Nikon 80-200mm Vs Sigma 70-200mm

specialman

specialman

Messages
8,193
Name
Pat MacInnes
Edit My Images
Yes
Gonna get myself kitted out with new kit and I'm off to Nikonland and ditching Canonville.

Getting a D200, grip, standard 18-70 Nikkor and an SB800 but I'm stuck on which long zoom to get.

I want fast apertures (for shooting indoor snowboarding stuff), hence why I'm opting for either the Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 ED or the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro. thing is, I'm struck on which one to get.

There's £50 more to spend on the Nikon but it'll mean I have all Nikon gear, but the Sigma looks to be a sweet piece of kit. Anyone got some advice to quell the befuddlement?
 
I was having this problem several months ago, and i still haven't made my mind up :p The general consensus iirc was this:

Sigma 70-200
AF and IQ equal to the Nikon 70-200 VR
Build quality not as good as the Nikon 80-200

Nikon 80-200
AF equal to the Sigma 70-200, but IQ superior to the Sigma & Nikon 70-200
Superior build quality to the Sigma 70-200
More expensive than the Sigma 70-200

Although on paper the 80-200 looks better, im still drawn to the sigma? :s
 
I don't own either, but have done a comparison between Sigma and Nikon. No surprises...you already know what I am going to say, so why are you asking?;)

Also need to ask yourself which one feels better. You will get your best shots using the one you feel most natural with not the one that someone else helped you decide on.

You've done the difficult bit in narrowing it down to a couple of lenses. Go to a shop and have some play time.

All the best, you can't go wrong.
 
Go for the Nikon.

The Sigma is notorious for front or back focusing. Seriously.
Click to expand...

Diego will be the man in the know as he sells them!

I can only talk about the Nikon as I have one and gave myself a good reminder how good this lens is on the recent TP meet at Whipsnade, fast autofocus and very solid build quality.
 
I gave Alexisonfire some good advice a few months ago, in his thread.

Read my reply halfway down this page. :)
 
Clear as mud......

Aaaaaaaww, I'm still stuck. Like someone wrote, the prestige of the Nikon 80-200mm is too alluring to pass it by but the cheaper price of the Sigma HSM lens and the apparent greatness of the optics seems to make this a real bargain. For what I want to shoot (sports, especially snowboarding/skiing) the Sigma seems the better buy because of the more modern technology, in particular the AF system.

Balls - I hate it when i can't decide what to buy!!! Have only just decided against a D80 in favour of the D200. What next, a debate between the SB600 or the SB800!!!! :)
 
specialman said:
Clear as mud......

Aaaaaaaww, I'm still stuck. Like someone wrote, the prestige of the Nikon 80-200mm is too alluring to pass it by but the cheaper price of the Sigma HSM lens and the apparent greatness of the optics seems to make this a real bargain. For what I want to shoot (sports, especially snowboarding/skiing) the Sigma seems the better buy because of the more modern technology, in particular the AF system.

Balls - I hate it when i can't decide what to buy!!! Have only just decided against a D80 in favour of the D200. What next, a debate between the SB600 or the SB800!!!! :)
Click to expand...

Save a bit longer and get the Nikon 70-200mm VR. Its the only solution. ;)
 
One of the high street glossy mags just voted the nikon as the hottest available.
I know that should be taken with a pinch of salt but at least it's a published opinion.

This may be of some help, well, I found it interesting.
http://www.lenspump.net/list.php?id=nikon
 
alexisonfire said:
Funny you should say that, the first sigma 70-200 i tried was back focusing. Its whats really putting me off the sigma. :|
Click to expand...

Although it shouldn;t be happening in the first place, as far as I know Sigma's customer support is very good, and will recalibrate the lens for little or no charge. One feature on my D300 that ive not used yet, but am glad i've got is the ability to fine tune and calibrate lenses from the camera.
 
Just been having a hunt around and the Sigma seems to be a good del, especially if you buy from Jessops - £579 in Canon and Nikon fit.

Problem is, while having a browse I've seen the Canon 30D with the 17-85 IS for just £699. That's £250 less than a D200 with a standard zoom. I know the Nikon has a higher resolution but they have the same frames per sec and the Canon is a familiar bit of kit to me.

Jeez, am I confused!!!
 
If you feel most comfortable with a Canon then go for that! Making the change in camera systems is a pain in the ass (I am still fighting to get the hang of my new camera) & definitely something I would only recommend if there was a solid reason for doing so (I do totally love my new Nikon though :LOL: (y))
 
moomike, the D200 has body seals that the 30D could only dream about and that'll come in handy for my job (angling photographer) and for my hobby (snowboarding).

I do like Canon's –*have been using them for well over 10 years – but I'm thinking 'future-proofing' and the D200, although it's been effectively superceded, has better spec than the 30D that will do me well over the next two years while I claw together cash for a D3 :) It also seems that you get m,ore for your money with Nikon and that the company hasn't quite sold out to commercialism (and producing bargain products at the cost of build quality) in the same aggressive way that Canon has.
 
I had this problem a few months back now. Sigma 70-200 or the Nikon 80-200. All I can say is, the Nikon has out standing image quality and build, superior to that of the sigma. It isn't AF-S, but to be honest, it focuses pretty quickly anyway. It doesn't have VR, but then I'm pretty sure we all survived without that before ;)

My advice is simple. Get the Nikon. You'll love it!
 
If you can wait and stretch for the VR version, get it! For sports the AF speed is vital. I have one for my motorsport photography. Search for my threads in the motorsport section and you'll see what I mean. ;)

The only things I didn't like about the Sigma HSM was the bulky and cheap looking tripod clip. It looks like a big jubilee clip lol! Also the lack of VR as on my current lens it's actually proved extremely useful! You'd probably use it a lot for snowboarding. I suppose the Nikon name got me, as well. :wacky:

As for AF speed and optical quality, I didn't see any difference to be honest. Although I only took photos inside of the shop.

The AF-D version will definitely be too slow to AF.
 
The 80-200 AF-D doesn't have the AFS motor in built, but on a D200 it wont be slow. Even faster on a D2/D3 body. I traded up from an 80-200 AF-D to an AF-S and the focusing speed wasn't a huge leap up. What I would say is that both the 80-200 Nikons are probably the sharpest lenses you'll ever buy in this range. I haven't bothered to upgrade my AF-S to a 70-200VR as I'd probably loose sharpness. ( As Hacker on his opinion between the 70-200 and the 80-200 I bought off him ;) )

I tried the sigma and didn't like the IQ out of it. The colour wasn't to my liking and it was no where near as sharp as the Nikon.

Pete
 
If the VR is too much money try and find a used 80-200mm AF-S, there are not many for sale but have a look abroad, somewhere like the US. It's probably one of the best lenses Nikon has made and certainly the sharpest lens I have owned until I sold it to Pete (Icecavern).
 
This is all very incestuous isn't it :)

I waited and waited for a Nikon 80-200 AF-S to come on the second hand market for a reasonable price but it was to no avail (as mentioned already they are like hen's teeth) so plumped for the sigma. It's a hefty lump but AF is quick and no real disappointments so far.
 
Right,

Bought D200 with grip, 18-70mm lens and SB800 flash today. It's on its way so happy days.

Money is the big thing and I'm gonna opt for the Sigma, as it's £570 at Jessops. I suppose I'll live by my mistakes if I find it's gash, but as far as I can see, it should be a good buy for what i want.

Really can't wait to get it all out in the field and taking shot - happy days!! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top