Telephoto Lens

[Dennis]

Hi all, need some advice on tele zoom. Just purchased the D70 with 18-70, 10.5mm fisheye and SB800 (will also consider the 17-55mm when release and sell away 18-70mm), I am basically a wide angle man. No more money to pay for 70-200 VR but need to bridge the gap temporary. Will consider the following :-

1. Nikon AF Zoom 70-300mm f4-5.6D ED
2. Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II
3. Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD 1:2 Macro
4. Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 AT-X 840 AF-II
5. Sigma 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS APO (With anti shake)

Any comments on the above, how much they cost and where to get them ?.
Also in your opinion which lens is best excluding the Sigma 80-400 since it has anti shake and hopefully not too expensive otherwise I give up that lens.
Any other recommendations are welcome.
Thanks in advance.

[gadrian]

Originally Posted by Dennis Hi all, need some advice on tele zoom. Just purchased the D70 with 18-70, 10.5mm fisheye and SB800 (will also consider the 17-55mm when release and sell away 18-70mm), I am basically a wide angle man. No more money to pay for 70-200 VR but need to bridge the gap temporary. Will consider the following :- 1. Nikon AF Zoom 70-300mm f4-5.6D ED 2. Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II 3. Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD 1:2 Macro 4. Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 AT-X 840 AF-II 5. Sigma 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS APO (With anti shake) Any comments on the above, how much they cost and where to get them ?. Also in your opinion which lens is best excluding the Sigma 80-400 since it has anti shake and hopefully not too expensive otherwise I give up that lens. Any other recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance.

If this lens is just going to be an interim..

I would choose 1 Nikon AF-D 70-300 f4-5.6 ED

[zaren]

the nikon 75-240mm AF-D lens is very sharp , underrated and cheap. with the cropping factor of the D70, u won't notice much difference compared with the much more expensive zooms. ideal for an 'interim' or 'try out' telephoto zoom lens. price; $160 in mint condition, boxed.

[gadrian]

Originally Posted by zaren the nikon 75-240mm AF-D lens is very sharp , underrated and cheap. with the cropping factor of the D70, u won't notice much difference compared with the much more expensive zooms. ideal for an 'interim' or 'try out' telephoto zoom lens. price; $160 in mint condition, boxed.

Ehh.. I wont even consider this lens honestly.. I had it for about 3weeks.. and totally was disappointed with it..

[xdivider]

Originally Posted by Dennis Hi all, need some advice on tele zoom. Just purchased the D70 with 18-70, 10.5mm fisheye and SB800 (will also consider the 17-55mm when release and sell away 18-70mm), I am basically a wide angle man. No more money to pay for 70-200 VR but need to bridge the gap temporary. Will consider the following :- 1. Nikon AF Zoom 70-300mm f4-5.6D ED 2. Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II 3. Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD 1:2 Macro 4. Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 AT-X 840 AF-II 5. Sigma 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS APO (With anti shake) Any comments on the above, how much they cost and where to get them ?. Also in your opinion which lens is best excluding the Sigma 80-400 since it has anti shake and hopefully not too expensive otherwise I give up that lens. Any other recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance.

Would go with the Sigma / Tamron 70-300 for the best bang for bucks (limited macro ability for 300+ or less) as the whole lot of 70-300 zooms performs pretty much average across the board. The nikon one should have better build if thats high up in ur priority. If u are thinking of pro class glass, the 80-400 OS (US $1199, nikon version not available) or VR (S$2500?) pretty much round up ur choices for 70-300/400 choices unless u want to play with 70-200/2.8 + TC.

[zaren]

Originally Posted by gadrian Ehh.. I wont even consider this lens honestly.. I had it for about 3weeks.. and totally was disappointed with it..

lucky for me then, must have gotten a good sample!

[showtime]

i would get a used af 70-210mm 4-5.6d
really cheap for your interim needs. and super sharp

[Dennis]

OK decided to let go my 18-70mm first, already have the 50mm 1.8, 10.5mm fisheye, 12-24mm on order, now seriously thinking of a cheap tele already.
24-200 or 28-200 or 28-300. Which one is good ?. Sigma, Tamron or the Tokina. So fast within a day I decided to go wide, very wide. Please give suggestion, sorry no money for any 70/80-200 f2.8 already. Thanks in advance.

[zaren]

are you now looking for a super-zoom instead of a telephoto zoom? what's your budget?

[Beachboy]

Originally Posted by Dennis OK decided to let go my 18-70mm first, already have the 50mm 1.8, 10.5mm fisheye, 12-24mm on order, now seriously thinking of a cheap tele already. 24-200 or 28-200 or 28-300. Which one is good ?. Sigma, Tamron or the Tokina. So fast within a day I decided to go wide, very wide. Please give suggestion, sorry no money for any 70/80-200 f2.8 already. Thanks in advance.

eh me too ler .. once i shiok shooting then feel like need for more tele lens for more zooming ....... but i also out of money . tomorrow got buy 50mm f1.8 .. next time go buy 80-200 f2.8 or 70-200vr f2.8 plus one micro lens

[xdivider]

Originally Posted by Dennis OK decided to let go my 18-70mm first, already have the 50mm 1.8, 10.5mm fisheye, 12-24mm on order, now seriously thinking of a cheap tele already. 24-200 or 28-200 or 28-300. Which one is good ?. Sigma, Tamron or the Tokina. So fast within a day I decided to go wide, very wide. Please give suggestion, sorry no money for any 70/80-200 f2.8 already. Thanks in advance.

The tokina will give u 36-300mm equivalent although u may have to search on review sites how good the lens is. The 28-300 zooms have been discussed quite a lot of times here, so using the search can give u a lot of info. The 24-135 tamron would be a better buy, giving u a pretty sharp 36-200mm equivalent normal wide to medium tele zoom. If u want VR, then the 24-120 VR would be quite nice for the price.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by zaren are you now looking for a super-zoom instead of a telephoto zoom? what's your budget?

No budget at the moment, but still worried about super zoom quality. Maybe I will try out the 12-24 first and see how because it is f4, slooow. Anybody knows when the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 will be out. I know it is slightly expensive but may be worth it. Than I switch back to 70-200/300 range.
Wah so difficult to choose.