Nikon lens advice needed... can you help?

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zoehornby

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Zoe
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I'm after a bit of advice really after almost going cross eyed researching lenses.

I own the Nikon D5100 and the fabulous 35mm lens. I am so happy with the portraits this takes and it's been great for me to learn with... moving round my subjects. However, I need a lens to do more.

I love portrait photography so know that a lower f/stop is important. It's just balancing that with affordability. However, to get some more natural portraits I know I should invest in a telephoto lens whereby I can stand back and not inhibit the model too much. Also, I go to many sporting events so this lens can be doubled up for this purpose.

I travel a lot so a wide angle lens for landscapes is great but I think I may just have to invest in a separate 18-55mm for this purpose. Agree?

So my question to any experts out there is... recommendations on a telephoto portrait lens that can do other stuff under the £400/500 mark. Is it better to stick with a Nikon lens for my Nikon camera or try a Tamron or Sigma? As I said, I am just going a bit cross eyed on this so any advice welcome.

Thx in advance.

Zoe
 
A used Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 is the best for the money in your price bracket, with careful spending you can also get the 1.4x converter as well for under your budget, you will get loads of the older Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 NON VC lenses well within your budget but the AF is woeful compared to the Sigma
 
Thanks so much Gary. I really appreciate the advice so will definitely have a look. Cross eye correction looking hopeful! Thanks.
 
zoehornby said:
Thanks so much Gary. I really appreciate the advice so will definitely have a look. Cross eye correction looking hopeful! Thanks.
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I followed Gary's advice (he knows his onions and is a top fella) and got a used sigma 70-200 for a bargain price. Great lens, great Af and got some cracking results (plenty on my Flickr with this lens!)

S
 
How about the Nikon 85mm 1.8? I know you say you want a telephoto lens but consider this one too. Effective 125mm on your DX camera and a cracking fast lens.
 
Sir SR said:
I followed Gary's advice (he knows his onions and is a top fella) and got a used sigma 70-200 for a bargain price. Great lens, great Af and got some cracking results (plenty on my Flickr with this lens!)

S
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SR,

Which sigma 70-200 did you get?

Sorry OP to post on your thread.

Thanks
 
As per Sept9001 post I am also keen to know which 70-200 you got? Was it the OS one or not? If not, how do you find it performs?

Many thanks,

Zoe
 
In addition to Gary's advice,

If you were to sell your current body, as well as your 35mm...you could get the following used;

-Nikon D7000
-Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 non vc
-Tokina/sigma 50-150 f2.8

That would cover everything you said and upgrades your body too.
 
DoctorJ said:
How about the Nikon 85mm 1.8? I know you say you want a telephoto lens but consider this one too. Effective 125mm on your DX camera and a cracking fast lens.
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Agree. Used, you could get an 85mm 1.8 for £200, and a Nikon 70-300 VR for £250 - so both under budget.

Failing that, a Nikon 80-200 f2.8 is around £500 used.
 
Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro lens? double's as a nice macro lens, not sure how they designate built in motors into there lettering though, can be had new for £220 from digitalrev, I am looking forward to purchasing one eventually.
 
The in lens focus motor Tamrons will be rather more than £220, even from DR. Good lenses though! (IIRC, the price for the in lens motor Tamron isn't that far below the 105mm Nikkor price new.) Last time I looked, the Devon Camera Centre had a Nikkor on their 2nd hand shelf for around £500. Not sure they'll still have it though, they shift stuff quite fast!
 
Guys, bear in mind the OP will be doing "many sports events" so all these nice Macro and 85mm portrait jobbies aren't of any use what so ever, anything slower than f/2.8 for the tele lens will also struggle with winter and dark days closing in on us.
 
Sir SR said:
I followed Gary's advice (he knows his onions
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Rumour has it he's half French and even smells of onions
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.
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.but he does know his stuff :D
 
Sir SR said:
It was a very early non macro, non image stabilised version. Good quick focus and sharp enough at f2.8. Got some lovely shots with it.
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Thanks.
 
sep9001 said:
Thanks.
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From the archive

For sale is my (non IS) sigma 70-200 f2.8. Standard sigma peeling so cosmetically (as with most sigmas after time) not perfect but optically sound, snappy focus, producing good images.

Sigma 70-200 f2.8 apo dg hsm

Asking for a firm 282 plus delivery

Will get pics of lens up later.

Some examples


Camping York 4 by Sir SR, on Flickr


Lencarta Test 4 edit by Sir SR, on Flickr


Incognito by Sir SR, on Flickr


Daddy Day Care 6 by Sir SR, on Flickr


Lencarta test 2 by Sir SR, on Flickr


Pre-disguise_ by Sir SR, on Flickr

Ta

S
 
Thanks, not a bad price. Been looking at ebay and the non os versions are selling for about £360. Just need to save up and see if I can get one.

Would the non os one be okay for kids and indoor?
 
sep9001 said:
Thanks, not a bad price. Been looking at ebay and the non os versions are selling for about £360. Just need to save up and see if I can get one.

Would the non os one be okay for kids and indoor?
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If the kids are moving (as they do) then even with stabilisation, your shutter will need to be about 1/400 at 200mm making your iso at the 6400-12800 range.
 
Phil Young said:
If the kids are moving (as they do) then even with stabilisation, your shutter will need to be about 1/400 at 200mm making your iso at the 6400-12800 range.
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Thanks. The iso range on the D90 is not very good over 800.
 
sep9001 said:
Thanks. The iso range on the D90 is not very good over 800.
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Nonsense.

With correct exposure and a sharp lens and the appropriate PP you can easily shoot within it's highest range.

I would be fine shooting at 6400 with the D90, here's a 6400 shot from a D7000, which is only a third of a stop better in performance...

1391875_10153393650730305_1072954754_n.jpg
 
Phil Young said:
Nonsense.

With correct exposure and a sharp lens and the appropriate PP you can easily shoot within it's highest range.

I would be fine shooting at 6400 with the D90, here's a 6400 shot from a D7000, which is only a third of a stop better in performance...
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Phil

Thanks I am still a noob to photography... B-)
 
Sir SR said:
I did use the sigma on the d90 and it was fine! Just took me a while to realise I needed faster shutter speeds!

S
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Thanks.
 
stick it out to get os you will notice the difference every little helps
 
holty said:
stick it out to get os you will notice the difference every little helps
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Although I didn't have os on my sigma, I certainly think that (now having the vr2) if you can afford it, get it (again depends on the shutter speeds you will be shooting at)

S
 
Just my view:

It would have to be a very very good price for a very good lens to make me spend on a telephoto without stabilisation.

F2.8 is simply not fast eniugh for indoors without dropping the shutter below what would coincide focal length shutter speed rule...well, not without having really high iso on every photo (and if I'm shooting that high an iso it's spending 15mins in photo shop!).
 
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