Is this lens any good for amatuer RL?

-Paul-

-Paul-

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I asked for advice on another thread about a new lens for my Nikon D50 that I intend to use to take pictures of my sons playing RL. Unfortunatly I seem to have prompted somewhat of a debate.... Anyway after reading the posts I got the idea to ask the sports experts their opinion. The lens that I am thinking of buying is a Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. So what do you think? Or maybe you could suggest a better alternative? Thanks for your help.

P.S. I think that one of the main bones of contention is whether or not VR would be of any use.
 
In itself its not a bad lens but will not be much use for fast moving RL, for the £250 or so quid this costs you could get the better 70-300mm, VR is absolutly useless for shooting RL or any field sports as you will be using a highish shutter speed.

Best advice i could give is save a few quid and buy a used Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 as any f/5.6 lens will be pretty hopeless on the impending winter afternoons and attached to your D50 with its crappy poor AF system and terrible ISO capabilities you will struggle to get any shots of any worth, the D50 is probably the worst ever DSLR ever made

So to sum up

NO, the lens isn't any good, but your camera is worse and is the limiting factor not the lens

Finally, hit the red triangle bottom right of your post and ask a Mod to move this to the "talk sport" forum as this one is for sharing sports photos, you'll get a better response there but not better advice
 
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No idea about your camera.. but any lens using 4.5 and even 5.6 at the longest end is as gary says pretty useless for most of the year.. I nice sunny day and it will be usable.. but from around about now until early next yr not much use.. you ahve to get the shutter up to capture action and using f5.6 isnt going to let you do that..

so pretty much what gary said...just said different :)
 
to the OP what club do your sons play at? im based in st helens and would be willing to come down to a match for you, you could also give my sigma 70-200 out to see if you like it if you are thinking of buying one. t
 
Gary Coyle said:
In itself its not a bad lens but will not be much use for fast moving RL, for the £250 or so quid this costs you could get the better 70-300mm, VR is absolutly useless for shooting RL or any field sports as you will be using a highish shutter speed.

Best advice i could give is save a few quid and buy a used Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 as any f/5.6 lens will be pretty hopeless on the impending winter afternoons and attached to your D50 with its crappy poor AF system and terrible ISO capabilities you will struggle to get any shots of any worth, the D50 is probably the worst ever DSLR ever made

So to sum up

NO, the lens isn't any good, but your camera is worse and is the limiting factor not the lens

Finally, hit the red triangle bottom right of your post and ask a Mod to move this to the "talk sport" forum as this one is for sharing sports photos, you'll get a better response there but not better advice
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Well Gary obviously me and my crappy camera which in your opinion is probably the worst DSLR have really rattled your cage. Is this because I made a mistake and posted in the wrong place? Or have I done somthing to offend you?
 
Gary Coyle said:
you will struggle to get any shots of any worth, the D50 is probably the worst ever DSLR ever made
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Funny,but I really like my D50. Sure, it doesn't do high ISO and I don't do sports photography, but I have been really happy with many shots I've taken with it. Sure, if I was shooting a D4 or D700 as my main camera I might think differently, but as a backup to my D5000 (and one which can AF with non-motorised lenses), I am very fond of it.
 
-Paul- said:
Well Gary obviously me and my crappy camera which in your opinion is probably the worst DSLR have really rattled your cage. Is this because I made a mistake and posted in the wrong place? Or have I done somthing to offend you?
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For christ sake man grow up, never did i say your camera was crappy, i said the AF was crappy not the camera, i dont know you from Adam so how on earth can you offend me or rattle my cage, you asked for advice i gave it, one things for sure you can go jump as far as im concerned, the advice i gace was good but you wont ever get any more from me and i would suggest there are a few more who wont bother also
 
MJWC1 said:
Funny,but I really like my D50. Sure, it doesn't do high ISO and I don't do sports photography, but I have been really happy with many shots I've taken with it. Sure, if I was shooting a D4 or D700 as my main camera I might think differently, but as a backup to my D5000 (and one which can AF with non-motorised lenses), I am very fond of it.
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Matthew, the OP's question related to shooting sports, in particular Rugby League, ive owned a D50 and know it can produce good results, for a 6mp 7 year old camera it does a decent job, just not on sports, the AF system is more than woeful at tracking and if you stick the lens on it which Paul is looking at buying he's looking for a whole heap of trouble.

But what do i know.
 
i shot loads of sports with a d50 and 70-300mm sigma lens

results where not good tbh

here are some examples
229467_10150241779184903_8125952_n.jpg


221704_10150241778914903_5930837_n.jpg


229788_10150241778499903_2096389_n.jpg
 
-Paul- said:
Well Gary obviously me and my crappy camera which in your opinion is probably the worst DSLR have really rattled your cage. Is this because I made a mistake and posted in the wrong place? Or have I done somthing to offend you?
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he was giving an honest assesment.. he wasnt buttering it up or trying to make you feel nice.. he was telling you as it is ... if you prefer answers that only make you feel good then say so at the start.. otherwise be prepared for straight forward honesty :)
 
The lens will be great the body is even better go fill your boots son, Get out there!
 
To be honest I dont care if Gary was trying to butter me up or make me feel nice or not! I admit that he didn't say that the D50 is crappy and for that I apologise. He said that the D50 was the worst DSLR ever? Yes, it's not the best ever made, but I like Matthew quite like it. If gary doesn't want to offer me any more advice then thats his choice and I thank him for the advice that he has already offered which came across as harsh but true. I fully intend to take his advice and get a better camera and lenses to go with it.
 
-Paul- said:
To be honest I dont care if Gary was trying to butter me up or make me feel nice or not! I admit that he didn't say that the D50 is crappy and for that I apologise. He said that the D50 was the worst DSLR ever? Yes, it's not the best ever made, but I like Matthew quite like it. If gary doesn't want to offer me any more advice then thats his choice and I thank him for the advice that he has already offered which came across as harsh but true. I fully intend to take his advice and get a better camera and lenses to go with it.
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Big hug Paul, seriously though, i gave the advice with good intent but may have come across a tad arsey, ive owned the D50 and IMHO it is the worst DSLR ever made but it was also one of the very earliest so didn't have much to improve on before it, (should have said it was the worst ever made for sports) like i said in reply to Matthew ive owned one and for everyday general use it's fine but the AF system simply wont cope with sports, tie that to a slow f/5.6 lens whish also has poor AF and youre gonna struggle on bright sunny days let alone in overcast conditions or even worse.

Get some fast glass, if youre on a budget go for a used Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 for around £3-400 and the excellent for sports D300 is kicking about for under £400 and that has a superb AF system and half decent high ISO handling, stick a grip on it for 8fps and you'll have in your hands a body and lens which ive earned money with, dont worry about the shortish 200mm focal length, it will make you a better photographer learning to wait for the action, in good light stick a 1.4x extender on, i use the cheap Kenko 1.4x on my 70-200. :thumbs:
 
Gary Coyle said:
Jimmy, Jimmy, is that you, i can even smell the cigar smoke. :lol::lol:
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Now then now then, as I know was you your name now shall be sir Jim.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Big hug Paul, seriously though, i gave the advice with good intent but may have come across a tad arsey, ive owned the D50 and IMHO it is the worst DSLR ever made but it was also one of the very earliest so didn't have much to improve on before it, (should have said it was the worst ever made for sports) like i said in reply to Matthew ive owned one and for everyday general use it's fine but the AF system simply wont cope with sports, tie that to a slow f/5.6 lens whish also has poor AF and youre gonna struggle on bright sunny days let alone in overcast conditions or even worse.

Get some fast glass, if youre on a budget go for a used Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 for around £3-400 and the excellent for sports D300 is kicking about for under £400 and that has a superb AF system and half decent high ISO handling, stick a grip on it for 8fps and you'll have in your hands a body and lens which ive earned money with, dont worry about the shortish 200mm focal length, it will make you a better photographer learning to wait for the action, in good light stick a 1.4x extender on, i use the cheap Kenko 1.4x on my 70-200. :thumbs:
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Gary, no problems mate! Looks like I misunderstood you:shrug: As I said your advice was good and I am definitely going to take it. Thanks again!
P.S. please dont stop offering me advice?
 
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Gary Coyle said:
Love you too :nuts::nuts:

You doing any of the Internationals mate, always nice grub at Salford :lol: Spam sarnies at Hull KR and mucky fat n bread at Wrexham.
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At the min mate, No. No need for them and not going on spec, If needed am able to cover but we know he has his favorites :lol: :woot: ;)
 
Gary - fair call and good advice. I've only used my D50 for things like landscape and static nature shots where low light and fast movement issues simply do not apply.
 
Get some fast glass, if youre on a budget go for a used Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 for around £3-400 and the excellent for sports D300 is kicking about for under £400 and that has a superb AF system and half decent high ISO handling, stick a grip on it for 8fps and you'll have in your hands a body and lens which ive earned money with, dont worry about the shortish 200mm focal length, it will make you a better photographer learning to wait for the action, in good light stick a 1.4x extender on, i use the cheap Kenko 1.4x on my 70-200
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I have d300 and sigma 70-200 and get some great results, and its thanks to the honest advice of this man here.

Im still waiting for christmas for my kenko 1.4x but even without like he said u learn to wait for the action and make the most of it!
 
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