Future DX lenses and 70-300?

Photobug197965 · Apr 19, 2004

I'm extremely happy with the performance/price of 18-70 DX. However, I am also convinced there is no 70-300 (Nikkor 70-300G, 70-300D ED, Sigma 70-300 APO II, etc.) being good enough to complement it today.

So, is there anyone to the rescue in the near future? Will Nikon release a new DX 70-300 that complement DX 18-70? How about Tamron Di (great series) in this range?

I love my 80-200/2.8D ED but am looking for one that doesn't sacrifice image quality too much while being smaller, lighter, and reaches a bit farther (300mm).

Should I wait or give up and go for one of the better choices we have now (Sigma APO II)?

Photobug

CGP4 · Apr 19, 2004

I think the 70-300 ED (not the G) is a fine lens and the perfect companion to the 18-70 DX. Why do you find it deficient?

Photobug197965 · Apr 19, 2004

I don't have a local store that allows me to shoot with all these lenses and judge. So I relied on opinions and rating on line like:
http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm
http://www.photodo.com/nav/prodindex.html

And I browsed through sample images by these lenses (and other pro lenses) at Pbase.

After all these I believe Sigma APO II> Nikon ED > Nikon G

But also none of them is on par with 80-200/2.8 or even slightly less stellar 18-70 DX at any aperture.

This is not a fact but simply conclusion of my on-paper study before a purchase decision is made. My thought might change when I see a great image of any of these lenses.

Photobug

CGP4 said:
I think the 70-300 ED (not the G) is a fine lens and the perfect
companion to the 18-70 DX. Why do you find it deficient?

CGP4 · Apr 20, 2004

Those sites are pretty worthless -- they're just numbers! Anyone can put up such a site: there's no reference to what the "external" sources of the ratings are nor method of rating and criteria.

As for looking up sample pictures, I think it's dangerous to assume the lens is responsible for the quality of the samples. Unless you know the photographer, how can you assess what they're doing or capable of? I'd take a great photographer with a junk lens over a newbie with a top-of-the line lens any day!

Here's another review for your consideration (from a more trusted source):

http://www.bythom.com/70300lens.htm

Photobug197965 · Apr 20, 2004

CGP4 said:
Those sites are pretty worthless -- they're just numbers! Anyone
can put up such a site: there's no reference to what the "external"
sources of the ratings are nor method of rating and criteria.

The photodo site do their own testing and is believed to be a trusted site. Yes they are just number and real beef is in the real-world performance. But it is still one of the references.

CGP4 said:
As for looking up sample pictures, I think it's dangerous to assume
the lens is responsible for the quality of the samples. Unless you
know the photographer, how can you assess what they're doing or
capable of? I'd take a great photographer with a junk lens over a
newbie with a top-of-the line lens any day!

Depends on how you use them. When I see a back picture I understand it could be caused by lens or shooter. But when I see a great image, I know both shooter and lens have to do things right. So far I have not seen images from Nikon 70-300 ED D or G that really impessed me. But there have been a few from Sigma 70-300 APO II that impressed me somehow. (Like the macro shot here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=8470118 )

CGP4 said:
Here's another review for your consideration (from a more trusted
source):

http://www.bythom.com/70300lens.htm

I read it a while ago. Yes Thom's opinions have certain weight. It's why I didn't rule out ED D right away.

No doubt that the best way is to use all of them under all kinds of conditions. But beside pro and reviewers, who has this luxury? Well there is a 2nd best way... I just found a store not too far away that has Sigma and Nikon. I'll visit them and shoot some samples with them and decide. Unless someone does the comparison for me, I'll have to do it myself.

Photobug

Dan Nelson · Apr 20, 2004

Photobug said:
I don't have a local store that allows me to shoot with all these
lenses and judge. So I relied on opinions and rating on line like:
http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm
http://www.photodo.com/nav/prodindex.html

And I browsed through sample images by these lenses (and other pro
lenses) at Pbase.

After all these I believe Sigma APO II> Nikon ED > Nikon G

But also none of them is on par with 80-200/2.8 or even slightly
less stellar 18-70 DX at any aperture.

This is not a fact but simply conclusion of my on-paper study
before a purchase decision is made. My thought might change when I
see a great image of any of these lenses.

Have you also read:

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3313.htm

?

= Dan =

Joseph S Wisniewski · Apr 20, 2004

Photobug said:
I'm extremely happy with the performance/price of 18-70 DX.
However, I am also convinced there is no 70-300 (Nikkor 70-300G,
70-300D ED, Sigma 70-300 APO II, etc.) being good enough to
complement it today.

So, is there anyone to the rescue in the near future? Will Nikon
release a new DX 70-300 that complement DX 18-70?

No. DX is only for wide angle lenses (and possibly normals). There's no reason to use it on a 300mm. Reducing the coverage circle won't make the lens any smaller, lighter, or optically better.

Photobug197965 said:
How about Tamron
Di (great series) in this range?

It's possbile.

Photobug197965 said:
I love my 80-200/2.8D ED but am looking for one that doesn't
sacrifice image quality too much while being smaller, lighter, and
reaches a bit farther (300mm).

Should I wait or give up and go for one of the better choices we
have now (Sigma APO II)?

There's no good answer for that.

Nikon, Sigma, or Tamron could bring out a killer 70-300mm next week. Or maybe not for 5 years. We have no way of knowing.

--
A cyberstalker told me not to post anymore...
So I'm posting even more!

Ciao!

Joe

http://www.swissarmyfork.com

Joe Melillo · Apr 20, 2004

Can anyone comment on the Nikon's performance in relation to Sigma/Tamron/Tokina offerings?

Dan Nelson said:
Photobug said:

I don't have a local store that allows me to shoot with all these
lenses and judge. So I relied on opinions and rating on line like:
http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm
http://www.photodo.com/nav/prodindex.html

And I browsed through sample images by these lenses (and other pro
lenses) at Pbase.

After all these I believe Sigma APO II> Nikon ED > Nikon G

But also none of them is on par with 80-200/2.8 or even slightly
less stellar 18-70 DX at any aperture.

This is not a fact but simply conclusion of my on-paper study
before a purchase decision is made. My thought might change when I
see a great image of any of these lenses.

Click to expand...

Have you also read:

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3313.htm

?

= Dan =

Miha Steinbücher · Apr 20, 2004

Take a look at:

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3313.htm

Regards,

Miha

Marnix van Wijk · Apr 20, 2004

I've used this lens for years on my F100 and now on the D100 and D2h and it's great.

it's not a fast lens but has great contrast and is very light.

Photobug said:
I'm extremely happy with the performance/price of 18-70 DX.
However, I am also convinced there is no 70-300 (Nikkor 70-300G,
70-300D ED, Sigma 70-300 APO II, etc.) being good enough to
complement it today.

So, is there anyone to the rescue in the near future? Will Nikon
release a new DX 70-300 that complement DX 18-70? How about Tamron
Di (great series) in this range?

I love my 80-200/2.8D ED but am looking for one that doesn't
sacrifice image quality too much while being smaller, lighter, and
reaches a bit farther (300mm).

Should I wait or give up and go for one of the better choices we
have now (Sigma APO II)?

Photobug

--
Marnix van Wijk
http://www.marnixvanwijkfotografie.nl

Photobug197965 · Apr 20, 2004

Thanks. I didn't, but just read. I agree with most of what he said. It's the reason why after owning 80-200/2.8D (the exact same lens compared) for 10 years I now consider 70-300/4-5.6.

One thing worries me a bit... he implied that 80-200/2.8D is faster than 70-300. Well on my D70 80-200/2.8D is quite slow (although already much faster than it did mounted on N6006; but it tested about 30% slower than 2-ring 80-200/2.8D). If 70-300 is any slower it's likely too slow.

Dan Nelson said:
Photobug said:

I don't have a local store that allows me to shoot with all these
lenses and judge. So I relied on opinions and rating on line like:
http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm
http://www.photodo.com/nav/prodindex.html

And I browsed through sample images by these lenses (and other pro
lenses) at Pbase.

After all these I believe Sigma APO II> Nikon ED > Nikon G

But also none of them is on par with 80-200/2.8 or even slightly
less stellar 18-70 DX at any aperture.

This is not a fact but simply conclusion of my on-paper study
before a purchase decision is made. My thought might change when I
see a great image of any of these lenses.

Click to expand...

Have you also read:

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3313.htm

?

= Dan =

Photobug197965 · Apr 20, 2004

Joseph S. Wisniewski said:
Photobug said:

I'm extremely happy with the performance/price of 18-70 DX.
However, I am also convinced there is no 70-300 (Nikkor 70-300G,
70-300D ED, Sigma 70-300 APO II, etc.) being good enough to
complement it today.

So, is there anyone to the rescue in the near future? Will Nikon
release a new DX 70-300 that complement DX 18-70?

Click to expand...

No. DX is only for wide angle lenses (and possibly normals).
There's no reason to use it on a 300mm. Reducing the coverage
circle won't make the lens any smaller, lighter, or optically
better.

Joseph S Wisniewski said:

How about Tamron
Di (great series) in this range?

Click to expand...

It's possbile.

Joseph S Wisniewski said:

I love my 80-200/2.8D ED but am looking for one that doesn't
sacrifice image quality too much while being smaller, lighter, and
reaches a bit farther (300mm).

Should I wait or give up and go for one of the better choices we
have now (Sigma APO II)?

Click to expand...

There's no good answer for that.

Nikon, Sigma, or Tamron could bring out a killer 70-300mm next
week. Or maybe not for 5 years. We have no way of knowing.

--
A cyberstalker told me not to post anymore...
So I'm posting even more!

Ciao!

Joe

http://www.swissarmyfork.com

Photobug197965 · Apr 20, 2004

this is one of a few good images I saw from 70-300D ED (on Pbase).

With no leak of upcoming 70-300 I'll like go for Sigma 70-300 APO II for cheaper price and slightly better macro performance. Optically they should be very close.

Marnix van Wijk said:
it's not a fast lens but has great contrast and is very light.

Photobug said:

I'm extremely happy with the performance/price of 18-70 DX.
However, I am also convinced there is no 70-300 (Nikkor 70-300G,
70-300D ED, Sigma 70-300 APO II, etc.) being good enough to
complement it today.

So, is there anyone to the rescue in the near future? Will Nikon
release a new DX 70-300 that complement DX 18-70? How about Tamron
Di (great series) in this range?

I love my 80-200/2.8D ED but am looking for one that doesn't
sacrifice image quality too much while being smaller, lighter, and
reaches a bit farther (300mm).

Should I wait or give up and go for one of the better choices we
have now (Sigma APO II)?

Photobug

Click to expand...

--
Marnix van Wijk
http://www.marnixvanwijkfotografie.nl

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Future DX lenses and 70-300?

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