rod_melotte Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Currently I have a 70-300 4/5.4 Zoom and 100mm 3.5 Macro - what Iwould LIKE is a telephoto (new or used) in the . . . .less then 3.5area.Is there such a thing?<p>anyone anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik_loza Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Thought about a used 300mm f4.0 AF? It's a terrific lens and you can find them in your price range. I'm assuming by "less than 3.5" you're referring to lens' maximum aperature. You wouldn't miss that third of a stop in real-world shooting circumstances. Otherwise, 180mm. Faster but shorter, wonderful as well. Good luck with your search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_fromm2 Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 It depends a little on focal length and on whether you want manual or auto focus. Tell us more, but basically no. There is, however, always theft. Steal one yourself or buy one from a thief. Illegal, unethical, morally incorrect. On the whole, it would be best if you saved your small monetary units until you can afford to buy one. Or you could compromise your aspirations and get a long lens slower than f/4. Or you could borrow more than you really want to. You could also reconsider whether you really need a long lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rod_melotte Posted January 25, 2005 Author Share Posted January 25, 2005 AF would be nice but not necessary - I have a D70. less then $500 would be nice and a Prime in the 100-150 range f3.5 or less???. Theft is a great idea but once I start I might not be able to stop so I don't think I'll go that route. I've already found that I'm a equipment whore - some day I'll have to learn how to use the camera!<p> All I see are glass in the $2000 range! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikos peri Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Nikon's superlative 180mm f/2.8 AF D is $620 at B&H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Consider picking up an used 75-150mm f/3.5 zoom. Yes, I know you asked for a "prime". This lens is so good with the D70, you will not find any difference between the results from this and many "primes". Of course, there is no metering possible. I used one for several months before I added a matrix chip. It is a bit more convenient now. This lens is very very sharp with pleasing image renditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 The 85mm/f1.8 AF-D is fairly affordable but not quite in your focal length range. Unlike the way it used to be 30 years ago, today zooms far outnumber primes in the moderate wide to short tele range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 In the 1950's; surplus 178mm F2.5 Kodak Aero Ektars were about 5 dollars; and shipping was 2 to 3 FOB from some warehouse. Sometimes the lens was still attached to an aluminum military cone; that added freight costs. Many folks made adapters to use these beasts on Exakta 35mm slr cameras; or 4x5 speed graphics. Here I have used both. Wide open they were not great; because the lens is for IR use. Stopped down they did make a decent sports lens. Many were used for astrophotography. Then these lenses were not yellowed yet due to radioactivity; like the bulk floating around today on Ebay. If sun bleached; the yellow can be removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hique Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 I think an used 180mm 2.8. Fast, good, long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 My more modern 180mm F2.8 ED AIS Nikkor is of course more usable at F2.8 than the Aero Ektar; and is a great sports lens for me; very very sharp and well corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayward Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Sure. I have a Nikon 180mm 2.8 AF that I bought for $300 used and a Nikon 300mm 4 AF that I bought for under $500 mint. Note that with the D70 you have to have an autofocus lens or the camera won't meter. With the D70, the 180mm is probably all you will need. I use it for indoor auditorium-type stuff with my children and some outdoor sports. The 300mm is good for wildlife, especially with a 1.4x extender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akira_sasaki1 Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 I've seen AF (non-D) 135mm/f2 go for about $500 on auction. Being about 200mm on D70, that's a nice telephoto. I guess you need to be a bit patient though since they don't come out very often. Otherwise, 180mm/f2.8 would be nice, and a bit cheaper as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappoldt Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 What length are you looking for? As mentioned above, you can easily score an older 300mm f4 ED IF prime (rated well by Thom Hogan) and a Kenko 1.4x teleconverter (making nearly 450mm) for under that price. Look in my wildlife folder for results with that combo. Ebay and KEH.com are good places to find 'em (used). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rod_melotte Posted January 25, 2005 Author Share Posted January 25, 2005 Something for low light sports in the 100-200 area. I just want something faster then a 3.5 100mm that I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappoldt Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Faster than an f3.5 is going to be hard to find for that price. I'd even say impossible, at least of decent quality. Sigma makes a nice 300mm f 2.8, but even that's pretty darn expensive - in the thousands of $.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris haake Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Used 180mm AF f/2.8. Right now at www.keh.com, there are two examples, one for $465 and the other for $499. These are the current "D" examples; if you waited, the non-D versions would be a little cheaper (and in all likelihood you'd never miss the "D" function). For a bit more, they also have a 135mm f/2 for $665, if that interests you (it sure would interest me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebogaerts Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Vivek - 75-150 Series E zooms are still on Rolland Elliot's "chip" list. If anyone is seriously interested in getting their 75-150 chipped, I would not put it off as Rolland has recently cut his list & may do more cutting in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Eric, The sample I have, cost me a total (including the lens) of <$100. (http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009KFX). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msitaraman Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 The suggestions above for a 75-150/3.5 E, or better still a 180/2.8 used are very good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg s Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Take a good hard look at the 300mm f/4 AF. Bought mine in pristine used condition for $360 and it is a fantastic DSLR lens. I love it and use when I don't have the big, heavy, expensive tele (500mm) on the camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake_mecklenborg Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 I have used the 180 2.8 on a D70 for six months. The 180 is much more versatile than one might think as compared to a 80-200 zoom. It's pretty rare that I can't get back far enough to where 135 would have saved the shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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