What is the best 70-300 lens for a nikon DX or FX body?

snehs123

New member
Right now I have a Nikon D60 and I will eventually upgrade to a D700? I want to purchase a 70-300 lens that will also work in the FX format cameras. I heard great reviews about the tamaron lenses. They are cheaper than Nikon and come with a six year warranty. If you are using a tamaron lens, please let me know your experience with it.
 

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x372sailor

New member
I have the Nikon ED 70-300 AF-S 4.5-5.6 G VR II lens. It is relatively slow with its f4.5 - 5.6 maximum aperture and not overly sharp at 300 mm. Nevertheless it is a good lens in good light and best in the 70-200+ range. It is light for its range and relatively compact. I would far prefer the 70-200 f2.8 but it is about twice the weight and over 3 times the cost. The Tamron lenses are generally considered to be of lower quality than the Nikon lenses. If you buy one you will eventually (probably) want an upgrade to a higher quality lens as your photography grows. I speak from experience. I had a Sigma 70-300 for less than a year before replacing it for this lens. I have a Tamron 17-35mm lens and, although it gives me relatively sharp images, the colour/contrast doesn't compare to my Nikon lenses.
 

Qarik

New member
if you intend to upgrade to a D700, then I am afraid any of the current XX-300mm variable aperture zooms on the market would not really do the camera justice except to be used as a general walk around lens.
 

blueiron

New member
I haven't been impressed with the Sigma or Tamron lenses I have seen. In lenses, you generally get what you pay for and if you are going to regularly use the lens, buy the Nikkor. For a rarely used lens such as a fisheye, you can get by with cheaper.

If you are going to buy a high end body, you negate the benefits of it with lower quality lenses.
 

Em11y

New member
I haven't been impressed with the Sigma or Tamron lenses I have seen. In lenses, you generally get what you pay for and if you are going to regularly use the lens, buy the Nikkor. For a rarely used lens such as a fisheye, you can get by with cheaper.
If you are going to buy a high end body, you negate the benefits of it with lower quality lenses.


I would generally agree with the above, however I use a sigma 70-300 OS and I find it to be very good, I suppose you get what you pay for, if you go with the higher end more expensive lenses then the result will show in your pictures

I had a Tamron version of this lens, what a horrible let down, soft pictures, no IS/OS and slow AF, generally not that great (traded it in for the sigma)

Haven't tried the Nikkor, heard it is very good though

In my conclusion, try each one before you buy, work out your budget and try to get the "better one" if you can
:)

I generally don't skimp on kit, If I can't afford "the best" then I'll wait until I can :)
 

pjl

Senior Member
I bought a used 70-300 G off CraigsList for $75.
Shot with it for about a month.
Slow AF, fair pics, awful in low light.
Couldn't keep up with my 55-200 for sharpness and AF speed.
The G is the bargain basement version of the 70-300. ('Humble' opinion...chuckling)
The VR lenses are probably better to work with, but...

Sold it on CraigsList for $75 and found a 180 2.8 a few weeks later, for $100.
I'd much rather wait it out and get enough sheckles for a 70-200.
 

Phiggys

Senior Member
Why not consider the Tamron or Sigma F.F. 28mm-300mm that way when you upgrade to FX you have a good all purpose walk about lens.
I have owned Both Tamron version and currently use the V.C. version.
Remember this will be multiplied by 1.5x in DX and you will only be shooting with the sweat spot :)
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
I have the Nikon ED 70-300 AF-S 4.5-5.6 G VR II lens. It is relatively slow with its f4.5 - 5.6 maximum aperture and not overly sharp at 300 mm. Nevertheless it is a good lens in good light and best in the 70-200+ range. It is light for its range and relatively compact. I would far prefer the 70-200 f2.8 but it is about twice the weight and over 3 times the cost.

I have the Nikon too and I'm very pleased with it. The comments above are in line with my experience. I took the shot below at the Worldwide Photowalk last week-end (D300, aperture priority, 1/400s, f/8.0, 145.0mm, ISO 200). Remember this lens will work on FX and DX.

large.jpg
 

Gladiator

Senior Member
I have the Nikkor 70-300 on my D50. If I upgrade the body to the D90, will this lens be compatible?

For sure, and if you upgrade to full-frame (FX) as well!

Remember, put your money in Lenses... they will outlast your body! This is why i have trouble buying generic brands, they just don't hold their value, except for some rare occasion like the new Tokina 12-24mm f/4 AT-X AF PRO DX II (too bad that puppy is DX)
 

premc44

Senior Member
There are some fantastic reviews about the recently introduced Tamron SP 70-300 f4-5.6 VC lens. The lens is praised for its sharpness and in one review is quoted even better than the Nikkor equivalent. Has anyone got any experience with this lens?. Selling at Amazon.com for $449 with a mail in rebate of $50. Value for money?
 

AfterImage

New member
There are some fantastic reviews about the recently introduced Tamron SP 70-300 f4-5.6 VC lens. The lens is praised for its sharpness and in one review is quoted even better than the Nikkor equivalent. Has anyone got any experience with this lens?. Selling at Amazon.com for $449 with a mail in rebate of $50. Value for money?

I can confirm those reviews. I picked one up with my new D7000 and am blown away by it's performance. Fast, quiet and tack sharp. For $399 you just can't beat the new Tammy 70-300!

Here are a few samples from the Tammy... The shot of the town was across the Orchard Field at full 300mm
 

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Curt

Senior Member
I just got the Nikon AF-S 70-300mm VR lens. It is a fantastic lens. Works beautiful on a DX body and if you are thinking of going FX later, its perfect. On a DX body you will be using only the best area of this lens, plus you get 105-450mm on the cropped sensor. The lens feels very pro, very quite and smooth focus. I highly recommed this lens.
 
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