000+). The local warranty copy is about $320-330 as another fellow Cs'er mentions above.

Been looking for a nice zoom myself....started of thinking the Sigma 70-300 would be a great starter lens...nice range...nice lens...great value at that price and is very well reviewed everywhere...great feedback from many fellow CS'ers.

Then thought naaahhhh...might as well go in for the Nikon 70-300 VR coz the VR is an attractive feature at that length...a nice lens too and costs 2X as the Sigma option...but well worth it in my opinion.

Then again thought naaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh....bought a 17-50 2.8 and am totally totally 100% convinced that 2.8 is the way to go if you really want to stretch your lenses & cam...the massive jump in quality of my pics totally shocked me too....luv it! So now i am saving hard & fierce for a 70-200 2.8 (if i hit a jackpot along the way then it will be Nikon and if not maybe the soon to be launched Tamron 70-200 2.8)

Cheers mate..all the best...this is a expensive and a confusing hobby(sometimes frustrating too!) ...trial & error rules!! haha

 

[ExplorerZ]

Got a quote from OP for the 70-300 Sigma for $270. It's a grey set of course with their shop warranty but it does not bother me coz their service is very good and I would only be concerned about warranty on my more expensive lenses ($1000+). The local warranty copy is about $320-330 as another fellow Cs'er mentions above.

Been looking for a nice zoom myself....started of thinking the Sigma 70-300 would be a great starter lens...nice range...nice lens...great value at that price and is very well reviewed everywhere...great feedback from many fellow CS'ers.

Then thought naaahhhh...might as well go in for the Nikon 70-300 VR coz the VR is an attractive feature at that length...a nice lens too and costs 2X as the Sigma option...but well worth it in my opinion.

Then again thought naaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh....bought a 17-50 2.8 and am totally totally 100% convinced that 2.8 is the way to go if you really want to stretch your lenses & cam...the massive jump in quality of my pics totally shocked me too....luv it! So now i am saving hard & fierce for a 70-200 2.8 (if i hit a jackpot along the way then it will be Nikon and if not maybe the soon to be launched Tamron 70-200 2.8)

Cheers mate..all the best...this is a expensive and a confusing hobby(sometimes frustrating too!) ...trial & error rules!! haha

try the nikkor 80-200 2 touch instead. :devil:

 

[Dan]

Tamron 17-50 2.8 + Nikon 55-200VR

That's all folk...

Got a quote from OP for the 70-300 Sigma for $270. It's a grey set of course with their shop warranty but it does not bother me coz their service is very good and I would only be concerned about warranty on my more expensive lenses ($1000+). The local warranty copy is about $320-330 as another fellow Cs'er mentions above.

Been looking for a nice zoom myself....started of thinking the Sigma 70-300 would be a great starter lens...nice range...nice lens...great value at that price and is very well reviewed everywhere...great feedback from many fellow CS'ers.

Then thought naaahhhh...might as well go in for the Nikon 70-300 VR coz the VR is an attractive feature at that length...a nice lens too and costs 2X as the Sigma option...but well worth it in my opinion.

Then again thought naaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh....bought a 17-50 2.8 and am totally totally 100% convinced that 2.8 is the way to go if you really want to stretch your lenses & cam...the massive jump in quality of my pics totally shocked me too....luv it! So now i am saving hard & fierce for a 70-200 2.8 (if i hit a jackpot along the way then it will be Nikon and if not maybe the soon to be launched Tamron 70-200 2.8)

Cheers mate..all the best...this is a expensive and a confusing hobby(sometimes frustrating too!) ...trial & error rules!! haha

 

[eujiin]

Tamron 17-50 2.8 + Nikon 55-200VR

That's all folk...

How much would the above setup cost?

Rgds

 

[noob sniper]

How much would the above setup cost?

Rgds

the above setup will cost ard $1030-$1090

 

[calebk]

Tamron 17-50 2.8 + Nikon 55-200VR

That's all folk...

Dan you really seem all set on the 55-200 huh.

You probably haven't tried either the 80-200 f/2.8, or the 70-200 f/2.8 VR. :devil:

For the 80-200, think "tack sharp across the frame at f/2.8, or at the most, f/3.2".

For the 70-200, think "AF that goes from end to end of the focus scale almost in an instant".

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. :devil:

 

[Dan]

Ok, what is the price like? How big and heavy this len is?

Dan you really seem all set on the 55-200 huh.

You probably haven't tried either the 80-200 f/2.8, or the 70-200 f/2.8 VR. :devil:

For the 80-200, think "tack sharp across the frame at f/2.8, or at the most, f/3.2".

For the 70-200, think "AF that goes from end to end of the focus scale almost in an instant".

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. :devil:

 

[kcuf2]

80-200 f2.8 is arnd 1600 while the 70-200 is arnd 2700

both lens are arnd 1.4kg, size wise, mmm its arnd the length of 2 or 3 55-200 vr lens unextended.

image quality wise :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

but for the saying that "AF that goes from end to end of the focus scale almost in an instant" for the 70-200vr, it is not really true. particularly if u are using D40/40x/50/70/70s/80. AF still takes a while but of course faster than the 80-200.

i nv use D200 and above models b4 so i cant comment.

 

[Dan]

There is a price to pay....no deep pocket.

This is a hobby...easy come easy go.

80-200 f2.8 is arnd 1600 while the 70-200 is arnd 2700

both lens are arnd 1.4kg, size wise, mmm its arnd the length of 2 or 3 55-200 vr lens unextended.

image quality wise :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

but for the saying that "AF that goes from end to end of the focus scale almost in an instant" for the 70-200vr, it is not really true. particularly if u are using D40/40x/50/70/70s/80. AF still takes a while but of course faster than the 80-200.

i nv use D200 and above models b4 so i cant comment.

 

[daydreamz]

Hi ExplorerZ & kcuf2, thanks for the updates on yet a fourth choice!! haha..now even more confusion.

The 80-200mm 2.8 sounds interesting....especially price wise given that the price for the 70-200mm 2.8 is quite simply out of reach for the moment. :sweat:

Can you please shed some light on this lens, any reviews, your own feedback etc? Also 2stop...what does that mean? Is it a DSLR lens or one of the older lenses? (i intend to use it on my D80). Thanks guys in advance! :thumbsup:

 

[ExplorerZ]

Hi ExplorerZ & kcuf2, thanks for the updates on yet a fourth choice!! haha..now even more confusion.

The 80-200mm 2.8 sounds interesting....especially price wise given that the price for the 70-200mm 2.8 is quite simply out of reach for the moment. :sweat:

Can you please shed some light on this lens, any reviews, your own feedback etc? Also 2stop...what does that mean? Is it a DSLR lens or one of the older lenses? (i intend to use it on my D80). Thanks guys in advance! :thumbsup:

its 2 touch... not stops... it juz mean the lens have a spererate manual focus and zoom ring... older 1 touch series use the same ring to control zoo and focus by turning/push & pull..

to summarise, this lens is execellent for its contrast, color, sharpness even wide open at 80-135mm, above that sharpness/contrast drop but still pretty usable.

 

[daydreamz]

thanks! so it means each shot requires manual focussing? Or does it have a auto focussing feature?

just been reading ken rockwell's reviews on this lens, seems like a real winner. But there seem to be many versions of this, so not quite sure which one is current and which reviews I am reading! :embrass:

Thanks mate.

its 2 touch... not stops... it juz mean the lens have a spererate manual focus and zoom ring... older 1 touch series use the same ring to control zoo and focus by turning/push & pull..

to summarise, this lens is execellent for its contrast, color, sharpness even wide open at 80-135mm, above that sharpness/contrast drop but still pretty usable.