Advice on Telephoto lens for Nikon D5100

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Orinocco

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I currently have the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR but find the auto focus very slow. The fact that the zoom is not internal and the filter thread rotates on focus is very annoying, especially the latter. As a result I am looking to replace this at the earliest opportunity. My budget can stretch to £400, maybe even a little more for the right lens.

I have been looking at the Nikon AF-S VR 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED or the Tamron SP AF 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di VC USD Lens. From what I have seen from comparison reviews, there isn't much between them. I'll be looking to use it for wildlife as well as the Super Bikes at Brands Hatch. Any advice as to which lens is my best option or pointers to other suitable lenses would be greatly appreciated.
 
Hello mate, welcome to the forum.

I have the Tamron 70-300 SP and it's a great lens. Used it for touring cars, birds, landscapes, portraits. Mines attached to a D7000 and i have no experience of the 5100 but it focuses pretty quick, and in good light it's pretty immediate. I also have no experience of the VR on the 70-300 but the VR on my 18-105 is pretty much non existent. The VC on the other hand is absolutely superb and pretty much stops the action dead although for motorsport it's not much use as i switch it off.

Here are a few 'inevitable' examples from the D7000 with the Tamron.


Lily by David Raynham, on Flickr

Captain America! by David Raynham, on Flickr

BTCC Media Day Donnington Park by David Raynham, on Flickr

Pochard by David Raynham, on Flickr

Moon by David Raynham, on Flickr
 
I suspect the focus speed problem is as much the camera as the lens. I tried photographing some motocross with my D5100 and a Sigma 50-150 f2.8 and the panning shots that David's nailed with his combo were out of focus half the time. The Tamron or the Nikon 70-300mm will be better than your 55-300mm but you'll still be working with the older AF module in the camera.
 
Just a thought, again other may be able to advise on this.

But what about the sigma 70-200 2.8 and a 1.4 TC to slide on if you need the reach?

I have the sigma and to be fair it's easily my most used lens. With the TC you will lose a stop but still be F4 (I think) will also give you nice sharp lens without the TC too
 
The 55-300 is slow, there's no escaping it. Going from close to infinity takes forever.

The cheapest good upgrade would be to sell your current lens and buy a second hand tamron 70-300mm vc. The upgrade would only cost you £150 at the most.

Otherwise, a worthwhile consideration is the sigma 120-400mm OS which is also very good.
 
Hi Guys

Many thanks for taking the trouble to get back to me so quickly. Sorry I've been so slack myself. It's been a somewhat manic week. Minnnt. Nice pics. I'm impressed by how sharp they look. The bokeh on the Captain America pic doesn't look bad either. Snapshot / Phil Young . I'll take any improvement I can get. It sometimes feels like I'm going to die of old age waiting for my current lens to focus. Scott 199 - Worth considering for sure.

Well all this has given me food for thought in any case. interesting that I've not heard from anyone advocating the Nikon lens. I'd be interested to hear peoples take on this one as well. So far it looks like a toss up between the Tamron or the Sigma if I'm willing to save the extra pennies. I'm always open to persuasion though.
 
Nothing much wrong with the Nikon 70-300mm VR but the Tamron is a newer design which they seem to have got right. I certainly wouldn't consider the current Sigma over the Nikon or Tamron.
 
damianmkv The colour in those photos looks seriously nice. Seeing these is enough to make me revise my initial take and consider the Nikon lens for sure. Now I am faced with the same quandary that caused me to post in the first place. Where was the bike photo out of interest?
 
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