Budget telephoto decision.

maninsuitcase

maninsuitcase

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Chris
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I recently got a used Nikon D50 with kit 18-55 lens. While this lens has it's limits quality wise I am willing to accept this for now while I am still learning to use it all. I have managed some very acceptable shots with this lens and I am happy to keep it in use for a while yet.

That said there have been a few situations where I could have used a bit longer lens and I know in the future I will need a lot longer for trips to Motorsport events etc.

Now my budget is very much low end so thoughts of fast glass are pointless, instead I need to think about making the most of any investment. My options lens wise seem to be either a 70-300 or a 55-200, but I am not sure which would be the better idea.

Also are there any lenses that are to be avoided in the "low end" and why I should avoid them.

Currently I am looking at the:
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro, Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR DX and Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di Macro IF Version. Also a grey import Nikon 70-300 4.0-5.6G lens, but possible warranty issues are holding me back, even if it is £40-60 less than the others.

I know VR/IS would be useful at these lengths but I can't really afford a massive jump in cost, but if there is an option in the price range then I will consider it. Budget will be in the £125 region but could possibly be pushed to £150 if need be, but will add a month to the time to order.

Also will I soon find I need a monopod with the longer focal lengths. I can usually manage pretty slow shutter speeds well but the extra weight may well change this, especially as the different subject matter will usually mean I can't brace up against a wall/tree/floor.
 
I think at that price you'll be looking at either the Nikkor 55-200mm VR or the Sigma 70-300mm (make sure it's the APO version), second hand. Probably IQ is slightly better from the Nikkor, but the Sigma can give good results too (I've got one ;))
 
maninsuitcase said:
Now my budget is very much low end so thoughts of fast glass are pointless, instead I need to think about making the most of any investment. My options lens wise seem to be either a 70-300 or a 55-200, but I am not sure which would be the better idea.

Currently I am looking at the:
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro, Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR DX and Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di Macro IF Version. Also a grey import Nikon 70-300 4.0-5.6G lens, but possible warranty issues are holding me back, even if it is £40-60 less than the others.
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Personally, the motor racing season is nearly over, I would save up your pennies for next season.

A £125 budget, even 2nd hand ain't going to get you anything worth its weight in salt. 200mm on most race circuits ain't long enough, especially with safety fences, barriers and run offs in the way and as for a monopod, on a lens weighing 900g, you should be able to hand hold one of those lenses no problems, unless you using stupidly low shutter speeds

As for the warranty issue, it depends where you buy the lens, some HK firms offer world wide warranties, other require you to send the lens back to them, but thats often why the lenses are cheaper. Would probably avoid the grey import dealers in the UK, most haven't got a good rep like simply electronics
 
Unfortunately the budget is as good as it's going to get for at least a year, if not 2. While I'd love to spend £100s on a nice Nikon with VR and all the trimmings it's just not going to happen any time soon.

Had a look for that Sigma found the APO for about £150 new (here), used seems to be rather scarce (as do most of these budget lenses actually) with only 1 Nikon fit on eBay. Just how much difference will the APO make over the "normal" one in real life? Or is it a case of wait out and get the APO as it will be less limiting in the future if/when I upgrade the body.
 
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I have the Tamron 70-300mm Macro you mentioned, while it is excellent value for money ( I paid just £90 in the January sales) I would have rather paid extra for the sigma now. Purely because after handling both since the sigma feels much nicer built, with a smoother movement to it.
 
Forget the Sigma, even the APO is soft at the long end, the cheaper Tamron is sharper, it also offers 1:2 macro, and a relatively close focusing distance, .95m @ macro setting, the Sigma is 1.5m

If its cheap but good for the money then grab the Tamron, you can pick them up from about £120 ish new or £60-£80 second hand.
They also do a 55-200 that can be picked up new for £99 if you shop around.
 
I've got the Tamron (Canon fit though)

My reason for buying it was that, much like you, I was on a tight budget, and it was the cheapest of the cheap zooms at the time I bought it so basically I decided, if I was going to get something a bit **** (as all budget zooms are, if we're going to be honest here :) ), I may as well just get the cheapest :)

It's not great - autofocus is slow and very noisy, results aren't always particularly sharp, particularly at the long end and, under certain conditions it has real problems with chromatic fringing. That said, under good conditions, I've got some shots with it I'm very happy with.

I have no idea how it compares to the Nikon, but I seem to remember that it generally came out better in reviews than the non-APO Sigma BTW
 
I've just (literally) paid £65 for a Tamron AF 55-200 F/4-5.6 LD Di II MACRO in what seems to be perfect nick, and there are quite a few of them about at the moment.

- Lens Construction (Groups/Elements): 9/13
- Angle of View: 28°28'-7°59' (APS-C size equivalent)
- Type of Zooming: Rotation
- Diaphragm Blade Number: 9
- Minimum Aperture: F/32
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.95m (37.4") (entire zoom range)
- Macro Magnification Ratio 1:3.5 (at f=200, MFD 0.95m)
- Filter Diameter: ø52
- Weight: 300g (10.4oz)
- Diameter x Length: ø2.8 x 3.3in. (ø71.6 x 83.0mm)

Seems like a decent option to me.
 
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learningtofly said:
I've just (literally) paid £65 for a Tamron AF 55-200 F/4-5.6 LD Di II MACRO in what seems to be perfect nick, and there are quite a few of them about at the moment.

- Lens Construction (Groups/Elements): 9/13
- Angle of View: 28°28'-7°59' (APS-C size equivalent)
- Type of Zooming: Rotation
- Diaphragm Blade Number: 9
- Minimum Aperture: F/32
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.95m (37.4") (entire zoom range)
- Macro Magnification Ratio 1:3.5 (at f=200, MFD 0.95m)
- Filter Diameter: ø52
- Weight: 300g (10.4oz)
- Diameter x Length: ø2.8 x 3.3in. (ø71.6 x 83.0mm)

Seems like a decent option to me.
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I used to have that lens, an excellent budget option that produced nice images, only thing that let it down was the focus speed which was very slow unless the light was good and even then it wasn't that quick.
 
I have a Sigma 70-300 APO, picked it up for about £90 SH. Not really used it in anger on anything like motor sport. It is good value for the money.

Also have the Tamron 55-200 and this is one of my favorite lenses. Picked it up for about £50, I use this lenses a lot. Got to be one off the best value lenses out there.
 
Think I will go for the Tamron 55-200 Di as its reviews seem not to mention any softness at the long end like the 70-300 and CA seems to be better to.

If I find I need more once I have this I can look into it again but hopefully the 200 + crop meaning a 300 effective length should be enough for most my needs.

*wonders off to eBay and used lens merchants*
 
Just got a Tamron 55-200 Di II for £57 posted on eBay. Pretty happy with that result, way under budget and leaves money for other bits on my shopping list!
 
Arrived yesterday in as new condition. Not a single mark on it or the skylight filter it came with. Even the box was in mint condition!

Now I just need to think of some things to point it at, maybe a trip to Mercedes world/Brooklands Museum is in order.
 
Another brand to consider is the Tokina AT-X range they are built like tanks and produce pretty good photos for the price. I have the 24-200 and the 80-400 and loved them before I got into L glass.
 
WillieL said:
Another brand to consider is the Tokina AT-X range they are built like tanks and produce pretty good photos for the price. I have the 24-200 and the 80-400 and loved them before I got into L glass.
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If I could have found an 80-400 at the OP's budget of £150 I would have snapped it up immediately but I think they run out at double that
 
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I started last March in the same way as you.Used D50 with 18-55 kit lens.Realised that I needed something longer and the same as you I bought the Tamron 55-200 for only £99 new from Jessops.I have had some good photos with it and I have posted a couple of examples.One of a butterfly utilising the macro capability and one of a heron with a fish taken at distance.
I have the Nikon 18-200VR now but I can,t take shots like the butterfly one with it.
I think for the price it is a very good buy.Let us see some of your shots with it.
 
Another Tamron 70-300 user here (part of my Jessops Canon bundle).

Overall I'm happy with it, but I have little experience of other lenses. I have spotted that colours are sometimes not as vivid as through the standard kit lens.

Recently I have noticed that it gives errors communicating between camera & lens, and I have found, through a process of elimination (and googling), that it was the battery being inadequately charged.

I don't know if it's always done this and I never got the point of failure on my battery before, or if my battery doesn't have as much juice as it used to & it's happening more.

Just something to watch out for if you haven't charged for a bit and all of sudden think your lens is broken!
 
Jack Flash said:
Let us see some of your shots with it.
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I will once I take some, didn't even get home till 9:30 last night and by the time I'd done all that needed doing it was pretty late and only really managed to take it from the box to check the condition was as described/AF worked etc. Didn't even take 1 frame!

Hopefully will try a few later tonight if even only test shots (ie not of anything interesting) as it's Mums birthday.

Need to try find something interesting to shoot over the weekend if it's nice.
 
I don't think you will be disappointed with the Tamron, Like you I have a D50 with the 18-55mm kit lens, and the Tamron was my first "extra" lens purchase. I had some excellent results with it and only sold it to part finance a Nikon 70-300mm VR as I found I couldn't hold it steady enough at 200 without the tripod, which I know I should always carry but sometimes it's just not practicable. If I could have afforded it I would have kept it for the macro function alone, but my financial situation is not what it was before retirement. If I knew how to do it I would post a pic on here for you to see that I have just printed to enter in the Countryfile comp, not that I think it will win but just to show you the quality of the lens.
 
I had the Sigma 70-300 APO a few years ago on my D50 and was very impressed with it. I just bought a new Sigma 70-300 APO DG with af motor fitted. Again, quality is excellent, I would argue with the comment that its soft at 300mm, mine is perfect and in macro mode it goes down to 1:2, not true macro, but still very good.
I paid about £160 for mine but it has the internal motor. If your quick, FFordes have a DG APO version for sale for £99. A real bargain. Look at their site HERE, if it hasnt been sold.

Either that or the VR version of the Nikon 55-200 is a nice lens.
Allan
 
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I finally managed to have a go with it this evening. I like it. The results are a touch soft, due to longer exposures and me being rather wobbly today, but then I wasn't using a flash as I had to shoot through glass despite the poor light.

Definitely cannot wait to get it out in some proper light at the weekend.

This was probably the best of the ones I kept:


Bearded Dragon 1 by themaninthesuitcase, on Flickr

rest of the set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/themaninthesuitcase/sets/72157624689921159/
 
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You can't go wrong for that money.

I have one in Sony fit, and although it feels like a toy and hunts a bit, it gives clean sharp results pretty much at all lengths and apertures.

enjoy.:thumbs:
 
maninsuitcase said:
I finally managed to have a go with it this evening. I like it. The results are a touch soft, due to longer exposures and me being rather wobbly today, but then I wasn't using a flash as I had to shoot through glass despite the poor light.

Definitely cannot wait to get it out in some proper light at the weekend.

This was probably the best of the ones I kept:


Bearded Dragon 1 by themaninthesuitcase, on Flickr

Under the conditions you used it in that is pretty good Chris.It looks like you used it wide open or near wide open.The main part of the reptile,face and eyes are the sharpest.Hope you get the chance to try it in some decent light.

rest of the set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/themaninthesuitcase/sets/72157624689921159/
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Thanks for the comment. It was more or less wide open 1: to get some light down the lens and 2: the back drop is very obviously man made and I like to try and hide that.
 
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