Lens for Superbikes..

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Adam74

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Adam
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Hello all..

I'm looking for some help. Im fairly new to photography, and have had a Nikon D60 for the past couple of years with the standard 18-55mm Lens. I've used it mainly for moto x and it has done the Job I needed just fine.

I'm very much into Superbikes and next year plan to follow the BSB again but this time with a camera in hand.

My question is can anyone recommend me a lens that will fit my camera which is fairly easy to use (I literally know very little about them) and not too expensive, in the range of £100-200 if possible.

It's only for my own personal pleasure so I just want something that will do a good enough job to keep me happy.

Today online I've been looking at a Tamron AF 70-300 F4-5.6 DI LD Marco, and also a Tamron 70-300 SP DI VC. The second one being more than double the price of the first.

Can anyone help me out by first off telling me if either are first of suitable for my D60 and secondly suitable for what I want it for.

Sorry for the amount of questions, but I literally have no knowledge - I guess everyone has to start somewhere.

Thanks in advance,
Adam.
 
I'd leave the Tamron alone, its a bit meh to be honest.

Have a look for a second hand Nikon 70-300 VR, its not the best thing out there but probably is the absolute bottom of what is worth having.

Do a few more posts on here, then hunt in the classifieds section on this forum - I think they are a little more money than you are talking, but really, I'd leave the others you talk about well alone.

Edit: just had a look, they are about 280 quid on here at the moment.
 
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Ok - thank you for the advice. As said my knowledge is very limited so all help is appreciated. It's a little higher than I was hoping, but if it's worth it I can definitely increase my budget slightly. £280 is not so bad.

Thanks for taking the time to look in the classifieds.

I look forward to being able to check for my self.
 
To be honest, there's not much camera gear in the 100-200 quid mark these days and certainly not much that you will have much joy with superbikes with.
 
With a cheap lens, whilst you may get some shots that you'll be happy with, you will delete an awful lot.

The difference between a £ 100 new lens and a £ 300 secondhand lens is huge. And the good lenses hold their value quite well.
 
desantnik said:
To be honest, there's not much camera gear in the 100-200 quid mark these days and certainly not much that you will have much joy with superbikes with.
Click to expand...

Ok lovely stuff. Thanks again for the advice. I'll wait until I can get into the classifieds and hopefully I can find a good deal on a second hand one.

Might be asking for more help soon...
 
No probs matey. I paid £90 for my lens last xmas (was on a one day deal)

Well worth it, and have used a lot this year. I kno wyou get what you pay for and all that, and spending hundreds of pouns will get you better. However, for a good price, the lens does do well
 
Thanks again Luke. Bargain...

I'm very much a novice so am not looking to start at the top - but we'l see what I can get once I get in to the classifieds. Hopefully there's something in my budget - I have no problem going second hand.

I'll keep you posted.
 
As always gets said It's better to spend on your lenses. Get the best you can. One thing is for sure, as a newbie you WILL outgrow your first one or two lenses unless you really break the bank. Its only natural that you will get better at your technique and will then be cursing that £200 "bargain" you bought.

I'd strongly recommend the Nikkor AFS stuff on a Nikon body. The AFS is Nikon's fast-focussing range and well worth the pain in your bank balance.

Kind of depends how serious you are. If its just going to be a hobby, enjoy it as that. If you want to take it further, any over-investment in your glass will be money very well spent..
 
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I would save your money for now and try to get a Sigma 100-300 F4. They come up for circa 375-400 and are great lenses for the money. They even take a 1.4xtc fairly well. So could give you 420mm.

The challenge for a Motorsports lens is AF on head on/going away shots (particularly if close). Panning takes very little AF effort/travel - this means it is perfectly possible to manaually focus on pans (and sometimes is pretty useful to do so)
 
Hi

I've used a tamron 70 to 300 for the last three years with bikes and its been a great lens for around £100.
 
I own a Sigma 70-300 F/4 5.6 APO dg macro and it's simply stunning for the price. Pay a little bit more over the tamron and its miles better.
 
I have a Tamron 70-300mm that I got specifically for MotoGP and Superbike races. It was pretty inexpensive (around US$300 if I recall correctly) and does OK, but has its limitations.

For example, the AF doesn't work quite fast enough and most of my panning-type shots were out of focus. I had much better success manually focusing on a particular spot and firing as bikes came by but that limits the creativity.

For the last couple races I rented a Canon 70-200 2.8 IS and was extremely happy with it. Its AF is faster, and the images are much much sharper. A 1-week rental cost under US$100. I don't know what the rental options are in the UK, but it might be worth the small investment to decide if the better quality is worth saving up for. I wish I had done that, because I'd rather have the money I spent on the Tamron available to put toward better glass.

Cheers...
 
hi, I would second what a few people have said and save for a better lens. I am well into motorsport. I started taking snaps as a beginner a couple of years ago and I bought a cheap lens at £200 (to me, at the time it was dear!) I have well outgrown the lens now and I am just about saved up for a better lens.
I decided not to look at the cheaper ones because I knew I would outgrow it quickly.
I know it all comes down to price but I would be tempted to use the kit you have for another year, try and learn the best spots on the tracks you visit and then for 2014 season, get a cracking second hand lens with that bit extra money.
It seems I was in your shoes two years ago and I now regret buying that 55-250. I have learnt two lessons, a decent second hand will get you more lens for your money, and you are never happy with the kit you have!
I hope you get yourself sorted!
Keith
 
desantnik said:
I'd leave the Tamron alone, its a bit meh to be honest.

Have a look for a second hand Nikon 70-300 VR, its not the best thing out there but probably is the absolute bottom of what is worth having.

Do a few more posts on here, then hunt in the classifieds section on this forum - I think they are a little more money than you are talking, but really, I'd leave the others you talk about well alone.

Edit: just had a look, they are about 280 quid on here at the moment.
Click to expand...

This is good, sound advice! Prices range from £275-£325 and will be a much better built lens than the Tamron on this occasion.

Be warned, it's addictive and you WILL want more kit!!!

Regards

Rob
 
As some of the folks have said on here it will be better (more cost effective in the long run) to try and afford to get that better lens; not only will you begin to want to use it more but also your pictures should look far better.

I must admit I'm still learning a lot with an old Canon 350D and the Sigma 150-500mm. If the camera is a cropped frame camera then don't forget that the crop factor becomes a factor of how much reach you will also obtained.. (eg the 350D has a crop factor of 1.6 and therefore the sigma lens becomes a starting rage of 240mm - 800 mm) .....

The link below is of one of the best pictures I took at Oulton Park for the British Superbike in 2010
http://glongstaff.smugmug.com/Sport...7250_cTJpr6#!i=1921559165&k=K4z6PTP&lb=1&s=XL
 
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Don't get drawn into the " you've got to spend hundreds or thousands on a kens for decent pictures" unless you're a pro, or you want your pictures published both the tam ron and the sigma mentioned will do the job, you can always eBay it to upgrade later if you wish. I bought a tam ron 70-300 use lens for £269 purely for the extra vibration reduction not featured on the slightly cheaper models. But that was my own personal choice for croft bikes.
Nikon have just announced a 800mm lens for £15,600.
Everyone has got to draw their own lines and buy what's suitable and affordable to them.
 
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