Nikon L lens's.......

andy_fozzy

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Yes I know there's no such thing :bonk:

What I'm asking is, what is Nikon's equivalent of the L range?

And........
Looking (hopefully!) at coming into some money in March, perhaps about £500.
I'll be considering a nice zoom and just want to weigh up my options.

Either a 70-200 F2.8 or 70-300 F4.6-5.6.

So far I'm thinking Sigma 70-200 F2.8 or the Nikon 70-300 VR.
Any others to consider?
Not particularly bothered about fast glass, so maybe the 70-300 VR may be the one?

TIA, Andy
 
Nikon's equivalent is the Professional range.

If you don't need fast glass then the 70-300 VR is a pretty good lens, but £500 would also get you a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8, which is one of the Professional range ;)
 
L is just a marketing gimmick.

Most Nikon glass is good, even the cheap consumer stuff. Blunty - its doesn't need a random letter in the name to sell :)

The 70-200 VR is better than the "L" anyhow!

The Sigma 70-200 is very good, as is the Nikon 70-300 VR.
 
Don't need an "L" range, its a marketing hype thing.

You have to check the specs to know at what you are buying.

I'd say Nikons 70-200 2.8 is a top piece of glass and the 70-300....isn't


*touche DuckFlash*
 
Thanks for the advice chaps.

Forgot to add, that's if my camera ever turns up :razz:

:bang:
 
I suppose it's the old, which is better? Faster glass or VR question that I'm really asking.
I know there's been a thread about it recently, so I'll have a gander at that!!

A mate, no a guy at work has the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 for his D80.
(BTW, oh baby, I cannot wait to tell him I'm getting a D200!!!)
I might ask him if I can borrow it for a day or so.

Don't think he'd let me mind :bat:
 
Faster glass is always better than a variable aperture zoom with VR.

Most of the very good glass ie Canon 24-70 or Nikon 24-70 don't have VR.

Thats one thing you are giving up with your Sony - all your lenses were stabilised previously.
 
Don't need an "L" range, its a marketing hype thing.

You have to check the specs to know at what you are buying.

I'd say Nikons 70-200 2.8 is a top piece of glass and the 70-300....isn't


*touche DuckFlash*

It's too bad the 70-200 2.8 is only good on DX bodies..
 
70-200 2.8 is also a grand whereas the 70-300VR is £275 and a bargain cos it is good quality
 
The 70-200 VR is better than the "L" anyhow!
I'd say Nikons 70-200 2.8 is a top piece of glass and the 70-300....isn't
It's too bad the 70-200 2.8 is only good on DX bodies..
So not true :lol:
This is interesting.

Objectively it is true. The MTF charts, which Nikon to their eternal credit have published, give the game away completely; this is really a lens that was designed for DX.

(The Canon equivalent is a little less sharp in the centre, and a lot more sharp outside the crop-sensor area; it was designed for full-frame.)

But in the real world, who really needs full-frame corner-to-corner sharpness on a telephoto zoom?
 
But in the real world, who really needs full-frame corner-to-corner sharpness on a telephoto zoom?

Well, only shots that have something worth looking at in the corners, which I wouldn't think is a regular occurrence with a 70-200, but its still less than perfect.
Folks can get a bit anal about this sort of thing, regardless of whether it is ever an issue or not.
I think the thought that the lens is only good on a crop sensor, suggesting that its crap on full frame....clearly isn't true.
I suppose you have to define crap..:)
 
Reckon we need another meet Andy so you can show all us iffy Canon owners your new Nikon and I guess you will be keen to get out and use it. ;)
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.

Paul that is correct. I have jumped ship :lol:
Just feel I needed a change. Nothing wrong with the a300, but I do enjoy experimenting with other makes every now and again!!

Dave, that would be superb mate, and a very kind offer of you.
As soon as I get my D200, I might take you up on that offer ;)
Thanks allot.

Most of my togging with a long focal length is done during daylight, and by what the reviews and stuff say, the D200 copes with noise pretty well. So bumping the ISO up somewhat to give me a fast shutter speed shouldn't be much of an issue.
The a300 was a very noisy camera, and was one reason for the switch.
If I were to use a long FL in poor light I'd use my tripod or monopod when possible.

As Andy mentioned, the a300 did have in body IS, which I will miss, but there are ways around it I'm sure?!?!

Alby, deffo mate!
I'm dying to get my hands on it :bang:
I'll only have the 18-70mm lens for a while yet though.
Looking at March for my next lens, whatever it may be!!!!

Thanks again for all your advice :thumbs:
 
Quick update:

Seller has been in touch, he's posted the kit today special delivery, so may be with me tomorrow :woot: :woot: :woot:

ROCK ON!!!!
 
Objectively it is true. The MTF charts, which Nikon to their eternal credit have published, give the game away completely; this is really a lens that was designed for DX.

I got shot down in flames on this very forum not long ago for suggesting the 70-200 VR was designed for DX :lol:
 
Because its not.

Check out the MTF on the 200mm f/2 as well.

Also remember MTF is recorded for wide open sharpness - at 200mm the lens is still very sharp in the center (and shaper than Canon's lens), and I'd argue for a lot of applications center sharpness is more important.

I don't know of many folks who need to shoot wide open at 200mm who require edge to edge sharpness?

I think the lens was designed for people who actually use the lens, rather than folks who do silly things like shoot a landscape at f/2.8....?
 
Now I remember who shot me down ;)

Probably :lol:

Seriously though, you are so wrong here.

Consider also the MTF of the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 wide open - again look at the drop off from center->edge on the published MTF.

And remember the 30mm *is* a DX lens.

And folks manage just fine with that lens too, and really don't peer at the corners at 200% looking for stuff to moan about :)
 
No worries. I didn't even realize there where different sized sensors until afew months into photography.
 
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