Advice on 70-300 Lens for Nikon please?

[Davi]

Brothers birthday is here again, and as usual the list is mostly photographic!

He's asked for a 70-300 Nikon lens to fit his D80, but looking there appear to be different versions? Could anyone advise which is good, which is best, and what's to avoid?

Recommendations on places to purchase would be appreciated to!

ETA he also want's an SD card reader to take out and about with him, if there are any recommendations on that front!

Edited by Davi on Monday 12th March 09:27

[marcellus]

Spookily enough I asked virtually the same question yesterday afternoon;

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=366010&f=109&h=0

[GetCarter]

The ED is suposedly better optically (I doubt there is a lot in it) but the construction of the lens is much more robust (metal mount v plastic). You also get an apature ring on the ED which allows manual operation. If you can afford the cash, buy the ED, but if you are on a tight budget the G is still a good lens (I've read... I have the ED).

[Davi]

Doh, should have searched that first!

getcarter, budget isn't too much of an issue on this one, but I've been reading several non-complimentary reviews on the ED, with focus error and distortions. Have you had any problems with it? One review recommended finding a second hand 75-300 or a 70-210 as preferable options?

[stuart b]

The VR version is available now. Quite a bit more expensive though. www.kenrockwell.com has reviews of all 3 versions.

Stuart

[jeevescat]

I've got the G, while it's not brilliant, it's bloody good for the money. I got it primarily to take on safari, as I wouldn't worry unduly if it got knocked, but still use it a fair bit now.

[Davi]

hmmm Mr Rockwell doesn't seem to rate any of the 70-300 series that much, does he!! I'll have a look at the alternatives he suggests, but going on his comments I think I'd only get the cheapy version of that lens, or something else instead if spending the extra.

[GetCarter]

Most of these taken with the ED

www.stevecarter.com/wild/wild.htm

Steve

[bernie_eccle]

I have just bought a new AF-S VR70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens for £346. Only picked it up on Saturday. The weather was rubbish here at the weekend so not really had a decent chance to try it out. I sold my previous 70-300mm "G" lens on eBay. I had bought it off eBay and sold it for more than I bought it for . For the money it was fine, but felt that some of the images were not quite as good as I hoped for.

I was going to post a pic, but I have just looked at them again. They are track day pics but are very poor due to low light and poor technique so I'll leave it meantime. If you really want to see them they are here http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e19 Hopefully I'll manage to snap a few better ones in the Miami sunshine in a couple of weeks time

Edited by bernie_eccle on Monday 12th March 21:17

[Davi]

Many thanks Getcarter and Bernie. I've passed all the comments on to my brother so he can make his own mind up, it's a bit of a pricey present if there is a chance he's not going to be 100% happy with it, so I think he can chose and I'll just hand over the CC!

[angrys3owner]

If it's a cheap one he's after I'd look at the Sigma APO 70-300, I've got it and it's great, not as good as my brothers 18-200 Nikon VR lens, but it was very cheap in compairson. I bought it over the Nikon G / ED after reading lots of stuff on the web and having a play with both, the Sigma is also better built in my opinion.

back off to my dark corner now