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Purchase Nikon's 70-300 mm lens?

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  • heartyfisherheartyfisher Posts: 3,192Member
    Photozone's review pegs the Tamron 70-300 VC as being close or as good at best.
    Seems a weird range for reviews .. there are many with various views many saying that the Tamron is the best while the Standard review sites only give it scores similar or close to its competitors...
    Moments of Light - D610 D7K S5pro 70-200f4 18-200 150f2.8 12-24 18-70 35-70f2.8 : C&C very welcome!
    Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.

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  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    Maybe it is sample variation?
    Always learning.
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  • heartyfisherheartyfisher Posts: 3,192Member
    edited September 2015
    Maybe it is sample variation?
    One thing I noticed from the professional reviewers vs the non pro reviews is maybe the non pro reviewers are noting the extra contrast of the Tamron and seeing it as "sharpness" ...

    Post edited by heartyfisher on
    Moments of Light - D610 D7K S5pro 70-200f4 18-200 150f2.8 12-24 18-70 35-70f2.8 : C&C very welcome!
    Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.

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  • kanuckkanuck Posts: 1,300Member
    I knew I couldn't be alone. It is such a wonderful focal length and it was excellent on DX and on FX I found as well until we got censors that crept up over 16mp. You are right BVS and tcole it is not looking promising for a refresh. As spraynpray says the 300mm VR and the 70-200 F4 are so good there just is not a lot of pressure out there to fresh this lens sadly. I'll take a closer look at the Tammy 70/300 then if you guys say it is that good! ;)
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  • heartyfisherheartyfisher Posts: 3,192Member
    edited September 2015
    I would be interested to hear your views on the 70-300 tamron .. I understand that its really quite nice on DX and its also F4 from 70 upto 105 and almost 135mm .. I have also heard that the bokeh is not the best but I not sure how much stock to put into that.
    Post edited by heartyfisher on
    Moments of Light - D610 D7K S5pro 70-200f4 18-200 150f2.8 12-24 18-70 35-70f2.8 : C&C very welcome!
    Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.

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  • dissentdissent Posts: 1,355Member
    edited September 2015
    The lion's share of my shots from the Oshkosh airshow were from the Nikon 70-300, and on a D7100. I like mine a lot. Album linky -

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/92617093@N05/albums/72157655939603779
    Post edited by dissent on
    - Ian . . . [D7000, D7100; Nikon glass: 35 f1.8, 85 f1.8, 70-300 VR, 105 f2.8 VR, 12-24 f4; 16-85 VR, 300 f4D, 14E-II TC, SB-400, SB-700 . . . and still plenty of ignorance]
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  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    You seem to have a good one Ian. Hang onto it or sell it to me :-)
    Always learning.
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  • kanuckkanuck Posts: 1,300Member
    edited September 2015
    You seem to have a good one Ian. Hang onto it or sell it to me :-)
    I agree looking through your shots dissent on your site, and I think you couldn't ask for much more from a lens. Pretty darn nice looking images there :)
    Post edited by kanuck on
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  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,293Member
    I've been wafting in and out of getting the 70-300, I'm just saving up for it mostly.

    Dissent's photos really sealed the deal for me, the photos look great on it!
    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
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  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    edited September 2015
    Don't bet on getting a copy as good as that one - it is a peach. Mine was a lemon.
    Post edited by spraynpray on
    Always learning.
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  • dissentdissent Posts: 1,355Member
    edited September 2015
    @ spraynpray, @ kanuck - thanks for the kind words. However, you should see the mountain of images that got tossed out (and are still getting tossed out) on my virtual darkroom floor. May have been some that were lens related, but I feel most were due to the skill level of the operator. I've got a lot to learn for shooting this subject matter, but I really like this focal length range on a DX body for working an air show.

    edit - I just uploaded a four shot sequence of a Harrier landing shot with the 70-300 between 300 to 210 mm. If you look close the 300mm is a bit softer than 270 and below, but, for the money, I'll take it.
    Post edited by dissent on
    - Ian . . . [D7000, D7100; Nikon glass: 35 f1.8, 85 f1.8, 70-300 VR, 105 f2.8 VR, 12-24 f4; 16-85 VR, 300 f4D, 14E-II TC, SB-400, SB-700 . . . and still plenty of ignorance]
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  • kanuckkanuck Posts: 1,300Member
    edited September 2015
    The verdict seems to be the lens is a real bargain and a keeper on DX bodies then. I just wish it was more similar in performance on the D800 series but then again the lens is going on 10 years old nearly now and for around 300 bucks it still will do the job in a pinch. However, I think it's time for me to stop being so cheap and step up to a pricier lens in this range it looks like... :(
    Post edited by kanuck on
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  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    @kanuk: I sold mine and got a 200/4 which is very sharp end to end with the best VR I've used and am so much happier even though I lost 100mm on paper. Maybe a converter on a 70-200/2.8 or f4 would be better.

    I use the 200+ focal length so rarely that I am going to cover it all with a Tamron 150-600 and be done with it.
    Always learning.
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  • esquiloesquilo Posts: 71Member
    Maybe a converter on a 70-200/2.8 or f4 would be better.
    From what I've seen in tests, the new Nikon 80-400 outperforms 70-200/2.8 + TC-20E III. Price and weight is roughly equal.
    Nikon D7100 with Sigma 10-20 mm, Nikon 16-85 mm, Nikon 70-300 mm, Sigma 150-500 mm, Nikon 28 mm f/1.8G and Nikon 50 mm f/1.8G.
    Nikon1 J3 with 10-30 mm and 10 mm f/2.8
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  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator


    Price and weight is roughly equal.
    Only if you don't already have the 70-200 which I am assuming kanuk has...
    Always learning.
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  • haroldpharoldp Posts: 984Member
    Maybe a converter on a 70-200/2.8 or f4 would be better.
    From what I've seen in tests, the new Nikon 80-400 outperforms 70-200/2.8 + TC-20E III. Price and weight is roughly equal.
    I have both and it us not even close at the tele end. At 400mm the 80-400G is much sharper, and focuses faster than the 70-200 with tc-20eIII.

    ... H

    D810, D3x, 14-24/2.8, 50/1.4D, 24-70/2.8, 24-120/4 VR, 70-200/2.8 VR1, 80-400 G, 200-400/4 VR1, 400/2.8 ED VR G, 105/2 DC, 17-55/2.8.
    Nikon N90s, F100, F, lots of Leica M digital and film stuff.

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  • dissentdissent Posts: 1,355Member
    @kanuk: I sold mine and got a 200/4 which is very sharp end to end with the best VR I've used and am so much happier even though I lost 100mm on paper.
    yeah, wouldn't mind having one of those at all!

    - Ian . . . [D7000, D7100; Nikon glass: 35 f1.8, 85 f1.8, 70-300 VR, 105 f2.8 VR, 12-24 f4; 16-85 VR, 300 f4D, 14E-II TC, SB-400, SB-700 . . . and still plenty of ignorance]
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  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,293Member
    @kanuk: I sold mine and got a 200/4 which is very sharp end to end with the best VR I've used and am so much happier even though I lost 100mm on paper. Maybe a converter on a 70-200/2.8 or f4 would be better.

    I use the 200+ focal length so rarely that I am going to cover it all with a Tamron 150-600 and be done with it.
    Yes, I'm a little confused by this statement- did you mean a 300mm F4?

    Unless you're using some experimental Nikkor macro lens, I think it'd be a little hard to get a 200mm F4 with VR.

    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
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  • IronheartIronheart Posts: 3,017Moderator
    I think he means the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR.
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  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    edited September 2015
    Jeez, sorry guys, I meant to type 70-200 f4. Having a bad day. 8-}
    Post edited by spraynpray on
    Always learning.
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  • dissentdissent Posts: 1,355Member
    yeah, but I'd still like to have a 200/4, regardless of VR status.
    - Ian . . . [D7000, D7100; Nikon glass: 35 f1.8, 85 f1.8, 70-300 VR, 105 f2.8 VR, 12-24 f4; 16-85 VR, 300 f4D, 14E-II TC, SB-400, SB-700 . . . and still plenty of ignorance]
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  • kanuckkanuck Posts: 1,300Member
    edited September 2015
    Now we also have the option of the new 200-500mm VR lens! Talk about decisions, decisions. I bet it is ultra sharp but it looks like quite the beast. The 70-200mm F4 is either the sharpest or second sharpest zoom lens made for the D800 series hands down. Only the 70-200 mm Tamron is supposed to be sharper, but I find that hard to believe. To beat the 70-200mm F4 you have to shoot primes. The 300mm primes are great, but I like the 70-120mm range quite a bit for head and shoulder shots. My happy zone for shooting seems falls in the 14-40mm range and 70-120mm.
    Post edited by kanuck on
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  • IronheartIronheart Posts: 3,017Moderator
    yeah, but I'd still like to have a 200/4, regardless of VR status.
    Then put the zoom ring on 200 on the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR. Gaffers tape will hold it there ;-)
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  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,293Member
    How does the Nikkor 55-300 compare similarly to the 70-300? Is there a noticeable difference in focus speed, performance and sharpness?
    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
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  • IronheartIronheart Posts: 3,017Moderator
    The 55-300 is the tortoise and the 70-300 is the hare when it comes to focus speed. The 55-300 lens filter threads turn when focused, the lens needs to be manually unlocked before you can manually focus, and the focus ring is in front of the zoom so the lens is clearly varifocal, not parfocal, which means you really don't want to use manual focus anyway, or also pretty crappy for video. #:-S It might be a bit better at the 300mm end though, unless you stop down, then the 70-300 is the winner.
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