Do these lens prices sound okay?

[Fredo]

Sigma 70-300mm DG OS Lens Nikon Mount - AUD$215
Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G Nikkor 55 200 mm VR - AUD$230
Both new.
I'm leaning toward the Sigma but if you had to pick one, which one?
It will be my first lens to go on a D300 for mostly sports.
Fred

[kiwi]

Neither, both too slow...is the sigma hsm ?

[Fredo]

Neither, both too slow...is the sigma hsm ?

No
Okay I'll keep looking

[Wayne]

Agree with the bird..

For most sports 200 and for full field sports 300 will be too short.

[kiwi]

mate, you really need a 70-200 2.8 or nikon 300 f/4 so you can put a teleconverter on it...at a inch you can use the newer nikon 70-300 ef or vr 70-300 also

[Fredo]

How about this then..

New
Sigma APO 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM Lens
Price: AU$743.00

On the right track?

[kiwi]

How about this then..

New
Sigma APO 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM Lens
Price: AU$743.00

On the right track?


too slow unless you plan to have horrible bokeh and only ever shoot sport in the sun.

one of these plus a tc

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sigma-APO-70-200mm-f-2-8-II-EX-DG-MACRO-HSM-Nikon-A2LI-/300545062151?pt=AU_Cameras_Photographic_Accessories&hash=item45f9e1b507

[Fredo]

too slow unless you plan to have horrible bokeh and only ever shoot sport in the sun.

one of these plus a tc

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sigma-APO-70-200mm-f-2-8-II-EX-DG-MACRO-HSM-Nikon-A2LI-/300545062151?pt=AU_Cameras_Photographic_Accessories&hash=item45f9e1b507

Roger Blue Leader . . .

[N*A*M]

try to find a second hand nikon 80-200/2.8, or a 3rd party 70-200/2.8

[kiwi]

Yip, those too, the non afs Nikon 80-200 is a bit slow re autofocus. But yeah, you can often find the sigmas at a good price especially now people are dumping them to get the new os version i suspect

[Fredo]

Geez this is confusing.

Okay, I'll keep going.

[kiwi]

Oops

Try to find a good 2nd hand sigma 70-200 or Nikon 80-200 as second choice

Expect to pay maybe $650 ? You can get the sigma new for $750 which is an absolute bargain

[J.davis]

I have the Siggy 70-200 MkII (non OS) and it is brilliant on the D300:th3:

[Fredo]

Okay,
So here is what I am doing.
My D300 body arrived yesterday - Holy crap what a piece of kit!!
I'll be ordering a new Siggy 70-200 f2.8 today. (Maybe a smaller version as well if I can find a good deal)
Battery grip is also on the way.

In the meantime I have aquired a cheap ($50), bottom of the barrel Nikon 70-200G so I can at least start using this thing this week end.
I know, I know, its rubbish . . but I'm coming from a P & S so it still looks A-bloody-mazing to me!

Lets talk Teleconverter please.
Do they go okay on the 70-200? Siggy 1.4 or 2.0?

Fred

[kiwi]

sounding good mate....sigma 1.4tc is fine, dont go the 2.0, its mushy

im just wondering whether kenko 1.4tc would work, its better as youll later be able to use it on any nikon lens too....i;ll have to look it up..stand by

[kiwi]

http://blog.nikonians.org/archives/Nikonians%20Teleconverter%20Table.pdf

Yip, get the Kenko 1.4 Pro DG from ebay mate, I can personally vouch for it

[PH005]

:lol: This is a fun read. We all know what yo are going through Fred. At least you're getting some good advice. :)

[Fredo]

Daz,
Thanks for all of this.
I need some help with settings.
Should I PM you or continue this thread?
Fred

[kiwi]

either, but if you ask here then my answers might help others ?

[kiwi]

check this out for a start :)

http://www.outthereimages.com/images/D300_Setup_Guide_v1_1.pdf

[Fredo]

:lol: This is a fun read. We all know what yo are going through Fred. At least you're getting some good advice. :)

. . its only money right Paul?
How good is KIWI (Darren) offering up all this help?

Hey Paul, I'm thinking I'll need a lens to compliment the 70-200.
How is the Sigma 24-70 f2.8? Portraits/family stuff etc?

. . and stop laughing alright!! :p

[PH005]

I have no complaints about mine Fred. Did you see what Rick can achieve with his. ( recent shot of one of his dogs, awesome ). Is a great walkabout lens, but then I guess the 70-200 is a good WA lens too. Just miss out on the wide side though. Kiwi and ALL the others here are fantastic when it comes to giving. Thats what makes this the Best site on the net.

ps. Have stopped laughing. Am only grinning now.

[Boo53]

Fred

Please keep the thread here, its definitely of interest to others of us.

I tried a cheap 70-300 Tamron for cricket last year & they were soft, partly cheap lens & a bigger part inept photographer. At that time it was pointed out that the min speed for birds is 1/lens length & for sport much much faster than that, so working backwards the f2.8 is definitely indicated.

I've been itching to press the button on a sigma 70-200 2.8 non IS model for a while now (shooting Sony I don't need in lens IS the cameras got it) but haven't had the courage to ask permission yet. Whilst I have been procrastinating they have gone from $650 to $750 on the grey market (gee that finger is getting itchy on the mouse)

[Fredo]

please keep the thread here, its definitely of interest to others of us.
I was concerned it might be regurgitating stuff that was already well and truly covered.


. . . Gone from $650 to $750 on the grey market (gee that finger is getting itchy on the mouse)
dooo it, dooo it, dooo it . . .

[kiwi]

The reason Id like to help is to shortcut my own experience :-)

D40
18-55
55-200
+ 18-200 - 18-55 - 55-200
+ 300 F/4
-18-200 + tamron 28-75
+ tokina 12-24
+ sigma 50-150 2.8
+ nikon 50 1.8
- tokina 12-24
- 300 f/4
+ D2H - D40
+ nikon 85 1.4
- sigma 50-150
+ sigma 120-300 2.8
+ sigma 180 macro
+ d300
- sigma 180 macro
+ nikon 105 micro
- sigma 120-300
+ nikon 70-200
+ nikon 300 2.8
- tamron 28-75
- nikon 85 1.4
+ D3
-nikon 300 2.8
+ nikon 400 2.8
- d300
+d2hs
-dshs
+d300s
+ nikon 20 2.8
+ nikon 24-70
- nikon 50 1.8
+ nikon 50 1.4

Now, see what trouble I am saving you ?

[Fredo]

Don't for a second think I don't appreciate your help Daz . . just don't know how on earth I'll ever repay the favour.

I have a 'dumb-A' question . .

Using this Nikon 70-300 f4-5.6G, I have to manually enter the aperture into the camera body right?
So do I enter the largest (4) or the smallest (5.6)?
What about focal length?

[kiwi]

No, you shouldn't have to, what mode you in (a, s, p ?)

While you're getting to grips put in p for program auto

[Fredo]

P Mode? Autot? No way man . . P mode is gone forever.
I'll be using A or S tomorrow for my daughters game.

[kiwi]

Ok, shoot at maximum aperture plus one stop in aperture priority and increase iso until you get a shutter speed of 1/800s, might be iso800 but that's ok

Choose af-c
Choose 21-Pt dynamic focus
Choose centre weighted metering
Choose cloudy white balance

You should be right to go