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considering adding telephoto lens
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Sep 20, 2019 07:17:05   #
chippy65 Loc: Cambridge
 
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding a telephoto lens to my array. looking for something in the 300-400mm class

auto-focus, vibration reduction.Moderate aperture.does not need to be "zoom" Camera I wish to use it with......... Nikon D5300.

some wildlife use, general photography perhaps aircraft.........just hobby stuff.......not exhibition standard

I have been looking at the reviews, tests etc etc and my poor old head is going round and round, for example Sigma lenses in some cases

appear not to autofocus with all Nikon cameras......... but I am pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm and also 105mm macro.

I would be grateful if anyone can make some practical suggestions, not necessarily Nikon lenses but I would consider any make that

performs well and has given satisfaction to other "Hoggers"

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 07:22:09   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
The good news is - you really can't go wrong. Manufacturers aren't turning out garbage. The fact that your head is spinning shows that there is no decisive winner or loser. Unless you plan to enter high stakes contests or submit pictures for publishing, any tele lens in good condition will serve you well. Be realistic. If it takes scientific equipment to determine the differences between two lenses, will that really affect your daily use of the lens? Look for a used lens and save money. I've never been burned by used gear. KEH is very good.

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 07:23:56   #
tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio
 
Look for a used Sigma 300 2.8

Reply
 
 
Sep 20, 2019 07:48:21   #
dyximan
 
jerryc41 wrote:
The good news is - you really can't go wrong. Manufacturers aren't turning out garbage. The fact that your head is spinning shows that there is no decisive winner or loser. Unless you plan to enter high stakes contests or submit pictures for publishing, any tele lens in good condition will serve you well. Be realistic. If it takes scientific equipment to determine the differences between two lenses, will that really affect your daily use of the lens? Look for a used lens and save money. I've never been burned by used gear. KEH is very good.
The good news is - you really can't go wrong. Man... (show quote)


I'm not sure of your budget but my go to lens has always been the nikon 18 to 300. but I understand the tamron 18 to 400 is quite nice as well and gives you a lot more versatility then a prime.
Snd as mentioned used through a reputable dealer is a great way to acquire such lenses.

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 07:54:23   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
I would recommend looking solely at Nikkor lenses. I'd also look at used lenses.
--Bob
chippy65 wrote:
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding a telephoto lens to my array. looking for something in the 300-400mm class

auto-focus, vibration reduction.Moderate aperture.does not need to be "zoom" Camera I wish to use it with......... Nikon D5300.

some wildlife use, general photography perhaps aircraft.........just hobby stuff.......not exhibition standard

I have been looking at the reviews, tests etc etc and my poor old head is going round and round, for example Sigma lenses in some cases

appear not to autofocus with all Nikon cameras......... but I am pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm and also 105mm macro.

I would be grateful if anyone can make some practical suggestions, not necessarily Nikon lenses but I would consider any make that

performs well and has given satisfaction to other "Hoggers"
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding ... (show quote)

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 08:59:58   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
chippy65 wrote:
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding a telephoto lens to my array. looking for something in the 300-400mm class

auto-focus, vibration reduction.Moderate aperture.does not need to be "zoom" Camera I wish to use it with......... Nikon D5300.

some wildlife use, general photography perhaps aircraft.........just hobby stuff.......not exhibition standard

I have been looking at the reviews, tests etc etc and my poor old head is going round and round, for example Sigma lenses in some cases

appear not to autofocus with all Nikon cameras......... but I am pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm and also 105mm macro.

I would be grateful if anyone can make some practical suggestions, not necessarily Nikon lenses but I would consider any make that

performs well and has given satisfaction to other "Hoggers"
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding ... (show quote)


My suggestion is for used Nikon 18 to 300.Call B&H used dept and KEH.

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 09:05:31   #
hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska
 
jerryc41 wrote:
The good news is - you really can't go wrong. Manufacturers aren't turning out garbage. The fact that your head is spinning shows that there is no decisive winner or loser. Unless you plan to enter high stakes contests or submit pictures for publishing, any tele lens in good condition will serve you well. Be realistic. If it takes scientific equipment to determine the differences between two lenses, will that really affect your daily use of the lens? Look for a used lens and save money. I've never been burned by used gear. KEH is very good.
The good news is - you really can't go wrong. Man... (show quote)


A second thumbs up for KEH. Also look at MPB, another used equipment site. Also B&H, Adorama and Robert's Camera sell used/refurbished lenses.

Reply
 
 
Sep 20, 2019 09:09:27   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
The Nikkor 200-500 is a nice lens for the money. I have on and I've not been disappointed by it. A friend owns the Tamron 18-400 and is quite pleased with it, and it's not real expensive either. My utility lens is the Nikkor 28-300 and although many people diss that lens, it's actually a pretty good general purpose lens although more expensive than the Tamron 18-400.

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 16:14:02   #
chippy65 Loc: Cambridge
 
Chippy65 again..........some useful suggestions. Thanks. Most of the "Used Equipment" sources mentioned in your responses dont seem to exist in the UK.

as I have a selection of lens taking me out to 110mm focal length I guess if I go for zoom 150-400 ish mm would be good if such a thing exists?

If I avoid the extreme zooms,ie 20-400 does performance get better at the longer focal lengths as the widest zooms impose design and performance limitations,

or have new materials and spherical lenses improved matters?

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 20:11:50   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
chippy65 wrote:
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding a telephoto lens to my array. looking for something in the 300-400mm class

auto-focus, vibration reduction.Moderate aperture.does not need to be "zoom" Camera I wish to use it with......... Nikon D5300.

some wildlife use, general photography perhaps aircraft.........just hobby stuff.......not exhibition standard

I have been looking at the reviews, tests etc etc and my poor old head is going round and round, for example Sigma lenses in some cases

appear not to autofocus with all Nikon cameras......... but I am pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm and also 105mm macro.

I would be grateful if anyone can make some practical suggestions, not necessarily Nikon lenses but I would consider any make that

performs well and has given satisfaction to other "Hoggers"
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding ... (show quote)


Tamron 100-400 and get a third party tripod collar to go with it.
.

Reply
Sep 20, 2019 22:35:52   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
chippy65 wrote:
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding a telephoto lens to my array. looking for something in the 300-400mm class

auto-focus, vibration reduction.Moderate aperture.does not need to be "zoom" Camera I wish to use it with......... Nikon D5300.

some wildlife use, general photography perhaps aircraft.........just hobby stuff.......not exhibition standard

I have been looking at the reviews, tests etc etc and my poor old head is going round and round, for example Sigma lenses in some cases

appear not to autofocus with all Nikon cameras......... but I am pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm and also 105mm macro.

I would be grateful if anyone can make some practical suggestions, not necessarily Nikon lenses but I would consider any make that

performs well and has given satisfaction to other "Hoggers"
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding ... (show quote)


You'll be really happy with a 100-400 Sigma, or for a few more $$$ a Nikon 300mm F4. If you can find an older used one even better. You can still add a 1.4X teleconverter and it will be quite sharp. I found a 150-600 Sigma Sport for $1100 a couple of years ago and was so happy with it, I sold my 600mm F4.

If you care at all about image quality avoid superzoom lenses like the 18-300 or the 18-400 class of lenses. They are usually weakest at their maximum focal length.

Reply
 
 
Sep 21, 2019 06:03:08   #
Keen
 
chippy65 wrote:
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding a telephoto lens to my array. looking for something in the 300-400mm class

auto-focus, vibration reduction.Moderate aperture.does not need to be "zoom" Camera I wish to use it with......... Nikon D5300.

some wildlife use, general photography perhaps aircraft.........just hobby stuff.......not exhibition standard

I have been looking at the reviews, tests etc etc and my poor old head is going round and round, for example Sigma lenses in some cases

appear not to autofocus with all Nikon cameras......... but I am pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm and also 105mm macro.

I would be grateful if anyone can make some practical suggestions, not necessarily Nikon lenses but I would consider any make that

performs well and has given satisfaction to other "Hoggers"
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding ... (show quote)


Consider the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 DI VC USD...a full frame lens with Vibration Compensation. It sells new for $699.00 at Adorama, and B&H, and used for $599.99 at The Photo Center. On your DX format camera, the lens has a field of view of 150-600mm.

Reply
Sep 21, 2019 06:35:30   #
ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA
 
imagemeister wrote:
Tamron 100-400 and get a third party tripod collar to go with it.
.


I will give an additional thumbs up to this Tamron 100-400. I recently bought one used on eBay and have been thrilled at some of my captures. For a fixed lens option (for a lot more money), I love my Nikon PF 300mm f/4E combined with the TC-14E III.

Reply
Sep 21, 2019 07:07:28   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
chippy65 wrote:
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding a telephoto lens to my array. looking for something in the 300-400mm class

auto-focus, vibration reduction.Moderate aperture.does not need to be "zoom" Camera I wish to use it with......... Nikon D5300.

some wildlife use, general photography perhaps aircraft.........just hobby stuff.......not exhibition standard

I have been looking at the reviews, tests etc etc and my poor old head is going round and round, for example Sigma lenses in some cases

appear not to autofocus with all Nikon cameras......... but I am pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm and also 105mm macro.

I would be grateful if anyone can make some practical suggestions, not necessarily Nikon lenses but I would consider any make that

performs well and has given satisfaction to other "Hoggers"
without breaking the bank I am thinking of adding ... (show quote)


You asked for it. I deliver. You are welcome.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1365789-REG/nikon_20062b_af_p_dx_nikkor_70_300mm.html?sts=pi&pim=Y

Reply
Sep 21, 2019 07:37:10   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
billnikon wrote:
You asked for it. I deliver. You are welcome.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1365789-REG/nikon_20062b_af_p_dx_nikkor_70_300mm.html?sts=pi&pim=Y


I love that lens, sharp, fast focus and great VR.

Reply
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