What's a good fast zoom lens?

[vonlichenstein]

Hi, as per the thread title, whats a good, FAST zoom lens for DX that won't go above $1,200? i'm thinking of something arnd the range of XX-200/300mm. I've been trying to buy one for event/ general photography in low/medium light conditions (so i don't get too close to the subject and won't get in the way) any recommendations/prices? i don't quite understand the disadvantages of using an FX lens on my D80, but if you think that an FX lens would be fine as well, do tell. As i understand it, an FX lens on a D80 will provide more zoom than it would on an FF body, with some viginetting/barrel distortion?

Thanks in advance for any help rendered

[ortega]

your range is b4 or after crop factor?

you need to understand the crop factor

on a FX camera you get a 4R photo
on a DX camera you get the same 4R photo and crop off the sides

basically, a 200mm on a FX and 300mm on DX

[vonlichenstein]

Originally Posted by ortega your range is b4 or after crop factor?

i forgot to add that part. haha after crop factor. but whats the calculation for crop factor? i've seen various intepretations of it and i haven't quite figured out which is the correct one. all i know is that 200mm becomes 300mm.

[ExplorerZ]

fast dx zoom tele lens, sadly nope.. there is none by nikon, for 3rd party there is a tokina 50-135 and a sigma 50-150. search them up for review. for fx, there is a nikkor 80-200(2nd hand for under $1200), sigma 70-200, tamron 70-200, tokina 80-200. all the stated lens are f2.8 constant.

[ortega]

Originally Posted by vonlichenstein i forgot to add that part. haha after crop factor. but whats the calculation for crop factor? i've seen various intepretations of it and i haven't quite figured out which is the correct one. all i know is that 200mm becomes 300mm.

http://digital-photography-school.co...tor-explained/

for nikon DX the crop factor is 1.5X

so 200mm x 1.5 = 300mm

[vonlichenstein]

thanks ortega. i think i got confused when some people said it was 1.6x.

dang, i could find any nikkor dx ones and i thought i was just confused. turns out there really aren't any. ok i'll go take a look at reviews for the third party ones first. if you don't mind telling me, whats the disadvantages (in your opinion) of uising an FX lens on a DX body?
vinigetting aside.

[ortega]

Originally Posted by vonlichenstein thanks ortega. i think i got confused when some people said it was 1.6x. dang, i could find any nikkor dx ones and i thought i was just confused. turns out there really aren't any. ok i'll go take a look at reviews for the third party ones first. if you don't mind telling me, whats the disadvantages (in your opinion) of uising an FX lens on a DX body? vinigetting aside.

there are no vignetting when using a FX lens on a DX body
you only use the center portion of the lens (which is good)

the dx lens is lighter and smaller than an FX lens

I'd suggest that you should also look at FX lenses
there are some nikkor zoom lenses that may interest you.

eg. AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED
good and cheap, has VR but aperture is not as fast (possible to increase ISO to compensate)

or

AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
well known here but abit costly, can try to look for a 2nd hand one in the classifieds section

[vonlichenstein]

Originally Posted by ortega AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED well known here but abit costly, can try to look for a 2nd hand one in the classifieds section

hmmm thanks man. i'll take a look see