Stay away from the Quantaray 70-300mm af zoom(which most probably have anyway)..

Owen Heuston · Apr 6, 2004

I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense ( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

GLP · Apr 6, 2004

Owen: Yah know, you're kind of a pain in the ass. This lens works for others, http://www.photographyreview.com/35mm+Zoom/Quantaray+70-300mm+F4-5.6+LDO+MACRO+SUPER/PRD_84651_3128crx.aspx

not a great lens but it satifies others. Why don't you do your homework. It probably doesn't work on the D70. Instead of worrying about other peoples posts, do some homework on the sites and see what 70-300 lens others are using. I find the Nikkor 70-300 ED quite an acceptable lens. Best regards, Gary

Owen Heuston said:
I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Owen Heuston · Apr 6, 2004

Sure buddy, whatever gives you a power trip.

Wamest regards,

Owen

GLP said:
http://www.photographyreview.com/35mm+Zoom/Quantaray+70-300mm+F4-5.6+LDO+MACRO+SUPER/PRD_84651_3128crx.aspx
not a great lens but it satifies others. Why don't you do your
homework. It probably doesn't work on the D70. Instead of worrying
about other peoples posts, do some homework on the sites and see
what 70-300 lens others are using. I find the Nikkor 70-300 ED
quite an acceptable lens. Best regards, Gary

Owen Heuston said:

I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

VincentJ · Apr 6, 2004

What do you expect? It's one of those rebadged bottom of the barrel lenses made by Sigma. Experience should indicate that we really ought to stay far away from anything with a "Sigma" label on it unless it's a high end pro EX lens... and even then ymmv.

Owen Heuston said:
Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.

Tom Arvisais · Apr 6, 2004

Blanket statements like this are not really helpful, with all due respect - not all Sigma lenses need to be steered clear of - but people do need to do some homework prior to buying just ANY Sigma lens.

Lens snobs are boring

Regards,
Tom

VincentJ said:
VincentJ said:

Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.

Click to expand...

--
Regards,
Tom

Owen Heuston · Apr 6, 2004

I did read some positive reviews of this lense before buying it. I was hoping that I could get a lense locally instead of ordering, but that does not seem the case.

Tom Arvisais said:
Lens snobs are boring

Regards,
Tom

VincentJ said:

Tom Arvisais said:

Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Regards,
Tom

Ken Plotkin · Apr 6, 2004

Owen Heuston said:
I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense
( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?
forum=1030&message=8263147) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the
Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a
irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch,

[snip]

Don't you hate it when that happens?

Try the Nikkor 70-300G. Shoot in aperture priority mode, f/8. Really good for the money.

Ken Plotkin

Owen Heuston · Apr 6, 2004

Hi Ken,

I will have to see if I can get that lens around here, or ultimately I will have to order again. I wish I had a local camera dealer other than Ritz.

Ken Plotkin said:
Owen Heuston said:

I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense
( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?
forum=1030&message=8263147) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the
Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a
irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch,

Click to expand...

[snip]

Don't you hate it when that happens?

Try the Nikkor 70-300G. Shoot in aperture priority mode, f/8.
Really good for the money.

Ken Plotkin

steve210026 · Apr 6, 2004

Owen Heuston said:
I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Owen Heuston · Apr 7, 2004

Hi Steve,

The lense is nowhere to be found where I live and I bought the quantaray on impulse.

steve said:
Owen Heuston said:

I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Click to expand...

John C · Apr 7, 2004

Sorry to hear it doesn't work for you. Which Quantaray 70-300 did you get? There are two. One is called tech10, or something like that. It is a F/4, and the other is F/4.5. I have the F/4 lens, and it works OK for me. The lens isn't great, and I would put it at barely decent; but it does work.

John

Owen Heuston said:
I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Owen Heuston · Apr 7, 2004

Hi John,

It was the F/4.5 version. The lense worked fine using the telephoto, although not that fast. The real problem was the macro function, where I could not focus on anything. Most likely the lense was defective(I returned it today), but I did not want to take another chance on a replacement.

John C said:
John

Owen Heuston said:

I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Click to expand...

Inottawa · Apr 7, 2004

FYI, I've used the Tamron 70-300 Macro, and it works quite well for what you pay... no internal motors, so it's a little slow to autofocus with the D70, but when you're doing Macro, you're usually manually focussing anyway..

Sang

Owen Heuston said:
I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Stan Disbrow · Apr 7, 2004

Hi,

This says it a lot better.

I learned a long time ago to stay away from all off brands when the popular off-brand name was Vivitar.

I'll go for certain Sigma and Tamron lenses, but that's about it. Otherwise, it's Nikon (and Canon, since I have both systems) or Ziess for me.

Saving money on a lens that doesn't work well is no savings at all.

Stan
--
Amateur Photographer
Professional Electronics Development Engineer

Once you start down the DSLR path, forever will it dominate your destiny! Consume your bank account, it will! Like it did mine!

More info and list of gear is in my Posters' Profile.

Ken Plotkin · Apr 7, 2004

Owen Heuston said:
Hi Ken,

I will have to see if I can get that lens around here, or
ultimately I will have to order again. I wish I had a local camera
dealer other than Ritz.

That can be a good thing, sort of.

When I bought an N80 three years ago, I wanted the 70-300G. I was getting my first Nikon, and had not learned to think bigger money. Local dealers did not have it. I found salesman at Penn Camera annoying when he started in on the "the optics are made of recycled soda bottles" shtick.

So I ordered the camera and lens from B&H. Saved money and got great service. I've been buying from B&H ever since, and am very happy with them. D100, SB80, couple of lenses, accessories, etc. Bigger selection than any local store has.

Since B&H is closed for Passover, you have a week to think about it. ;-)

Ken Plotkin

Shadco · Apr 7, 2004

Some of us tried

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8268314

Owen Heuston said:
I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

--
Shad
-----------------------------------------------------
Which piano should I buy if I want to play like Mozart?

...Kit in profile...
...pbase supporter...
...Nikonians supporter...
...Charter Member Team Yellow Hands...

Owen Heuston · Apr 8, 2004

Hi Shadco,

I realize that I was warned, but I had to see it for myself.

Owen

Shadco said:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8268314

Owen Heuston said:

I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Click to expand...

--
Shad
-----------------------------------------------------
Which piano should I buy if I want to play like Mozart?

...Kit in profile...
...pbase supporter...
...Nikonians supporter...
...Charter Member Team Yellow Hands...

Dave44 · Oct 30, 2004

Stan Disbrow said:
Hi,

This says it a lot better.

I learned a long time ago to stay away from all off brands when the
popular off-brand name was Vivitar.

I'll go for certain Sigma and Tamron lenses, but that's about it.
Otherwise, it's Nikon (and Canon, since I have both systems) or
Ziess for me.

Saving money on a lens that doesn't work well is no savings at all.

Stan
--
Amateur Photographer
Professional Electronics Development Engineer

Once you start down the DSLR path, forever will it dominate your
destiny! Consume your bank account, it will! Like it did mine!

More info and list of gear is in my Posters' Profile.

camper_joe · Oct 30, 2004

Stan good luck with your journey of self learning. I've also found the forums pretty much dominated by the types you mention but I'll still visit. But now I realize I won't learn as much as before without some serious digging and after a busy day at work sometimes that the last thing I want to when get to go online.

So it's visit here for a while then off to a Quake II or Medal of Honor server to blow something up.

Happy shooting,
Camperjoe

Stan Disbrow said:
Hi,

This says it a lot better.

I learned a long time ago to stay away from all off brands when the
popular off-brand name was Vivitar.

I'll go for certain Sigma and Tamron lenses, but that's about it.
Otherwise, it's Nikon (and Canon, since I have both systems) or
Ziess for me.

Saving money on a lens that doesn't work well is no savings at all.

Stan
--
Amateur Photographer
Professional Electronics Development Engineer

Once you start down the DSLR path, forever will it dominate your
destiny! Consume your bank account, it will! Like it did mine!

More info and list of gear is in my Posters' Profile.

--
'Badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges!'

murquiza · Oct 30, 2004

Are you trying to focus too close? The macro on that kind of leneses usually works between then 200-300mm range, the switch enables the lens to focus closer by extending the front element even more.

For the Sigma's the closest focus in macro mode is achieved at 37.4 inches and 95 inches in non macro mode.

Owen Heuston said:
I had a thread here a couple of days ago about finding a zoom lense

( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8263147 ) Well, I went to Ritz to check out the Quantaray lense myself and ended up buying the 70-300 Quantaray in a irrational moment. Anyway, the lense has a cheap feeling macro switch, and the lense is constantly hunting. But worst of all, the macro function does not work at all. I get the lense in macro mode, and I cannot get an image in autofocus or manual. I did some research online, and there are claims that this lense is not compatible with the D70. I am taking this lense back tomorrow, caveat emptor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/red71rum

Stay away from the Quantaray 70-300mm af zoom(which most probably have anyway)..

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