Here is one lens I found on ebay for the Nikon I plan on Purchasing. Your thoughts would be appreciated.....
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f / 4-5.6G 70-300 mm
Posted by Basil Greber on June 14, 2006 at 6:22 AM
Don't do it. Its optical quality is not that great (I tested it) and I prefer a probably ten-year old Sigma lens I bought used to that Nikkor... Which camera will you buy?
Basil
Posted by Basil Greber on June 14, 2006 at 7:23 AM
Sorry for replying twice.
Anyway, something you may want to consider is that actually the lens makes the image, not the camera. So there is no point in buying a high-quality DSLR for a lot of money (if you were for example planning to go for the D200 or even D2X) and put cheap glass in front of it. The other way round, it makes more sense - good glass in front of a D70s (or also a D50, I'd guess) will give you good pictures. Or in other words - invest in glass, not bodies.
If you want to go for a 300 mm consumer lens, the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro DG (latest version!) is said to be better than the G-Nikkor. Or you may want to try the 70-300 D ED Nikkor (similar to the one you suggested, but with better quality & "better" price ). It all depends on how much you can/want to spend.
I had that lens and was not impressed. I sold it on Ebay.
Posted by Kent Staubus on June 14, 2006 at 11:29 AM
If you want to photo kids' soccer games, family snapshots, it is perfect. If you want to photo wildlife, you are throwing money down the toilet. You will never be happy with only 300mm unless you are taking your wildlife photos at the zoo. I keep saying this: put your money on a good lens, go cheap on the camera. If someone had told me that when I was starting out it would have saved me thousands of dollars and MUCH frustration.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
Is there a good camera store near you? You're getting good advice in these threads, but some of the things people say to you would really sink home if you could get a look at some of this equipment. If there is, take a CF card to the store and ask to take some pictures with some of the equipment you are interested in. Take them home and compare. Perhaps there is a nature photographer near you that would show you what equipment he or she uses and let you actually try it out. If you can find your way to US/Florida I'll give you a Canon tour.
Absent that, there are some really thoughtful equipment reviews on Fred Miranda's site. You can find relevant information on just about any DSLR equipment you might consider buying. The site is http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/
Thank you all for the help. I am in the process of puchasing a lens or two on Ebay, based on your advice. I will be purchasing the Nikon D50 or D70 in a week or two...
Posted by Basil Greber on June 16, 2006 at 1:11 AM
Discussion
8 repliesNikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f / 4-5.6G 70-300 mm
Basil
Anyway, something you may want to consider is that actually the lens makes the image, not the camera. So there is no point in buying a high-quality DSLR for a lot of money (if you were for example planning to go for the D200 or even D2X) and put cheap glass in front of it. The other way round, it makes more sense - good glass in front of a D70s (or also a D50, I'd guess) will give you good pictures. Or in other words - invest in glass, not bodies.
If you want to go for a 300 mm consumer lens, the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro DG (latest version!) is said to be better than the G-Nikkor. Or you may want to try the 70-300 D ED Nikkor (similar to the one you suggested, but with better quality & "better" price
Basil
I had that lens and was not impressed. I sold it on Ebay.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
---->Go cheap on the camera, put the money on the lens.
Kent in SD
Is there a good camera store near you? You're getting good advice in these threads, but some of the things people say to you would really sink home if you could get a look at some of this equipment. If there is, take a CF card to the store and ask to take some pictures with some of the equipment you are interested in. Take them home and compare. Perhaps there is a nature photographer near you that would show you what equipment he or she uses and let you actually try it out. If you can find your way to US/Florida I'll give you a Canon tour.
Absent that, there are some really thoughtful equipment reviews on Fred Miranda's site. You can find relevant information on just about any DSLR equipment you might consider buying. The site is http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/
Kelly
And don't forget a tripod.
And don't forget a tripod.
And don't forget a tripod.
Basil