LenS for D300

rhonddaboy

rhonddaboy

Messages
1,354
Name
Alan
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all I'm now the proud owner of a Nikon D300 after being a Sony user for 18 months.
I am looking for advice to which lens to purchase to replace the Tamron 70-300 that I used to use on the Sony, main use will be rallying was thinking of the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 but after reading some reports of it hunting not sure what to go for now, I have a buget of about £600.
Any advice welcome
Alan
 
I use a Sigma 100-300 f/4 and the 70-200 f/2.8 for motorsport and they produce great results and are both (used) within your budget.
 
You need something fast focusing (AFS) and f2.8... contenders would be errrm probably a second hand Nikon AFS 80-200, but I think even that is going to be more than your budget.

Having said that, if you have been happy with the 70-300 on the Sony, you'll probably see big improvements and big more than happy with the Nikon 70-300 VR. Have a look on here for a second hand one, they come up a lot and are excellent value for money. See how you get on with that and if its not what you want then start saving because the things you will want will be about a grand...
 
Hi thanks for the quik replies, Desantnik I have ben far from happy with the Tamron 70-300 not focusing quikly and getting loads of oof shots, this is what has promted me to change brands and try to pick up a decent lens, any thoughts on the Sigma 70-200 f2.8.
 
Some people on here swear by the Sigma 70-200 2.8, personally I didn't get on at all with it and actually managed nothing decent with it when I tried it out for the day. Ignore the f number and look more at the rest of the story...

None of the third party 70-200's are even slightly close to the Nikon (or Canon) ones when it comes to motorsport. Maybe fine for taking photos of your granny or flowers or something but I know thats not what you want to do :D
 
Don't believe the rumours you need the latest AF-s version of the Nikon 80-200 to take motorsport pics, this was taken with a 20 year old push pull 80-200mm

wheelie5.jpg
 
Hi, go for a second hand nikon 80-200 2.8, perhaps the best glass ever produced for a camera, don`t worry about age, push pull, two touch or vr its the same glass set-up from day one ( I think the first ones produced 1980`s), got mine (push-pull version) for £400 I think it might be 14/15 years old. Check out Grays of Westminster website I think they`ve got some.
 
rhonddaboy said:
Iv'e seen this before "push pull" what is that?
Click to expand...

Version 1 is the 2.8 AF push pull or one touch, what it means is there's one control for zoom and manual focus, zoom is push-pull focus is twist, later versions of the push pull were AF-D, the D is something to do with the CPU but both will AF on the D300.

The newer version is a two touch design with separate twist rings for zoom and focus, £600 should buy you a mint 80-200mm af-d two touch
 
Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 is probably going to be too slow, although Tamron will be addressing that soon and putting a proper AF-S type motor into it soon which will address the short comings of the lousy micro-motor currently in the lens.

Sigma's HSM lenses are worth a thought - £450 on one is money well spent.

£600 would buy you a two-touch Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 AF-D which is excellent.
 
Another vote for the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D. I have one on a D300 and always find the AF quick enough for rallying and the lens is unbelievably sharp, even at f/2.8.:thumbs:
 
Spoke to shop today lens is as new only been used a few times, looks like I'm getting it:D
 
£700 is too high IMHO.

Look on Ebay and you'll get one within a week for £500 - they come up all the time.
 
Yes maybe but as this is not that old and was bought from the same shop with hardly any use can I go wrong ? how much are they new?
 
Are you guys talking about this one:

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikk...ikkor-af-80-200mm-f28d-ed-review--test-report

The bizarre throw back that Nikon sell in some places still (but not the UK).

If so, you can buy this brand new and delivered from HK for 700 quid.

However, it might be super sharp and whatever but I'd not want a large long telephoto lens driven by the screw drive for motorsport. Thats going to be rather slow - there is a good reason why silent wave motors took over....
 
rhonddaboy said:
Yes maybe but as this is not that old and was bought from the same shop with hardly any use can I go wrong ? how much are they new?
Click to expand...

Age doesn't matter with a lens. They don't explode after a certain amount of days.

I've got lenses that are 40 years old and still work fine.

Why fret about age when with care a lens will last longer than you will!

£700 is too high, this was a £550 lens 18 months ago even new. Its just got caught up in price hiking.
 
rhonddaboy said:
I am now so confused.
Click to expand...

Read the link I posted last night - it tells you what this lens is - its an old design that Nikon still make to plug a gap in the PRICE range.

Its 80-200mm and f2.8 but as I said about the Sigma etc at the top of this thread, there is more to a lens than a focal length and an aperture size - particularly when it comes to motorsport.
 
Found a 80-200 f2.8 Nikon lens in Cardiff camera Centre today went along to try it, it was a push pull I'm sorry but it just did not feel right, £500 if anybody's interested.
As for Carmarthen Camera centre arranged to go down today to take a look at the 80-200 that they had even agreed to look at my Sony gear as a trade in, rang them this morning and they had sold it yeserday, glad I rang first before going down there would have been well pi**ed off.
 
rhonddaboy said:
Found a 80-200 f2.8 Nikon lens in Cardiff camera Centre today went along to try it, it was a push pull I'm sorry but it just did not feel right, £500 if anybody's interested.
Click to expand...

That's £200 too high.

I dis-agree that the latest 80-200 f/2.8 isn't fast enough for motorsport mind you, the latest AF-D has very fast focusing, its not actually much slower that the AF-S version, although the AF-S is faster.

There is also the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM which is quite adequate.

The Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 AF-S can be found quite easily for £700-ish.

You definately do not need to buy the latest Nikon AF-S to do motor-sport.

I'd advise stopping looking at dealers, the £700 you were quoted for the 80-200 f/2.8 AF-D and the £500 you were quoted for the older one are rip-off prices. Go for a more honest price s/h from here or Ebay.
 
Thanks Puddleduck, I am going to wait now till something comes up on here.
 
I sold my Nikon 80-200mm AF-D on here the other week for £550.00 - I think that' s a fair price - but you'd pay more going to a dealer.
 
Took the plunge today and bought the Sigme 70-200 f2.8, cant wait now for Digital to deliver it here tonight :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top