Lens advice/Suggestion.

[onlynik]

I'm looking for a new lens.

I've a Nikon D40X, and I'd like a zoom lens. The body came with a 18-55mm lens.

Would a 70-300mm lens be what I'm looking for. Budget is around £500

[Don]

There is an inexpensive, lightweight, Nikon 70-300mm lens. I bought one. Should cost around £120 at most.

I did use it a bit with my D70 but always found 300mm just not enough for me. The Nikon 80-400mm VR lens I replaced it with cost many times what it did but it rocks.

[Don]

Just found one on eBay currently at £36!

The replacement one with VR is £300 or so.

[onlynik]

Ta, I'll take a gander

[rustyspit]

Don said:

Just found one on eBay currently at £36!

The replacement one with VR is £300 or so.

Nikon used to make two similar 70-300mm lenses - 'G' and 'ED' versions, I think.

The new VR version really replaces the 70-300ED which was the more expensive, but better quality of the two lenses. Both of the old lenses had screw-drive autofocus, so would be relatively slow and noisy compared to the AFS autofocus in the newer lens.

ETA - I've just realized that the OP said he had a D40X - only the newer VR version of that lens will focus on that camera as it doesn't have the screw-drive to connect to the focus mechanism in the older lenses. The VR in the new lens would make a big difference if you're trying to hand-hold it at 300mm too.

Edited by rustyspit on Tuesday 2nd September 15:17

[Don]

rustyspit said:

Don said:

Just found one on eBay currently at £36!

The replacement one with VR is £300 or so.

Nikon used to make two similar 70-300mm lenses - 'G' and 'ED' versions, I think.

The new VR version really replaces the 70-300ED which was the more expensive, but better quality of the two lenses. Both of the old lenses had screw-drive autofocus, so would be relatively slow and noisy compared to the AFS autofocus in the newer lens.

ETA - I've just realized that the OP said he had a D40X - only the newer VR version of that lens will focus on that camera as it doesn't have the screw-drive to connect to the focus mechanism in the older lenses. The VR in the new lens would make a big difference if you're trying to hand-hold it at 300mm too.

Excellent extra and important information!