Fast zoom advice pleeeease

Tractor Boy · 27 Mar 2012

So I find myself needing a fast zoom and considering that budget is a constraint the Nikon 70-200 is way way out of the question. I have narrowed it down to either Sigma 70-200 or Nikon 80-200 (prob push/pull). Looking to sell/ trade my 70-300 AF-S VR and an 18-70 AF-S with a little more added.

I am doing a lot more portrait bits and second shooting a few weddings this year hence the need to upgrade, but I would also like to be able to stick a kenko 1.4x converter on to get me almost back to the 300 that I already have for using in my bird hide.

Which one and why (any examples would be good) :help:

.

Thanks in advance

Nick

EspressoJunkie · 28 Mar 2012

Apparently the 80-200 is optically very good, but I've heard that the push pull mechanism can suck dust inside the camera. You could look for a 2 touch version, but they are quite a bit more expensive.

Tractor Boy · 28 Mar 2012

EspressoJunkie said:
Apparently the 80-200 is optically very good, but I've heard that the push pull mechanism can suck dust inside the camera. You could look for a 2 touch version, but they are quite a bit more expensive.

Hi Greg - that was one of my concerns over the push pull mechanism having never had one. I do keep looking ofr a two touch one but they never seem to be in my price range :thumbsdown:

Nick

Tractor Boy · 28 Mar 2012

Anyone else :shrug:

CaptainPenguin · 28 Mar 2012

Had you thought about the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 I just got one and have been delighted with its performance both at sport and general use

Nawty · 28 Mar 2012

I don't think any of the Nikon 80-200 lenses work with a TC.

Tractor Boy · 28 Mar 2012

CaptainPenguin said:
Had you thought about the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 I just got one and have been delighted with its performance both at sport and general use

I have thought about the Tamron but heard that the AF was slow:shrug:

Nawty said:
I don't think any of the Nikon 80-200 lenses work with a TC.

I have heard conflicting stories on this one - I understand that it wont work with the Nikon but that it wil work with the Kenko.

Cheers

Nick

CaptainPenguin · 28 Mar 2012

I was told that the Tamron was awfull and yet I have been well pleased with the football shots I have taken over the last few weeks

Tractor Boy · 29 Mar 2012

CaptainPenguin said:
I was told that the Tamron was awfull and yet I have been well pleased with the football shots I have taken over the last few weeks

Hmm might have another look - what is the focus speed like in poor light as that is one of the things that I need to be decent.

CaptainPenguin · 29 Mar 2012

Tractor Boy said:
Hmm might have another look - what is the focus speed like in poor light as that is one of the things that I need to be decent.

Only had one match in poor light but the focus seemed fine certainly much better than the Canon 70-300 IS USM that I had been using

insertusernamehere · 29 Mar 2012

I've been lucky enough to compare a number of the Nikon 80-200 to a number of the Sigma 70-200 lenses.

I had a good copy of the sigma 70-200 Mki Macro, I found it to perform a lot better than the 80-200 one touch I had, marginally better than the AF-D two touch I had and marginally worse than the AF-S two touch I had.

I had an older sigma 70-200 as well, (the one with the different grip pattern) and that was softer and slower than all the others.

In the end I stuck with the Sigma Mki Macro (until I switched back to canon) because at around £400 compared to the £750 or so for the AF-S the difference in IQ or AF speed wasn't worth the additional £££ to me.

If I were to it again I would bide my time and get a sharp copy of the sigma 70-200 MKii Macro and a Sigma 1.4x TC

I hope that helps!

Tractor Boy · 29 Mar 2012

adamdavi3s said:
I've been lucky enough to compare a number of the Nikon 80-200 to a number of the Sigma 70-200 lenses.

I had a good copy of the sigma 70-200 Mki Macro, I found it to perform a lot better than the 80-200 one touch I had, marginally better than the AF-D two touch I had and marginally worse than the AF-S two touch I had.

I had an older sigma 70-200 as well, (the one with the different grip pattern) and that was softer and slower than all the others.

In the end I stuck with the Sigma Mki Macro (until I switched back to canon) because at around £400 compared to the £750 or so for the AF-S the difference in IQ or AF speed wasn't worth the additional £££ to me.

If I were to it again I would bide my time and get a sharp copy of the sigma 70-200 MKii Macro and a Sigma 1.4x TC

I hope that helps!

Adam thank very much for that - a very usefull set of information. Just out of interest how did the colours differ between the Sigma and Nikon and what did you use the lens for (portraits, sport etc)?

Cheers

Nick

insertusernamehere · 29 Mar 2012

Hi Nick,

Honestly, negligible if any difference as far as my amateur eye could see!
I used them mostly for sports, point to points and cycling. Although with the odd pet portrait thrown in!

Tractor Boy · 29 Mar 2012

adamdavi3s said:
Hi Nick,

Honestly, negligible if any difference as far as my amateur eye could see!
I used them mostly for sports, point to points and cycling. Although with the odd pet portrait thrown in!

Thanks Adam

Can anyone confirm if the Sigma works with a Kenko 1.4xTC?

Cheers

Nick

modchild · 29 Mar 2012

I've got the whole compibility list for the Kenko Pro300 DGX 1.4x TC and there isn't any Sigma lenses listed on it. I have used my Sigma 150-500 OS with my TC on both a 7D and a 5D2 without any problems though. The list I have was brought out in Dec 2011 though, so there might have been another updated list since. I couldn't get the AF to work on the Sigma, although it is a f6.3 at the long end anyway, so I really didn't expect it to.