What's a good zoom lens for...

[karlwilson1986]

Hey
I'm off to silverstone for the formula one and at the minute have the nikon 18-105 but I am after a zoom lens now sigma do a 70-300 and I can purchase it on eBay for £130ish delivered but will it be any good!?!?

Can anyone reccomend a good zoom for nikon I really like the 70-200 f2.8 but it's a little out of my price range at £680ish

thanks
Karl

 

[The23rdman]

It would help to put your price range in, Karl. Have you looked in the classifieds?

 

[hyakuhei]

Hi Karl,

If your going for the Sigma 70-300 make sure you get the APO version, there's a big difference in the colour rendition between that and the non APO version.

I think the Sigma is the best 70-300 zoom around, certainly when you factor in the price.

 

[corbystock]

Hi Karl, i don't think i can help much but i'm in the same boat as you & i've been looking at the Sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 APO DG & the writeups seem quite good but i have no experience of this lens ( could someone jump in that has please ) the main reason i'm looking at this lens is because it's f4 so i can put a TC on it & not lose any functions ( as least i think i'm right in saying that ) i can't recommend a lens but i can say don't bother with the Nikor AF 70-300 4-5.6 G as anything past 120mm is unusable (soft) unless i've got a crap one.

 

[hyakuhei]

( could someone jump in that has please )

I already did!

Your unlikely to have much joy using a TC with this lens or any other 70-300. F/4 is the maximum aperture it will do but as soon as you start zooming you'll stopped down to F/5.3 pretty quickly.

Generally speaking its a bad idea to try and pair a TC with a consumer zoom lens as any defects, softness or chromatic aboration in images will be multiplied up by the TC leading to some pretty poor shots.

 

[ElegantSpoon]

Hello Karl can I recommend the Tamron 70-300mm with you. I compared it with the Sigma APO and in the end chose the Tamron. For me I think its much easier to use and handle and for the price range I think its a fantastic lens. I haven't taken it off yet, I love it!

I know the budget 70-300s do have their issues like softness at the 300mm end of things and this is indeed true but it depends on what your shooting. I like to take shots of Yacht racing and if the yachts surrounded by just the sea and not land etc then you can get some soft images but at f10 its fine.

On the other hand when shooting using the macro function you can leave the aperture wide open and still get great sharp shots. I had a Nikon 55-200 VR before and I think the Tamron is of the same standard and use but the sigma for me did not feel as good.

Another thing to remember is a monopods a good idea if your going to be at the 300mm end a lot.