Author Topic: 70-300mm VR lens for Nikon (Read 6532 times)

Allen · « **on:** February 25, 2009, 16:47 »

Hi I was wondering if anyone has this lens and what they think of it for microstock.

I have the Tamron 70-300 and find it soft.

I would like a better lens than the Tamron for wildlife, but not sure how soft the Nikon gets at 300mm. If you have something better you would recommend that is under $800 than please fire it off.

The problem with most of the sites reviewing lenses is it is hard to find a 100% crop.

vonkara · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2009, 17:43 »

I already rented it just for fun when it came out and this one is soft also, from what I've experienced. You wont really have sharp lenses in the 70-300 category. Maybe the Sigma 100-300 f/4, but I had a bad experience also with some Sigma lenses. Never tried this one though

Try this link to look at what you can get better. The 70-200 are better but expensive and Nikon don't have a f/4 like Canon http://www.photozone.de/

You can get a crop of samples images for all lenses there

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2009, 19:09 »

I have one. Mine is very sharp at 70mm - 200mm and just a little less sharp from 200mm - 300mm. I've seen some posts saying 300mm is a bit soft but maybe I ended up with a better one. Color and contrast is good too.

Slrgear.com has a review.

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/992/cat/13

davey_rocket · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2009, 20:54 »

Like Paulie said above I've noticed that mine is a bit soft on the 200-300 end of the range as well, especially at 300mm. The rest of the range is great though.

yecatsdoherty · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2009, 22:14 »

Vonkara - do you purchase the red band sigmas or the gold band? the gold band Sigma lenses are pretty good. I really like mine. I wouldn't touch Tamron.

are you shooting with a tripod? and are you sure to set the VR to off when shooting with a tripod?

Fred · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:34 »

Best site I have found for Nikon Lens evals -->http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html#rating

He likes it -->http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_03.html#AFS70-300EDGVR

c h e e r s
fred

Allen · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2009, 09:34 »

Thanks everyone, I'm still not sure. If I won't be satisfied with the zoom from 200-300mm then I will probably rarely zoom in that far, and if that's the case, I might as well get a higher quality zoom that goes up to 200mm. Anyways I will be sure to do more research.

vonkara · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2009, 10:02 »

Quote from: yecatsdoherty on February 25, 2009, 22:14

Vonkara - do you purchase the red band sigmas or the gold band? the gold band Sigma lenses are pretty good. I really like mine. I wouldn't touch Tamron.

are you shooting with a tripod? and are you sure to set the VR to off when shooting with a tripod?

Yes I always shoot on a tripod. I have the Sigma 150 f/2.8 Macro 1:1 ratio. I had problems with the body ring, but it was still OK to use. I never achieved real sharp results with this one, even if it's almost the best reviewed Sigma lens. I choosed it because of that but now I didn't use it anymore.

Allen · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2009, 10:15 »

Another lens I was thinking about was the 18-200mm. It's a little more, and I have heard mixed reviews.

What do you guys think. Which one is sharper and which do you recommend for microstock. From what I have heard the 18-200 is good for a walk around lens, but too many problems for consistent results for microstock.

Thanks again!

vonkara · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2009, 10:21 »

The 18-200 is sharper. Probably the best choice in the price range you can achieve right now. But the 70-200 would be awesome

Fred · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2009, 12:50 »

I suppose you mean the Nikkor 18-200mm VR. It is a good walking around lens but you need to stop down to f/11 to get sharp images at 200mm (see review here --> http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_02.html#AFS18-200VR )

I have had mine for 2 years and am pretty happy with it when I need the wide range (i.e. don't know what I will end up shooting.) It has bad creeping problem when shooting vertical and that is irritating. I'm saving up for a 28-70mm or 18-55mm f/2.8 to replace it.

In any case I don't think it would work well as a substitute for a 70-300mm.

fred

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Author Topic: 70-300mm VR lens for Nikon (Read 6532 times)

Allen

vonkara

PaulieWalnuts

davey_rocket

yecatsdoherty

Fred

Allen

vonkara

Allen

vonkara

Fred

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