Tamron v Nikkor: I have the opportunity to buy a used Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR AF-S My other option is a Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD. the used Nikkor for $900 in very...

Cubanphoto

I have the opportunity to buy a used Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR AF-S
My other option is a Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD.
the used Nikkor for $900 in very good condition.
The new Tamron $949 + tax.
They are both US market.

Which is a better choice?
Is the Nikkor over priced?

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Cubanphoto wrote:

I have the opportunity to buy a used Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR AF-S
My other option is a Tamron

In my opinion I would use the Nikkor. I have had a tamron and a sigma contemporary. The Nikkor is faster focusing and the fixed aperture is a good thing. The extra 100mm is not a deal breaker. Honestly it doesn't make a great differance in my opinion. That's my take on it after owning all three. Still have the Nikkor and Sigma with the USB tweaked piece.

Cubanphoto

Drbobcameraguy wrote:

In my opinion I would use the Nikkor. I have had a tamron and a sigma contemporary. The Nikkor is faster focusing and the fixed aperture is a good thing. The extra 100mm is not a deal breaker. Honestly it doesn't make a great differance in my opinion. That's my take on it after owning all three. Still have the Nikkor and Sigma with the USB tweaked piece.

Thank you. What do you think of the price? A new one on sale is $1249 at Best Buy

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

I have the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD and they are going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands, however that seems a lot to pay for a 2013 used lens and the Nikon has a good price on it.

Cubanphoto

cedymock wrote:

I have the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD and they are going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands, however that seems a lot to pay for a 2013 used lens and the Nikon has a good price on it.

The Tamron is a new lens

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

If the Tamron is $949 new it must be the G1. Since the G1 Tamron came out with the G2 but I honestly don't know what was improved or how significant the improvement was.

Cubanphoto

JRiepe wrote:

If the Tamron is $949 new it must be the G1. Since the G1 Tamron came out with the G2 but I honestly don't know what was improved or how significant the improvement was.

Thank you. I checked Google and actually found a posting in UHH. The G2 has a faster Auto Focus.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Cubanphoto wrote:

I have the opportunity to buy a used Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR AF-S
My other option is a Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD.
the used Nikkor for $900 in very good condition.
The new Tamron $949 + tax.
They are both US market.

Which is a better choice?
Is the Nikkor over priced?

No question my my mind. Go with the Nikor 200-500. I have it and it is super sharp through the entire range.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Cubanphoto wrote:

I have the opportunity to buy a used Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR AF-S
My other option is a Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD.
the used Nikkor for $900 in very good condition.
The new Tamron $949 + tax.
They are both US market.

Which is a better choice?
Is the Nikkor over priced?

You can get that lens new with a 5 year warranty from Nikon for a little more. I strongly suggest you consider that. Yes, it will cost you about $356.00 more but your gaining a 5 year warranty.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Nikon%20AF-S%20NIKKOR%20200-500mm%20f%2F5.6E%20ED%20VR%20Lens&sts=pi&pim=Y
1. The Nikon was developed to work on the Nikon, the Tamron was designed to work on several camera's.
2. Nikon produces it's own glass blanks, only one other company does that, Tamron buys their optics from the lowest bidder.
3. The Nikon 200-500 is sharper at the 500 mm end than the tamron is at 600 mm. That end you will be using a lot.
I have used the 200-500 for over 4 years in Florida Wetlands. I shoot it off the Nikon D500, it is an award winning lens that you will be proud to own.
Below is just a sample of what you can expect.

MauiMoto Loc: Hawaii

Nikon.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Cubanphoto wrote:

Thank you. I checked Google and actually found a posting in UHH. The G2 has a faster Auto Focus.

This has not been my experience in actually using the Nikon vs. Tamron. What is your PERSONAL experience.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

NIKKOR FOR THE WIN

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

While I will go along with the general consensus that the Nikkor is the better choice, let me add two more small points. First, the 200-500 is heavy, and I almost always use mine on a tripod. Secondly, Tamron G2 models can make use of their Tap-In Console for updates and adjustments. That said, when reviewing pictures taken with a borrowed Tamron 150-600, my wife told my to go ahead and get a long prime, because she did not like what she was seeing. How often does that happen?

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

This is only my personal opinion. Nikon makes lenses for their cameras. Compatibility is something that will never give you a headache if you use what the original manufacturer made for its cameras but if they do you will have an excellent service with technicians that only work with Nikon gear. I firmly believe in using Nikon lenses with Nikon bodies.

I have no experience with the 200-500 f5.6 VR Nikon lens but it is very familiar to me. It is a great optic that will serve you well and give you excellent images IF you do your part when shooting. I have no experience with the Tamrom or Sigma lens but I know many users like them. As I said, I prefer to use what the manufacturer makes for its cameras. I have been in a budget before buying a lens and what I have done is to wait till I could buy the lens. When a used lens was more affordable I just went that way but always buying what I knew was best for my cameras.

Be assured you will buy an excellent lens with extraordinary quality when you buy the 200-500 Nikkor.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Rely on the opinions of the professional testers. Lots of links -

150-600mm
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=15236
http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/tamron-vs-sigma-150-600.html
http://photo.net/equipment/150-600_lenses
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/latest/articles/tamron-vs-sigma-150-600mm-the-7-key-differences-48183
https://photographylife.com/nikon-200-500mm-vs-tamron-150-600mm-vs-sigma-150-600mm-c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLXocpM5xno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_msTFAmwWY

200-500mm
https://photographylife.com/nikon-200-500mm-vs-tamron-150-600mm-vs-sigma-150-600mm-c/1
http://www.davemclelland.com/nikon-200-500-vs-tamron-150-600-lens-comparison/
http://www.davemclelland.com/nikon-200-500-vs-tamron-150-600-lens-comparison/
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/296-tamron-af-200-500mm-f5-63-di-ld-if-sp-lab-test-report--review
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/tamron_200_500.html
http://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/tamron/200-500mm-f5-6.3-di-ld-if-sp-af/review/