70-200mm on a D3

Gary Coyle

Gary Coyle

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Having been forced to sell my beloved Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 for financial reasons i find i still need something in that range so a couple of questions.

Do all Sigma 70-200mm variants revert to being DX crop lenses on a D3 full frame body, if not, which models are FF

Do i have any other options for using with a D3, forget the Tamron, it just plain sucks, how about any of the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lenses
 
Gary

I have the HSM Macro version and it is Full Frame, not DX Crop.

Could not afford the Nikon and produces fine images for me.

Regards

Nigel
 
Gary Coyle said:
Do i have any other options for using with a D3, forget the Tamron, it just plain sucks, how about any of the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lenses
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I've used a two ring 80-200 2.8 AF-D on my D3 and I'd say it produces better quality pictures than the MK1 70-200, specifically in the corners. I've only moved onto the 70-200 for the faster focussing (there's not actually a lot of difference in speed). Personally I'd always go for a Nikon lens over any other, I was stuck between the Sigma 70-200 and the Nikon 80-200 and I'm glad I went for the Nikon.
 
Thanks Nigel, i tried a Macro version yesterday and it was DX, there must be several models kicking about.
 
Gary I use the 80-200mm AF-D - great lens - very sharp and pretty fast focussing - no VR but that's not that important to me. Second hand value around £500 - £600. Worth a look.
 
Hi Gary
All the Sigma 70-200's will give you full frame on a D3, I used the original version on F4's and F5's in the good old days of film and the current version is just a tweak of the same lens. The same applies to all the Nikkor 70/80 - 200 lenses, they were originally designed to cover 35mm so will cover full frame digi. For film the Sigma was tack sharp even wide open, never tried it on digi, I swapped to a Vr nikkor, this was brilliant on an F5 but vignettes badly at F2.8 on a D3.
Gary
 
Forgot to add, the Sigma HSM focus is a match for the 70-200VR, Sigma Ex build quality was excellent.
 
Tykeboy Slim said:
Hi Gary
All the Sigma 70-200's will give you full frame on a D3, I used the original version on F4's and F5's in the good old days of film and the current version is just a tweak of the same lens. The same applies to all the Nikkor 70/80 - 200 lenses, they were originally designed to cover 35mm so will cover full frame digi. For film the Sigma was tack sharp even wide open, never tried it on digi, I swapped to a Vr nikkor, this was brilliant on an F5 but vignettes badly at F2.8 on a D3.
Gary
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Are you 100% sure, i tried a HSM Macro version of Algardes Sigma 70-200mm lens yesterday and it went into DX crop mode through my viewfinder, i thought i may have inadvertently altered the crop myself but hadnt.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Are you 100% sure, i tried a HSM Macro version of Algardes Sigma 70-200mm lens yesterday and it went into DX crop mode through my viewfinder, i thought i may have inadvertently altered the crop myself but hadnt.
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Gary you should be able to force it back to full frame in the menus, on my D700 it is Full Frame by default.

Do not know why the one you tried went to DX.

Regards

Nigel
 
The reason it went into DX mode is that it needs a chip upgrade on the lens.

Sigma will do this for free if you can prove it was bought in the UK or the import tax was paid.

I had exactly the same issue with my Sigma 120-300 F2.8. Back to Sigma for a chip upgrade and it works fine now. :D:D
 
Gary Coyle said:
Are you 100% sure, i tried a HSM Macro version of Algardes Sigma 70-200mm lens yesterday and it went into DX crop mode through my viewfinder, i thought i may have inadvertently altered the crop myself but hadnt.
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!00%, the lens was designed for film and so covers Fx, as Nigel says are you set to Dx in the menu?

Cheers

Gary
 
barneyrubble said:
The reason it went into DX mode is that it needs a chip upgrade on the lens.

Sigma will do this for free if you can prove it was bought in the UK or the import tax was paid.

I had exactly the same issue with my Sigma 120-300 F2.8. Back to Sigma for a chip upgrade and it works fine now. :D:D
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That will be the answer if your not in DX, "old" lens on a "new" camera.
 
80-200 AFD works fine on my D700, I assume it would be the same on the D3.

Reasonable money secondhand as well Gary.
 
No it doesn't - but the same symptoms apply, which is why I suggested contacting Sigma.

The lens is a full frame lens, but shows the above symptoms. This service advisory is a good few years old, so there may be another somewhere.
 
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