roy_rogers Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Im looking to buy one of these lenses for under ?50 ($100) as I wont be using it much, anyway its for a d40 and I need to manually focus with these. I know none of them are great but which is the best of the bad bunch. I want to be able to use the manual focus well, so I want the best manual focus at long length. Nikon AF 70-300mm F4-5.6G Nikon AF 80-200mm F4-5.6D Sigma 70-210mm F4-5.6D UC-II, Nikon Fit Sigma 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC, Nikon Fit I am thinking after looking on the internet that the sigma 70-210 is the best of the bunch. I am only looking to get these or similar priced, I can buy these ones currently from a shop. I guess there are tamrons on ebay etc. but I guess there all as bad as each other but I wanted the best one out the those I mentioned rather than anything else. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg jansen Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Nikon 80-200 gets my vote (if it is the metal build one). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliot1 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Nikon 55-200 (non-VR version) - around $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_rogers Posted June 20, 2007 Author Share Posted June 20, 2007 the nikon 55-200 is not ?60 here in the uk its more like ?132. Im looking to pay a whopping ?50 for the above. So 1 vote for the nikon, well interesting, dont know if its metal though probably not. I wonder if thatll be the only vote! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_rogers Posted June 20, 2007 Author Share Posted June 20, 2007 sorry Im not typing the question mark, its a pound sign but this forum font doesnt have the pound sign installed evidently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael R Freeman Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 The Nikon 80~200 that you reference is all plastic, including the mount.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_dawson1 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 I think that Nikon AF 80-200mm F4-5.6D is a plastic lens with a plastic mount. Nonetheless I think I recall someone famous (Galen Rowell?) using one when climbing because of its light weight. Supposed to be quite good when stopped down. If I've got the right lens, it's not too good for manual focusing because it has a very thin and not very smooth focusing ring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_dawson1 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Michael got there first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael R Freeman Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 While it's not on your list, the older AF Nikkor 70~210mm f/4-5.6 (first non-D version) can often be had for under $100 on eBay. It's a metal mount, metal barreled zoom with good optics, and decent manual focus action.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angkordave Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 I bought a Nikon 70-300 G lens on as a stop gap; as I had to buy a complete set of lenses when I changed from Pentax Z1 to Fuji S2. A friend who had taken some great wildlife shots with one, recommended it. Its cheap; plastic, slow focusing; but the images exceeded my best expectations. Maybe I have an exceptionally good, one as image quality is so far beyond its price, that I had to spend a huge amount more to get any significant improvement. I was still using it until early 2007; when the lens became loose and rattly and worn out after 4 years of use in harsh tropical conditions I own a Nikon 18-200 VR which is nowhere near as good at the long end (but focuses faster). I tried a Nikon 80-400 VR (which if you ignore the extra range and VR) was no faster in focusing and no better in image quality. I ended up buying a Nikon 70-200 F2.8 VR + 1.4 teleconverter to gain any improvement; as I really struggled to get good enough results with the 18-200 VR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liljuddakalilknyttphotogra Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 I second Michael R. Freeman's suggestion of the AF Nikkor 70~210mm f/4-5.6 (first non-D version). I used t have one & unfortunately didn't think & sold it. I really regret that. Mine was super sharp & a great lens to have. It did better on my D200 than the fast replaced 80-200 f/2.8 (which was back focusing). Try for the AF Nikkor 70~210mm f/4-5.6 (first non-D version). It's not a screw zoom - it's a "push" zoom. Many people don't like screw zooms. Like I wrote. I miss mine & have informed the lady who bought mine that I'd be glad to buy it back from her as she's getting the 18-200VR. JMHO Lil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtan Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I'd stay away from the Nikon AF 70-300mm F4-5.6G. I don't think it's a bad optically, in fact I've heard it's pretty good for the money. However the focus ring looks awfully thin, which may be a problem on a D40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_rogers Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 thanks for all the advice, manual focus is a big issue so Id prefer to have one with a bigger focus ring so I guess the 70-300 is out, although as long as its not loose I guess it would work. I shall try a and get the AF Nikkor 70~210mm f/4-5.6 (first non-D version) on ebay I think or second hand shop in uk. Thanks very much great information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_rogers Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 one thing Im wondering is will the AF Nikkor 70~210mm f/4-5.6 (first non-D version) be an AI lens or will it need to have been converted. I guess its AI, or is it? I dunno :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_rogers Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 I found some good reviews of it this site: http://www.photographyreview.com/cat/lenses/35mm-zoom/nikon/PRD_84736_3128crx.aspx :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael R Freeman Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 It's an autofocus lens with a CPU, and also AI. Since it is not AF-S it won't autofocus on your D40, otherwise the AF Nikkor 70~210mm f/4-5.6 is 100% compatible and works in all modes on the D40. <P> Incidentally, "non-D" refers to the lack of <b>D</b>istance encoding, not "D"igital (DX). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_rogers Posted June 23, 2007 Author Share Posted June 23, 2007 im all too familar with the afs annoyance believe me, Ive been looking for the 70-210mm but not many around so far on ebay uk or in any second hand shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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