motorsport lenses?

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itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

115 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
quotequote all
Got a d3100, a nikon 15-55 (i think) lens with vibration reduction, and a cheapo 70-300 without VR.

Both of which seem useless capturing fast things at a distance. Much of which is attributable to me obviously.

Looking for a non remortgagey priced lens that will work better, if possible?

I see guys with huge white coated lenses at most circuits. They look viciously expensive.

itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

115 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
quotequote all
Very helpful responses indeed thanks people.

Technique, yes without doubt I am not good. Not helped by often not being without a beer at such events!

What I have found with the 70-300 lens, is that it will need prefocussing at a point of the circuit before the car or bike gets there, as it has no chance otherwise. Tracking/burst shots are out of the question. With the shorter lens I can follow a car through a bend or up a strip but obviously I can only crop so much before effort is wasted.

So VR is not a magic photo fairy then? I assumed that was why almost all my longer lens shots are blurry or shaky, and the shorter lens sharp..


itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

115 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
quotequote all
@slidingsideways - nice post, worth printing out! Don't think that I desire any longer than 300 anyway. I gather, the longer the lens the trickier the shot?

brands hatch and santa pod are where I seem to spend a lot of time, going to Le Mans this year (soooo bloody excited!) So it would be nice to have a higher photographic success rate than I managed at last year's TT haha

itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

115 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
quotequote all
eltawater said:
At the moment we don't know what the OP's 70-300 is. AFAIK Nikon didn't sell a 70-300 without VR and with a focus motor.

So either the OP is manually focusing an old 70-300 AF on a D3100, or it's a cheaper Sigma/Tamron with not so good capabilities....
Tamron af 70-300 1:4-5.6

Came dirt cheap with the body and Nikon af-s nikkor 18-55 1:35-5.6G (what does G mean?)



itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

115 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Can I have your thoughts on this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-18-300mm...

Bought used for half the price.. My thinking is that I can sell in my 18-55 and 70-300 to reduce the carryload..

?