looking to buy a 70-300mm lens for my D5000

i have never used the Sigma
BUT did a lot of searching when i was looking for 300mm

the next model up has the designation APO in the lens description and is identified by a red band around the barrel at the top ...but its £50 more [for a reason.!]

reports were that the APO version was far superior to the standard model - which had poor reports

in the end i bought a Nikon 55-200 AF-S VR from here....:thumbs:

if you ''need'' 300mm - save up for a Nikon 70-300 here used about £300 ..far superior IMO
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if you dont NEED 300................''here'' today
 
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i don't have permissions to view that thread :( which is rather unfair lol i have been a member for some time and i dont want to spaff crap around just to get to 100 posts
 
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I'd say the Nikon 70-300, having tried the other 2 you mentioned, admittedly I only tried the Tamron for about half an hour & thought 'nahhh'. The IQ is far superior as already stated above :) I've just bought the 300mm f4 but will never part with my Nikon 70-300!
 
I'd save my pennies until I had enough to buy the Nikon 70-300 VR if I were you.

With your current budget you are almost halfway there already. You could always ask for money now as a very early chrimbo pressie or birthday.
 
If you can, try them on your camera - but if pennies are tight and you don't mind manual focusing, I'd look into the m42 adapter and some used lens from ebay for 30-50 ukp...

At least it would tell you if it has the reach you want. Focussing etc, well hmm depends what you are shooting and how far/fast they are moving.
 
I agree with the others, I got the Tamron from Jessops for £99, was worth it but I do sometimes wish I would have saved up for the Nikon.
 
i was using Sigma (APO version) for around a year on my D5000. It's ok to start with and learn, but for decent results you should defo save for Nikon 70-300...

The main problem i had with Siggy was the focusing (or out of focus) issues, especialy with fast moving objects, but it was ok when i had some time to properly focus in.
 
I'm afraid the 100 posts is a way of life ATM for [many] good sound reasons

agreeing with all of the above, save pennies, add to the Forum and you'll soon be at 100

then defo a Nikon 55-200 AF-S VR

or pennies permitting a 70-300 for the reach

keep tabs on MPB Photographic here
it's not always made clear, but as he's a Advertiser, you can buy without the 100 post stipulation...:D

£134 for the 55-200 VR
£319 for the 70-300 VR

I think both would come with a [6month?] warranty too...:thumbs:
 
another vote for the nikon 70-300 , worth saving up for
 
I don't know about the Tamron lens but the Sigma one I found to be soft at 300mm qutie alot my dad has the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS which is better but more money.
 
What about the Nikon 55-300? , admittedly not up to the quality of the full frame 70-300, but should be OK on your camera for a fair few quid less.
 
madmardle said:
What about the Nikon 55-300? , admittedly not up to the quality of the full frame 70-300, but should be OK on your camera for a fair few quid less.
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:plusone:

If you're on a budget this is a good option. Shooting mainly sport, this is my lens of choice for all the outdoor stuff.
 
Zetec said:
I don't know about the Tamron lens but the Sigma one I found to be soft at 300mm qutie alot my dad has the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS which is better but more money.
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It is soft at 300mm at 70-80%. sometimes I thought it was pointless to have 300mm, and the lens should really be 70-250mm
 
Darthchaffinch said:
Has anyone got any thoughts/experience on the tamron being sharper than the nikon over 200mm pls?!?
Click to expand...

Ye I've owned both and I found the Nikon sharper throughout the range, whereas I found the Tamron quite soft, especially beyond 200mm. Hope this helps

Russ
 
I have the sigma and I used it on my D5000. If you just want to dip your toe into telephoto stuff then its alright for the money. If you actually want a top notch lens I'd go for something higher quality.
 
Hi,
I have bought the Tamron 70-300 LD di when I bought my D90 about a year or so ago. Have never been happy with it, the photos towards the 300mm end were soft and had terrible chromatic aberration. The images were ok just as long as you don't want to print them. I have since sold the Tamron and replaced it with the Sigma 70-300mm APO DG. The Sigma lens feels much nicer to hold, the auto focus is much quieter and much faster. The images I have at the 300mm end show no signs of CA and are very sharp. I'm so happy with the lens I can't recommend it more. In case you may have a film camera too the Sigma has an aperture ring tucked away as the base of the lens, the Tamron does not.

The are on eBay regularly, I bought my Tamron used for £68 and just replaced it with the Sigma for £75. If I were u I'd buy the Sigma, even if u save up for the Nikon lens as previously recommended you could buy a used Sig to have whilst saving an then sell it closer to the time when u buy a Nikon. These lenses just don't devalue.

As a side note, I have heard some mixed reviews on each of these lenses and at this price mark I do wonder if the production could be inconsistent. Maybe I had a bad example of the Tamron and a great example of the Sigma, who knows? I just know that I'd never get the Tamron again.

Good luck.
Mark
 
Has anyone considered the new Tamron SP AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 VC USD Di . . . ?

Buy cheap, buy twice. Save your money and get a far superior lens which you'll likely keep for a long time else you'll be selling your cheapy option at a loss.

Take a look here.
 
Have had the sigma apo 70-300 for a few weeks and I am happy to put my stamp of approval on it. Good for a cheap option.
 
I had the sigma 70-300 APO but hardly ever used it, just didn't get along with it. Only good thing was the 1:2 macro and that it was cheap. I bought the Nikon 70-300 vr and it is a world apart, very good quality, fast and useable at 300mm handheld.
 
Another vote for the Nikkor 70-300

Mine's as sharp as a sharp thing at 300mm
img07.jpg
 
I have the tamron 70-300 lens that came as a package. I have had no end of trouble with this lens and now refuse to use it as the keep rate wasn't even at 5% when I used it for water sports and if I switched to the 18-55vr and got closer to the action the keep rate would go up to 85-90%. It was ok for still subjects but now (18 months later) the AF won't even focus correctly on them. It finds the focus but is always out of focus. Without fail save for the 70-300 AF-S VR. Don't waste your money on the tamron!!
 
dejongj said:
No that is not the Nikon you want. I'd rather have the sigma APO. But both are tbh not worth the little money.
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Hey I have one of those.:'( But I don't know any different YET.:cuckoo: I did notice it's limitations though at an airshow. But its a fairly big jump up in price to a keeper.

Although I would rather buy right than pay twice.
 
Yep, I'm looking at that one too. It's come down from £371, to £342 yesterday and now £335...
 
mattyg said:
Hey I have one of those.:'( But I don't know any different YET.:cuckoo: I did notice it's limitations though at an airshow. But its a fairly big jump up in price to a keeper.

Although I would rather buy right than pay twice.
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Sorry mate, don't mean it like it is useless, just that if you can afford it the 70-300VR is definitely worth it.
 
I got the Tamron from online Store for £90, it was nice, but I do sometimes wish I would have saved up for the Nikon lens 70-300.
 
damianmkv said:
Thanks for that ! How can they sell it on eBay at £300 and in store at £529 ? I assume it's THE Argos and everything is legit ?
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My guess is that the instore price is their special price for credit/storecard customers they have some ridiculous prices.

Their eBay price is rather cheap for an official brand new UK version. Is it brand new and sealed in a box or are they opened customer returns? But in my opinion it is within the realm of uk retailer margin to sell at that price as grey import is not much cheaper.
 
Ok, well there's only one way to find out I guess...
 
dejongj said:
My guess is that the instore price is their special price for credit/storecard customers they have some ridiculous prices.

Their eBay price is rather cheap for an official brand new UK version. Is it brand new and sealed in a box or are they opened customer returns? But in my opinion it is within the realm of uk retailer margin to sell at that price as grey import is not much cheaper.
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Nikon boxes aren't sealed, so there's no real way of telling if the items have been out. They're listed as "new" anyway so there's no reason to doubt that isn't the case and under the DSR you can just send it back if you feel it's not as described...
 
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