How much difference does the maximum aperture make on a lens

ninjakatt

ninjakatt

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I have just come back to this thread as I have a few shows coming up to cover for friends... Now my delightful ex-fiance has taken back my D300 and the Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR lens... B88stard....:bang: both birthday presents but he now claims they are his.... but lets not get into that...

SO anyway... with a limited budget I have bought a D90 (couldn't stretch to a D300 :( ) and also a Nikon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 G AF-S DX IF-ED Lens

Obviously the gear is not quite as good as my previous set up but for now it's what I can afford... So I am looking at buying a new lens - with a bigger zoom - and was looking at the Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 G AF-S DX VR or the Nikon Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6 G AF-S DX VR IF-ED ... my question is... will the smaller aperture on the 55-200 make a big difference to the lighting on the pics using a D90... is it worth the extra money to be able to pull more light in, especially as I will often be in indoor arenas which aren't always well lit...

When I win the lottery I will get the same lens I had before, but for now it's just a dream!
 
There is a Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 advertised for sale in the classifieds for £350. Having owned one of these lenses before moving up to the Nikon version that you had I can highly recommend them. Yes it is a step down from the Nikon but it is still a cracking lens, as is the Sigma version too. Consider these lenses as well as the ones you mentioned. The constant f2.8 through the range will make up for the lack of VR.
 
Will it make a difference; in a word yes, if you get a constant 2,8 compaired to the long end of the lenses you mentioned that's two full stops worth of difference. That's a big difference wth moving subjects, especially in poor light. Is it worth the cost? well that's down to you, only you can answer that one.
 
Rob I had just spotted that... which is why I then asked on a different thread about zooming direction as I found sigma lenses zoomed in a different direction to Nikon... it seems Tamron are the same though so I think I will PM the seller ;)

Thanks
 
The 18-200 is SLIGHTLY wider at 18mm, but by the time you get to 55mm it's narrower - about F4.8-F5 if I recall. As a result it sucks for portraits! If you want a telephoto range only, I'd probably recommend the 55-200 (but I haven't used it myself, only the 18-200).
 
Quick! Find yourself another well-heeled photographer BF with a stack of spare Nikon lenses...
 
Arkady said:
Quick! Find yourself another well-heeled photographer BF with a stack of spare Nikon lenses...
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Ha ha! He was a farmer with no interest in photography at all - so now has a D300 and 2.8 70-200 lens sitting there doing nothing as he can't use the 300 as it has too many buttons for him!! lol

I even offered to buy both off him but he refused!
 
-Rob- said:
If that's Katt in her avatar then I doubt she'll stay single for long. ;)
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Ha ha that's me, but I think I am going to be single for ever more - much less hassle and heart break!! :thumbs:

Am going round to see the Tamron lens tonight andhopefully bring it back with me!
 
ninjakatt said:
Ha ha that's me, but I think I am going to be single for ever more - much less hassle and heart break!! :thumbs:

Am going round to see the Tamron lens tonight andhopefully bring it back with me!
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Good thinking. A camera/lens is going to be far more reliable than any man. I had a Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 recently and it was a cracking lens. I'd be surprised if you came back empty handed tonight. It'll go very well with your D90.
 
-Rob- said:
Good thinking. A camera/lens is going to be far more reliable than any man. I had a Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 recently and it was a cracking lens. I'd be surprised if you came back empty handed tonight. It'll go very well with your D90.
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Fingers crossed.... Am quite excited! lol
 
-Rob- said:
Good thinking. A camera/lens is going to be far more reliable than any man...
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However, it doesn't mow the lawn, put up shelves etc...
Mind you neither do I...I do make curries and do the washing-up afterwards though...
Oh and snore...and fall asleep on the sofa after too many whiskys...with more snoring...:D
 
sdb123 said:
Did you get the Tamron then ninjakatt?
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Yup :thumbs: Good old Tom Tom managed to lead me pretty much to the right house! So tomorrow while the girls are at school I will be having a play with my new toy...! ALthough.. I think I will also be popping into Exeter to get a tripod/monopod...Forgotton how damn heavy those bigger lenses are! (knew I should have actually GONE to the gym when I paid out for the membership!)
 
Hope you enjoy the lens as much as i did!
Pleasure to do business with you
 
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