Motorsport lens for Nikon D40

[Pete RS]

Help!

Photography virgin here! I have just got myself/ the family a Nikon D40. I would like to take some motorsport shots with it - what type of lens do i need to buy that will be good enough to get me started but actually bring the cars "closer"? I dont want to spend mega bucks. I have looked on ebay and don't have a clue what i should be spending my money on,

thanks in advance for anyones advice,

P

[matrs]

Pete,

70-300mm lens.

Cheers
Matt

[Pete RS]

matrs said:

Pete,

70-300mm lens.

Cheers
Matt

Matt, Does it have to be a nikon or will other manufacturers fit?

Thanks
P

[matrs]

No, Sigma offer a good Nikon fitment lens, however I would pay a bit more and get the Nikkor ED

[kevin63]

These two photo's I took are with the £99 Sigma 70-300mm just as an example and with a Nikon D50

[CarMac]

I love my 70-300mm Sigma APO. You need to be careful which lens you buy though as I think it's the D40 which doesn't have the autofocus function of the other cameras in the Nikon range. Ie you can only use the newest of lenses, not the older lenses.

[iain_cam]

CarMac said:

I love my 70-300mm Sigma APO. You need to be careful which lens you buy though as I think it's the D40 which doesn't have the autofocus function of the other cameras in the Nikon range. Ie you can only use the newest of lenses, not the older lenses.

Yes, bear this in mind, but any photography shop worth their salt should point this out to you before purchase. For my motorsport stuff I currently use the Nikkor 55-200, and although it's and excellent lens to start off with (I particularly appreciated the zoom, coming from a compact), now I find it a bit slow and it has a tendency to 'hunt' for things to focus on and the action is missed.

By all accounts the 70-300 Nikkor is much better (I hope I get mine soon). The equivalent Sigma is better VFM in some eyes, and will have very similar performance.

Hope this helps,

[Pete RS]

Thanks for all the advice guys - really appreciate it,

P

[chim666]

Have a look here... www.warehouseexpress.com/ for prices etc,.

....and here... www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

...for some very useful info and tests.

(you might want to consider buying yourself a monopod too)

Edited by chim666 on Sunday 6th May 18:26

[RobDickinson]

Heres a list of lenses that will auto focus on the D40(x):
Nikon

Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED AF-S DX
Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S DX
Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX
Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX
Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED AF-S DX
Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX
Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR
Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX
Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR
Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR
Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED AF-S
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR
Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED AF-S VR
Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED AF-S VR
Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR
Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED AF-S
Nikkor 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED II AF-S
Nikkor 500mm f/4D IF-ED II
Nikkor 600mm f/4D IF-ED II
AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II
AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II
AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E II

Sigma

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO HSM
Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG ASP
Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX ASP HSM
Sigma 14mm f/2.8 EX ASP HSM
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO RF HSM
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO Macro HSM
Sigma 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 APO EX OS
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG APO IF HSM
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF HSM
Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX APO IF HSM
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG APO Macro HSM
Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF HSM
Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO IF HSM
Sigma 800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO HSM