Sigma 70-300mm APO Macro Or Nikon 55-200mm,Doesnt AF On D3200??

KieranSLR

KieranSLR

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Kieran
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hi im debating on which lens to buy so ive come to you guys for help :help:

Sigma 70-300mm APO f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro
a nice looking lens also liking the fact it has macro built in

Nikon 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S DX Lens
the "nikon" make which people tend to go for, doesnt have as much zoom, and doesnt have macro

both around same price

kit i currently have
18-55mm VR lens
50mm f1.8 G lens
sb-400 flash
Tripod

i currently do portrait shots but want to do abit of venturing outdoors, some insects and landscape, but unsure on how the nikon would do on close up shots

any help appricated
 
I have the 55-200 VR and it's a great lens for the money. Sharp, quiet and quick to focus.

Don't know much about the Sigma, but I am pretty sure it's not a true macro lens (probably 1:2 at best). I was (very) disappointed with the Tamron equivalent to the Sigma lens. I gave it away as I couldn't face selling it.
 
lens would also be used for portrait so should i go for nikon? then later on buy a macro
 
I had the Sigma 70-300 APO and found it not bad for the price. It is not true macro, just 1:2 but OK for larger insects. Wide open over 200mm it is soft, but if you stop it down to around f/8 it sharpens up.


Painted Lady by jomike, on Flickr
Exif data
Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 270 mm
ISO Speed 400


Crowned Plover by jomike, on Flickr
Exif data
Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 300 mm
ISO Speed 200
 
there nice macro shots, im really unsure, do you have anymore shots taken with the 300mm?
 
love the dragonfly shot! nice work

anyone else who owns the nikon got any input?

really stumped at the minute
 
i have the 50mm 1.8 for my portraits, wanting this as a extra kind of all rounder
 
jomike said:
Never used the Sigma for portraits, but your 50mm f/1.8 will be more suited to portraits than either of the lenses you are looking at, I would have thought.
Click to expand...

i use the f/1.8 for main portraits but wanting a all rounder lens to play with, so i thought the sigma as it will do portraits, granted not aswell as my fifty, but then i could also play with the macro setting and some landscapes

but ive never bought a lens other then a nikon

thats why i need the help
 
just read that it doesnt auto focus on a d5100/d3200 range? is this true
 
Last edited:
You need a Sigma HSM lens to autofocus on the d3200.

I have the 17-70, 10-20, 70-200 and 50-500 and they all autofocus as I went for the HSM versions
 
KieranSLR said:
just read that it doesnt auto focus on a d5100/d3200 range? is this true
Click to expand...

The older versions of the Sigma 70-300 (APO) do not have built in focus motors, but later versions do. If you buy the lens new, it will have a focus motor.

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-apo-macro-super-dg-lens-nikon-fit/p1008565

HSM stands for Hyper Sonic Motor and is used in the more expensive Sigma lenses. The cheaper Sigma lenses still have focus motors but not the hypersonic type, so it is not a reliable guide. If in doubt, ask the seller.
 
Dale_d3100 said:
You need a Sigma HSM lens to autofocus on the d3200.
Click to expand...

Before Sigma introduced the HSM version of their AF motor they had another version which was just known as BIM - Built In Motor. These will AF on the D3200 (et al) too.
 
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