Lens Ideas?

[chriscorbin]

I am Ready to buy a new lens. I am looking at a lens in the area of 55-300mm.
i already have a 55-200 kit lens that came with my D50, but i need the extra 100mm, I mostly will be using this for sports shots and at events. I would like to keep the price in the $200 range. I would like to know what you use and what you think works. I need something that focuses fast in average daylight. I don't want to miss a moment just because AF decides to screw me over(my 18-55 Kit lens does that on a regular basis).


Chris

 

[0007776]

for that price the only way you will get a decent 300mm lens would be to go for a used prime lens on ebay.

 

[chriscorbin]

I have been looking at these


one
two
three

Opinions?

 

[0007776]

three

Opinions?

I forgot about that lens. I have the VR version and it is a nice lens. That is the only one of the lenses that you mentioned that I have used, so I can't say anything about the quality of the other lenses.

 

[66217]

From those options I would recommend the Nikkor. Just make sure that the lens is fast enough for you, you don't want to buy it to later see it isn't fast enough.

 

[ChrisA]

I am Ready to buy a new lens. I am looking at a lens in the area of 55-300mm.
i already have a 55-200 kit lens that came with my D50, but i need the extra 100mm, I mostly will be using this for sports shots and at events. I would like to keep the price in the $200 range.

I think you would be better off cropping the images. This has the same effect as a longer lens but with less pixels. If these images are going on the web or small size prints you don't need the pixels.

a $200 300mm lens that focuses fast? I think your budget is about 10X to small

One way you could stay inside your $200 budget is to find a used Nikon MF (manual focus) lens. Do not go for a zoom. Look for a 300mm prime. Manual focus is the way to go. The AF is just to slow

 

[seany916]

I have been looking at these


one
two
three

Opinions?

don't buy Sigma/Tamron!!! Tokinas have worked well for me, but I've yet to try to Sigma or Tamron with satisfying results. The Nikon lens listed works well in bright sunlight, but is useless past 200 or so (very soft)

up to 200 outside, it's a steal

 

[compuwar]

don't buy Sigma/Tamron!!! Tokinas have worked well for me, but I've yet to try to Sigma or Tamron with satisfying results. The Nikon lens listed works well in bright sunlight, but is useless past 200 or so (very soft)

up to 200 outside, it's a steal

Funnily enough, my Sigma 10-20 performs flawlessly, as did my Sigma 50-500 when I was using that regularly (and it was sharper at 500mm than my more expensive Nikkor 80-400VR was at 400mm.) The Tamron 90mm Macro has a superb reputation. I'd take blanket statements about the tier one third-party lens manufacturers with a grain of salt.