zoom lens

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blackcavier

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charlie
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what would be a good choice of zoom lens for my Nikon d3200, possible for wildlife and horse racing without spending a huge amount, i just want to get good crisp photo,s at the best possible price, so anyones opinion on any lens is all I want, I,m only new to this so I don't want to spend a great lot, just a good quality zoom lens without spending the thousand pounds plus ones,
 
I am in the same boat and split between the 55-200mm VR Nikon, the 55-300mm VR Nikon, or the Tamron 70-300mm DI VC

Price wise they go
£100 Plastic mount on the 55-200mm VR
£150
£270
In that order, all seem to get good and bad reviews, there all at the budget end and all are inexpensive compared to the lens that cost around £1000, so long as you know that you get what you pay for, they are at there best in good light, there not really a low light or fast lens as it goes.
 
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hi ivan, exactly the reason I ask, so hoping some fellow camera talk users who have used those lens can give their opinions on them, I think I read the tamron 70-300 is decent, but how about the Nikon 70-300?
 
Although I own a Nikon at the moment I am not over familiar with the quality of the lenses in this range, however, I have owned quite a few Canon zoom lenses and all I would say is if you're looking at shooting wildlife, 200mm isn't really long enough. You really need 300mm as a minimum for decent wildlife photos, and that's on a cropped sensor.

I had a couple of x-300mm lenses and they were good for bird shots etc, but I also had a Sigma 120-400mm which was very good for the price, but maybe still a little high for what you are looking at.

The best Canon one for value to quality was the 70-300mm which Nikon also do a version of, or they also do the 55-300mm as a cheaper option.

I hope that helps a little.

Colin
 
Phall82 said:
Although I own a Nikon at the moment I am not over familiar with the quality of the lenses in this range, however, I have owned quite a few Canon zoom lenses and all I would say is if you're looking at shooting wildlife, 200mm isn't really long enough. You really need 300mm as a minimum for decent wildlife photos, and that's on a cropped sensor.

I had a couple of x-300mm lenses and they were good for bird shots etc, but I also had a Sigma 120-400mm which was very good for the price, but maybe still a little high for what you are looking at.

The best Canon one for value to quality was the 70-300mm which Nikon also do a version of, or they also do the 55-300mm as a cheaper option.

I hope that helps a little.

Colin
Click to expand...

Just to add, make sure whichever lens you go for has vibration reduction, it makes a huge difference at these sort of focal lengths.
 
Nikon 70-300mm VR is a great lens. If you can find one, the sigma 100-300mm f4 is awesome but comes in about £450 used, so might be out of budget
 
I honestly think that the 55-200 VR is a cracker for the money and the difference between 200 and 300mm isn't that great.

The 70-300VR is a better lens but it is much more expensive and also doesn't balance on the small bodies as well.

Also, just a minor point, what you are after isn't a zoom lens per-se but a telephoto zoom. My 10-20mm is a zoom lens too but you wouldn't want to go birding with that!
 
Nikon 70-300mm VR. Lovely lens and could be had for a very good price secondhand
 
thank you nawty, yes just read review and yes ill now say telephoto, lol, I will learn, and archie, I was thinking about the 70-300, so looks like either the 55-200 or the 70-300, anymore opinions greatly appreciated, thank you,
 
Well, if you've got the cash then the 70-300 VR is definitely the one to go for - you have a very high resolution sensor so you want to put the best glass possible in front of it.

The Tamron 70-300VC is also meant to be as good as (and some say better) than the Nikon but the Nikon will probably hold its value better so I'd head that way.
 
As you intend to use it for wildlife and horse racing then you will likely need as long as possible (mainly for the wildlife I'd expect). The Nikon 55-300VR is decent for the price but it is not the fastest lens either in terms of aperture or focussing. In good light it won't be an issue though. The Nikon 70-300mm VR focusses a lot faster than the 55-300 and has better IQ generally and allows instant manual focus override, but costs more but it is imo a much better lens overall. The latest Tamron 70-300mm VC is getting good reviews but I've not used one so ...
 
Nawty said:
I honestly think that the 55-200 VR is a cracker for the money and the difference between 200 and 300mm isn't that great.
Click to expand...

Can't agree with that personally. 50% difference is a big difference.

For wildlife 200mm (300mm on you crop body) just isn't enough. 300mm is equivalent to 450mm which is much more like it.

The longer the better for wildlife.
 
Another vote for the Nikkor 70-300 VR. Should be near the budget 2nd hand.
 
Another vote for the Nikkor 70-300mm VR.

It's a cracking lens for the money.
Watch the YouTube video Nikkor 70-300mm vs 70-200mm and you'll see why.

Riz :)
 
Another vote for the Nikon 70-300.
 
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