Help choosing a lens

Naka · 28 Dec 2015

My Christmas present is a lens, but I'm having trouble choosing. I'm considering the Tamron 90mm, Nikon 18-55 or 70-300. I do mainly portraits but occasionally photograph other things. I'm leaning towards the 90mm...

Grumps1974 · 28 Dec 2015

The Tamron is a good lens but if IQ is on a par I would go for the 70-300 as it gives you a lot more flexibility. A bit of research on Photozone should give you independent assessments of both lenses.

snerkler · 28 Dec 2015

Out of those the 90mm would be better for portraits IMO as it will give good subject isolation. The 90mm is a macro lens though so don't expect autofocus to be quick.

Naka · 28 Dec 2015

snerkler said:
Out of those the 90mm would be better for portraits IMO as it will give good subject isolation. The 90mm is a macro lens though so don't expect autofocus to be quick.

I have a 90mm for my Minolta and didn't have any issues with autofocus being slow.
Martin, the Sigma 70-300 isn't on photozone website unfortunately. I'll try and see if I can find review elsewhere.

andyred · 28 Dec 2015

Naka said:
My Christmas present is a lens, but I'm having trouble choosing. I'm considering the Tamron 90mm, Nikon 18-55 or 70-300. I do mainly portraits but occasionally photograph other things. I'm leaning towards the 90mm...

What lenses do you currently have ?

Is this lens an additional lens or have you thought about upgrading one of your existing ones ?

realspeed · 28 Dec 2015

go for the 70-300 VR lens, it is the one I have used many times as my holiday travel lens.

Grumps1974 · 28 Dec 2015

This may not be the 70-300 you have in mind but it is a review of a Sigma 70-300.

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/326-sigma-af-70-300mm-f4-56-apo-dg-macro-test-report--review

I would be looking at the Tamron 70-300 a much much better lens and not too expensive particularly second hand.

Jack Flash · 28 Dec 2015

Copper Coloured Locks. by Jeff Wharton, on Flickr

You say you like taking portraits and you are considering the Nikkor 70-300. This one was taken with that lens on a Nikon D600

Naka · 28 Dec 2015

Andyred, I have a 50mm. I've just shifted from Sony to Nikon so no library of lenses.
Jack, beautiful!!!!

andyred · 29 Dec 2015

Naka said:
Andyred, I have a 50mm. I've just shifted from Sony to Nikon so no library of lenses.
Jack, beautiful!!!!

In that case, I'd be tempted for the 70-300 lens and see how you go with it, as you can see from the above shot posted by Jack, it seems a very capable lens...

Naka · 29 Dec 2015

It does indeed. Think that's what I'll go for.
Have any of you ever bought from digitalrev or wex?

andyred · 29 Dec 2015

Naka said:
It does indeed. Think that's what I'll go for.
Have any of you ever bought from digitalrev or wex?

No, not bought from Digitalrev - have bought from WEX previously (- new item, not 2nd hand) and had no issues at all.

Have you looked at HDEW - do they do the lens your looking at ? Generally well priced.

andyred · 29 Dec 2015

This site is worth knowing about for pricing

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Nikon/Nikon-SLR-Lenses

Naka · 29 Dec 2015

Let me look at hdew. I'm likely to buy second hand so any recommendations for those that sell used is good too.

andyred · 29 Dec 2015

Naka said:
Let me look at hdew. I'm likely to buy second hand so any recommendations for those that sell used is good too.

2nd hand there's WEX and MPB to name a couple and obviously on here (when the minimum requirements met) - certainly worth putting a wanted add up if / when you can...

Naka · 29 Dec 2015

How important is it to have VR?

SamTD · 29 Dec 2015

vr is very important, especially on telephoto