Lens advice please

Author
Discussion

Dave.

Original Poster:

7,324 posts

252 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
Morning all.

I upgraded from my trusty old D40 back in the summer (anyone remember summer?) to a D3200.

I got the D40 with the 55-200mm kit lens, and wondered if it will "hold me back" so to speak?

Most of my pics are at trackdays/race meetings, and I'm pretty happy on how I've progressed compared to my first set.

On some tracks, the 200mm is a bit of a restriction, but not by much, and I hardly ever go down to 55mm, so I was thinking of a 70-300mm. The tamron seems to be the go-to for guys like me, but I don't want to fall into a trap of missing out on something "better".

Loads of pics on my flickr, links in my profile. It's a little out of date as I'm lazy when it comes to PP.

Any recommendations?

Budget isn't really an issue, I don't mind paying for something if I can make use of it, but I obviously won't be sticking a £4k lens on an £85 camera... hehe so let's say under £300? I'll be buying second hand (camera jungle/that other one I always forget what its called/etc).

Cheers

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

158 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
For £300 you could pick up a decent second-hand Sigma 50-500 or 150-500 with OS.

I had a 50-500 on a D50/80 and then 7100 for many years - Did mostly hand-held aviation stuff. They are heavy lenses but not too bad...

eltawater

3,107 posts

178 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all

GravelBen

15,654 posts

229 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
yes

The Nikon 70-300 AFS VR performs remarkably well for what it costs.

IIRC it got much better reviews than the 55-200 or 55-300 too but I haven't tried the 55-x00 lenses to compare them myself.

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 21st January 10:55

Dave.

Original Poster:

7,324 posts

252 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
Cheers all.

The 70-300 is winning at the minute, can get a barely used one for £210 from mob, where as the 50/150-500 are £600 and £425.

I think the 150-500 would be too long for the likes of Hardwood, Croft and Oulton, and at £600, I doubt the 50-500 would give me 3x the results of the cheapy.

Any more suggestions, are is the 70-300 the answer?

eltawater

3,107 posts

178 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
I had the 55-200 before and it was appallingly soft at the long end. The Nikon 70-300 afs is very respectable and has good snappy autofocus.

I also have a 200-500 but that struggles a bit when moving quickly across the photo range so i tend to leave it extended and focused.

Dave.

Original Poster:

7,324 posts

252 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
Thanks... Bought.... biggrin

Dave.

Original Poster:

7,324 posts

252 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2019
quotequote all
Arrived this morning, I may have underestimated the physical size of it.

New bag required!

Glad I didn't go for the 500! hehe

eltawater

3,107 posts

178 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2019
quotequote all
It's the smallest and lightest telephoto I own...


Dave.

Original Poster:

7,324 posts

252 months

Thursday 24th January 2019
quotequote all
hehe

It's not the size, it's what you do with it that counts....

Well, that's what our lass tells me anyway! laugh

Gad-Westy

14,520 posts

212 months

Thursday 24th January 2019
quotequote all
Dave. said:
Arrived this morning, I may have underestimated the physical size of it.

New bag required!

Glad I didn't go for the 500! hehe
I always think of them as compact!

They're a nice lens though. Properly made and good AF speed.

Dave.

Original Poster:

7,324 posts

252 months

Thursday 24th January 2019
quotequote all
It's definitely a step up from the two kit lenses which came with the D40.

All I need now is something to aim it at....

eltawater

3,107 posts

178 months

Thursday 24th January 2019
quotequote all
I find standing by a road and practising panning shots of cars quite helpful...

Dave.

Original Poster:

7,324 posts

252 months

Thursday 24th January 2019
quotequote all
In this weather? Are you mad?

Yours
Fairweather Hobbyist

hehe

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

158 months

Thursday 24th January 2019
quotequote all
eltawater said:
It's the smallest and lightest telephoto I own...
I love my 200-500!

SCEtoAUX

4,119 posts

80 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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I love my 200-500 as well.

Brilliant lens, with the only slight downside of not focusing quite as fast as I'd like, which may partly be down to the ageing D700 bodies I use it on.