Lens suggestions...

[Upatdawn]

I have a Nikon d5300, im ok with the camera, the 18-140mm Nikon lens seems good, image quality is generally good, what i want is a "long tom", I had a dalliance with a Tamron 70-300mm which basically wasnt fit for purpose unless light was good and subject not far away, it was slow to focus too

SO.............

in a budget of £500 what would you suggest?

The Sigma EX 120-300mm F2.8 HSM APO EX DG OS seems popular as a non-OE item?

[Simpo Two]

Upatdawn said:

in a budget of £500 what would you suggest?

The Sigma EX 120-300mm F2.8 HSM APO EX DG OS seems popular as a non-OE item?

It's £1,135 at Wex. How badly do you need f2.8? If not, I'd recommend the Nikon 70-300 VR.

[Upatdawn]

Simpo Two said:

It's £1,135 at Wex. How badly do you need f2.8? If not, I'd recommend the Nikon 70-300 VR.

the sigma comes in f4 too i was looking at used, the Nikon looks good, thanks

[Lucas CAV]

Another vote for the 70-300mm VR --- a great lens for the money

[Gad-Westy]

I have a Nikon 70-300 VR too and it is a very decent lens for the money. Don't discount the Tamron 70-300 VC though. It's a very different lens to the basic Tamron 70-300 and is more than a match for the Nikon and generally cheaper.

If you're looking at used stuff, there are a host of Sigma 70-200 2.8's that might come up in budget, the pick of which is the most recent OS version. It would cost all of your budget but 2.8 and OS.....

Some other option that may just creep under budget are the Nikon 80-200 AF-S 2.8 and the 300mm F/4 AFS. Both stellar lenses.

[Simpo Two]

Gad-Westy said:

If you're looking at used stuff, there are a host of Sigma 70-200 2.8's that might come up in budget, the pick of which is the most recent OS version. It would cost all of your budget but 2.8 and OS.....

I have an early one found on eBay s/h for £350 almost 10 years ago. It's not OS but it's been my 'sniping' lens for weddings ever since and has paid for itself a bazillion times over. A little lacking in contrast sometimes but an easy fix in PP. (I never upgraded to the Nikon equivalent because it was longer and wouldn't fit in my bag!)

[critical mass]

I'd also go for the Nikon 70-300 VR. Got mine recently off eBay for £220 in mint condition. Hugely impressed with it.

[Upatdawn]

Sold my Nikon fit Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2, it just didnt cut it imagewise

[A900ss]

Depends what you want it for.

Slow/Stationary subjects in good light - Nikon 70-300VR everytime.

If you need to record something that moves fast, consider giving up a bit of reach for a secondhand Nikon 70 - 200 f4 instead.

Let us know how you get on.

[Upatdawn]

Was in the wrong place at the wrong time Sunday for a Spitfire flypast, with the Nikon 18-140mm and sone editing i did at least get a picture from a very poor image

[Nigel_O]

I use a Nikon D5200 and a Sigma 50-500 for long shots - great lens, although its a bit heavy for a walkabout lens

Capable of stuff like:





If you do some serious shopping around, you should be able to find a good secondhand one with optical stabilisation for a little over your £500 budget (mine was £600 and had never been on a camera body). Non-OS can be had for £400-ish. Budget for a decent monopod though...

[Upatdawn]

Nigel_O said:

I use a Nikon D5200 and a Sigma 50-500 for long shots - great lens, although its a bit heavy for a walkabout lens

Capable of stuff like:





If you do some serious shopping around, you should be able to find a good secondhand one with optical stabilisation for a little over your £500 budget (mine was £600 and had never been on a camera body). Non-OS can be had for £400-ish. Budget for a decent monopod though...

Cheers


I keep asking myself, at this level (decent DSLR) which is best, Canon or Nikon given the autofocus motor question, I had a Canon 600d

[A900ss]

Upatdawn said:

Cheers


I keep asking myself, at this level (decent DSLR) which is best, Canon or Nikon given the autofocus motor question, I had a Canon 600d

Quite frankly, consumer cameras are better that you'll ever need and the brand isn't really that relevant.

Sometimes Nikon will be slightly ahead in technology, sometimes Canon will be ahead but either way, the most iconic photos of all time have been taken with inferior equipment to what you can buy for a few hundred quid today.

I've bought into Nikon and will stay because I have some good glass and that's worth more than the bodies.

This post isn't meant to be harsh, just that generally its photographic technique/knowledge that lets the photo down rather than equipment.

Have fun.

[Upatdawn]

Lifes a learning curve till you fall off the end.......lol

I took this on 35mm, Nikon F55(?) with about a 135mm Nikkon lens

[LivewareProblem]

I really like my Nikon 28-300mm (f3.5-5.6)

Its around £650 online

[Upatdawn]

Whats the most desirable "suffix" for these lens, DX, VR, AF-S?

[Simpo Two]

Upatdawn said:

Whats the most desirable "suffix" for these lens, DX, VR, AF-S?

Your camera has a DX (small) sensor so can use both DX and FX lenses. VR is Vibration Reduction, handy for telephotos; AF-S means fast quiet focusing.

[wilbo83]

Upatdawn said:

I have a Nikon d5300, im ok with the camera, the 18-140mm Nikon lens seems good, image quality is generally good, what i want is a "long tom", I had a dalliance with a Tamron 70-300mm which basically wasnt fit for purpose unless light was good and subject not far away, it was slow to focus too

SO.............

in a budget of £500 what would you suggest?

The Sigma EX 120-300mm F2.8 HSM APO EX DG OS seems popular as a non-OE item?

Can I ask if your Tamron 70-300 was the VC version or just the budget one around £100? I am potentially looking to get the VC version (c.£230) and so far have read plenty of positive reviews but would be interested in your opinion if it was that one.

[Upatdawn]

wilbo83 said:

Can I ask if your Tamron 70-300 was the VC version or just the budget one around £100? I am potentially looking to get the VC version (c.£230) and so far have read plenty of positive reviews but would be interested in your opinion if it was that one.

this is it/was it

you tell me

[Upatdawn]

Im hoping to find a lens around 300mm with the quality of the 18-140mm Nikkon lens I have, is that realistic?