Zoom Suggestion (Nikon or Sigma)

I am looking for a zoom lens, high quality, up to 400 or 500mm. I currently have an 18-200mm Nikkor. I've been

looking at other Nikon lenses, but the 200-400 is 5k (more than I want to spend). I'd like to be up to 2k max. Nikon

has an 80-400, but then I'll have two lenses with an 80-200 range. I started looking at the Sigma lenses (which I've

never owned) and saw a few different ones, roughly 150-500 or a 120-400, but I really don't know how these compare

to the Nikon lenses and how their quality stands up? Any thoughts?

 

Also, same goes for a close-up lens. I'm looking at either the Nikon 105 or 200mm and also see that Sigma has a

150 f/2.8 for aout $800 - basically the price of Nikon's 105 f/2.8. Any thoughts here as well?

 

I have no issues with using a tripod, but I do find myself at times without it and needing a lens that performs as well

as possible in low light (without going for Nikon's f/2.8 200-400 and spending 5k).

 

Thank you!

what about nikon 70-200 /2.8, I am also looking for a fast zoom lens, maybe Tamron 70-200 2.8 which is around $700, never use them but they both have positive reviews

http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Nikkor%20/%20Nikon%20Lens%20Tests

Nikon really doesn't have much in the medium-long telephoto zoom range. The Sigma 50-500mm (aka the Bigma) has a very good reputation; I know a number of people who use their's regularly with good (professional) results. The new 150-500mm OS sounds like a great deal. So far the reviews have been mostly pretty positive.

 

Neither is particularly wide-aperture, though.

 

Another place to browse the various manufacturer's offerings is the "Cameras and Lenses" section of adorama.com. You can check off what kind of lens you want, manufacturer(s), and mount, then sort the list by price and work your way up. That might give you more ideas about lenses to look at the specs of at photozone.de (one of my favorite sites).

I have the Sigma 150 f2.8 macro and I am quite pleased with it so far. I also recently (last week) purchased the Sigma 120-400 zoom but I have only taken a few quick shots handholding it at the 400 MM setting. Being an old fart, my hand isn't terribly steady so even with the OS operating I managed to get some shake. This week I will stick it on a tripod like I should have in the first place and see what it can do. I can say that the 120-400 has much less CA at 400 MM than the Tamron 28-300 that I had been using had at 300 MM.

I have the 50-500 Bigma, and have been very satisfied with it. But keep in mind that a sturdy tripod is imperative. This thing is heavy. If you're interested, most of the animal shots in my portfolio were done with the Bigma.

Sigma 150/2.8 @ f/3.2; ISO 1600; 1/30th, hand-held, through glass barrier...<div></div>

I have used and liked the Nikkor 300mm f4 AF-D, 400mm f5.6 ED-IF and now a 500mm f4 P. If you want speed and range then I believe the 500mm is the best value. It big and heavy and IMHO requires a tripod.

Carl Becker, "If you want speed and range then I believe the 500mm is the best value."

 

For $7,899.95 (Adorama) it better be a good value! ;-)

Josh, I recently went through the same research looking for a lens to get me out to 400mm that didn't cost $5000. I decided on the Nikkor 80-400mm zoom for a lot of reasons which are outlined in the link below...

 

http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00QZ1N

 

I am very pleased with this lens. It is not truly an overlap of the 80-200mm zoom, since that is a good walk-around lens and the 80-400mm zoom is really a special purpose lens that you just wouldn't normally walk around with because of it's weight. Here is a recent example with the 80-400mm.<div></div>

Richard - excellent picture. Was this hand held or on a tripod? With this lens, what's the likelihood that it can be managed

a good part of the time as a hand held lens? Again, I do a lot of hiking and the less gear the better - sometimes, (I know,

it's terrible) I choose not to take the tripod with me.

Josh, thank you! This was handheld from a kayak. I took the tripod collar off over a month ago and have been using it handheld ever since. You should look at Mark Bartosik's portfolio...

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=469785

 

He routinely hand holds a 500mm telephoto and takes some incredible shots. You just can't use a tripod in most fast moving situations. Go hiking with your camera and leave the tripod at home. Good luck!