Lens upgrade advice?

Leebert

Leebert

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I recently got back from a visit to the Mach Loop and feel I could do with upgrading my current 55 - 200 Nikon kit lens (used with a D5000) for something with a bit more reach and a bit faster.

I've had look around and I have found the following that might fit the bill...

Nikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR AF-S;
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD SP;
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM.

As the D5000 is an APS-C sensor, am I correct in assuming that the above with give me an equivalent of 300mm?

Any thoughts on which is a good secondhand buy would be appreciated please. It'll be used mostly for aviation and wildlife at the longer end of the focal length.

Many thanks.
 
I went through this myself......... In the end I went for the Sigma and haven't regretted it, I think its a great lens on my D7000 and also when I had my smaller D3100. Fast AF and really sharp.
 
I'm not a Nikon user so can't advise on specific lenses, but you say you are going to be using this at the longer end and want more reach. Surely the three you mention all have the same reach you already have. The 1.5x crop factor will effectively give you 300mm at the long end but that applies to the kit lens as well.
 
Bythesea said:
I'm not a Nikon user so can't advise on specific lenses, but you say you are going to be using this at the longer end and want more reach. Surely the three you mention all have the same reach you already have. The 1.5x crop factor will effectively give you 300mm at the long end but that applies to the kit lens as well.
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This is exactly correct. The focal length of a lens is a physical property which is not affected by the camera to which it is attached. So a 55-200mm DX lens and a 70-200mm FX lens are both the same at the long end, i.e. 200mm.
 
I'm not convinced a 70-200 will do you any favours for planes - especially at the mach loop..
A Sigma 50-500 OS is what you 'will' find a lot more usable.
 
StewartR said:
This is exactly correct. The focal length of a lens is a physical property which is not affected by the camera to which it is attached. So a 55-200mm DX lens and a 70-200mm FX lens are both the same at the long end, i.e. 200mm.
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Thanks for that. I wasn't sure quite how that worked between DX and FX sensors.

I need to increase my budget to get the longer reach and faster optics. I think second hand is the only option. Any further suggestions apart form the Sigma mentioned above?

Thanks.
 
I can give you plenty of 'expensive' options but you need to provide a budget....

That is the cheapest (& easiest) way of getting length - cirrca £500ish.

All of your other options will also require a teleconvertor to give you length & will still not get you there.
 
Diving Pete said:
I can give you plenty of 'expensive' options but you need to provide a budget....

That is the cheapest (& easiest) way of getting length - cirrca £500ish.

All of your other options will also require a teleconvertor to give you length & will still not get you there.
Click to expand...

I would say after digesting the above, I would go to around £1500 for the right lens. Maybe a touch more...
 
That will get you in - no particular order:

Nikon AFS-300mm f2.8 (non-VR) - (£1500ish)
Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 + 1.4 teleconvertor (£800+)
Brand new Sigma 50-500mm OS (£785)

I have the Nikon 300mm VR2 & the Sig 120-300.

Both are excellent although I'd also want to put a tele on the nikon - TC-1.4II.
 
please bear in mind these are a lot larger & heavier than trhe lens you are used to. You may not want that.
 
If it's a one-off use why not consider hiring. These fat big boys have a price tag to match. The 70-200mm's are great portrait lenses primarily - may still be a good purchase, just not really for planes or wildlife.
 
Oh, nearly forgot the new Nikon 80-400 G. £1400 ish. Got one for the wife but haven't yet used it myself.
 
Thanks for the lens suggestions and for the heads up on hiring. I hadn't really considered that as I want a longer lens to add to the bag anyway (I quite often find myself needing a bit more reach). It would certainly be a good way to try before buying.
 
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