Nikon Zoom lens advice please

[Buckster]

After just doing a "swap" of a Canon 350D to a Nikon D70S (prefer the handling etc of the Nikon), and being very pleased with the kit 18-70 lens, I'm now looking for a zoom lens.

My budget is not great (up to 400 pounds MAX) - and not ideal subjects for a cheap lens either - birds and airshow photography. I know both of these really could do with fast expensive lenses, but I just can't justify the cost of one of those.

My candidates are (all 2nd hand) in list of what I think is best for the money so far - best at the top.

Any help please ? The Nikon 70-300 ED seems to get univerally panned, but I've seen some superb photos on Pbase taken with it.

Thanks, Mark.


Nikon 300mm ED F/4 (not the EF-S version) - £380
Sigma 130-400 APO - £230
Nikon 70-300 ED - £190
Sigma 70-300 APO - £110
Tokina 80-400 - £199

[Canis Vulpes]

I think 400mm minimum for airshow photography. I used 80-400VR for a few years and I realise it not on your list but beware of cheap lenses. When on a budget used is always worth considering but be patient for the right lens at the right price.

A zoom is recommended for airshows as the subject will vary enormously in size and distance throughout any show.

70-300ED focus speed, sharpness and CA were all issues for me.

Sample 80-400VR, focal length approx 350mm

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...o=2469&cat=504

[Andy]

I've had a couple of 70-300 ED's over the years. Not that bad but not deserving of the price tag, nor the ED tag. I found it sharp enough if you stopped down to f8+ at 300mm but not a pretty site at 70mm @f5.6 I didn't find colour fringing a serious problem until it went in front of a D2x. As Stephen says, AF is slooow.

The 300 f4 prime would be great for the birds, even get a teleconverter on and still get AF but I think you'd want the flexibility of a zoom for aviation though. The Sigma 130-400mm maybe interesting, i think fellow WPF member Greypoint uses one, or has done.

cheers,
Andy

[greypoint]

Yes - the 135-400mm is a good budget buy - I used one all last summer. Like most budget lenses if performs best in brighter weather when you can stop it down a bit. The great thing is it's lack of purple fringing in sunshine. I had a Tokina 80-400mm for a while too and that did suffer a bit from CA and was also harder to hold. The 135-400 is pretty easy to handhold if you keep the shutter speed up. The Sigma 70-300 APO is similarly good. The other way to go - which i'm presently doing - is the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 which can be got for around 300.00 on Ebay. A superb fast 80-200 which doubles as a 160-400 with the addition of a 2x teleconverter for longer range [or a 1.4x could be used]. Weighs a ton but easy to hold!

[Buckster]

Thanks for all of your advice.

Stephen and Andy - thanks - I think I can remove the ED lens off my list then ...

Greypoint, I know its hard to compare, but how would you say the 80-200 + 2x T-con compare vs the 135-400 Sigma ? PQ wise that is ?

Thanks to you all,

Mark.

[greypoint]

The obvious difference is the weight - the 135-400 feels quite a bit lighter. The 80-200 is a solid metal bodied lens and being te old type is push/pull - which people either tend to love or hate. With regard to quality of results I have'nt found a massive difference - but the 80-200 with the 2x on does occasionally show a bit of purple fringing on the edge of something like a sunlit swans wing etc. - I put that down to the cheap 2x I'm using as the lens itself seems pretty good. The advantage for me is that I often photograph birds that don't need a long telephoto and the 80-200 by itself is a great lens - and gives you 300mm at f2.8 which is brilliant in dull weather. The disadvantage of a 135-400 or 170-500 is the 'long' short end.

[nirofo]

I get great results from a Tokina ATX 80-400, I can reccommend it. I don't know where Buckster get's them for £199 though, unless they're secondhand that is?

niofo.

[Michael Rogers]

Stephen is absolutly right. Save up, for a little more you can get the Nikon 80-400 VR. Nice used one are out there. I use this lens for air shows and it works great. All the air craft on my web site were shot using the 80-400 VR.
Michael
www.imagesbymichaelrogers.com