I am not happy

Michael J.

Michael J.

Senior Member
My dear friends, I am not that happy with my Nikon 55-300mm. It focuses so slow. I am considering to buy another lens.

I just read articles about

18-200mm, which I know cos my father in law is using one.

The 18-300. 28-300 as well as the 70-300 may be an option as well. I don't do BIF or wildlife. But sometimes I need a longer range and a bit faster focus as well.

I am not sure I should change to another lens.

I just write this down to get my mind clear.
 
M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Cant help with your choice but i do agree the 55-300 can be slow,as ime sure you will agree for any one reading this its still a great value for money lens.

I think you need a Tamron 150-600 :D:D:D
 
M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Michael have you considered one of the 70-200 2.8s as your daughter often does indoor stuff,it would probably mean sigma or tamron to get a built in motor at a good price.
 
L

Lawrence

Senior Member
I agree with Mike - try and get a faster lens. I have the 70-300 which is a good lens (in my opinion anyway) but not all that fast. A 2.8 would be much better for you. If a bit short you could always use a teleconverter on the rare occasion you need to.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Michael, My wife uses the 18-200 on her D7000 and I use the 70-300 on my D7100. She does a pretty good job with the 18-200. I know you have seen her photos and that is the only lens she uses. I use the 70-300 for all my zoo and bird in flight shots. Personally I think the 18-200 is just a touch soft and the 70-300 does need a little more light. So you really need to decide what you need the most.
 
B

Bunsen Honeydew

Senior Member
If you can afford it, I. Highly recommend the Nikon 24-70 f2.8. You will be hard pressed to find better. It's a pro lens & built like a tank, with a fast focus. Part of your focusing speed problem may be due to your camera body. I'm not sure if you said what body you have.
 
Michael J.

Michael J.

Senior Member
View years back I used for my vacation the D5100 and the Nikon 18-200. It is such a great lens on the D5100. I think for a walk around is the 16-85 I own the best for me.

Why I think the 55-300 is not that great anymore for me. Yesterday I went to my favorite pond. I wanted take some photos where people release the fish. They 55-300 was a way to slow to catch up with the fish exiting the buckets. Than I saw some birds nearby just taking o and guess what I was to slow.

If I have time and focus is not an issue I am happy with the 55-300.

I'm still thinking what is what I want/need
 
Michael J.

Michael J.

Senior Member
Bunsen Honeydew said:
If you can afford it, I. Highly recommend the Nikon 24-70 f2.8. You will be hard pressed to find better. It's a pro lens & built like a tank, with a fast focus. Part of your focusing speed problem may be due to your camera body. I'm not sure if you said what body you have.
Click to expand...

I am using a D5100. I was thinking about that. In an other thread, Don mentioned the 24 -120. I think that sounds great too.
 
T

TedG954

Senior Member
siamthai1 said:
Maybe I am going for a prime the Nikon 105
Click to expand...

Why?

Remember that your D5100 requires a motorized lens. You will need a G-series lens to solve your focusing dilemma.

Have you considered moving to a D7XXX ? That option will give you far more choices. The D5100 is a fine camera, but it does have some limitations.

With as much as you use your camera, and the volume of photos you're taking, moving to a motorized camera is the most logical next move.

Choosing DX or going directly to FX will be the tougher choice.

My suggestion is to put that lens money toward your savings for a new camera (and it doesn't have to be brand new). Used and refurbs can be found at a considerable savings.

Photography is more than just a passing phase for you, and you will move beyond that D5100 eventually. In the meantime, use what you have now and start a plan for that D7XXX, D6XX, or whatever else suits your needs.

Good luck my friend.
 
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Michael J.

Michael J.

Senior Member
Ted, I want a longer lens then 85 and faster. I think 18 - xxxxx is to close to my 16mm maybe


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I

Ironwood

Senior Member
Michael, I own the Nikon 70-300-VR, it is a very nice lens for the price. But I am not sure it will be enough of an upgrade over your 55-300 to warrant spending the money.
I also own the Nikon 105-VR, it is my favourite lens and it lives on my camera most of the time, but its not much longer than the 85 on your 16-85. And it is slower to focus than the 16-85, but it does take great photos.

I am seriously thinking of selling my 70-300 and buying a 70-200 f2.8 (probably the Tamron because of the price, the Nikon is too expensive for me) because I think thats a very useful range and worth spending some money to get a good lens, but, I will also get the 150-600 at some stage because I want the long reach for the wildlife around here. While I have a DX camera I will always keep my 16-85, but I think a good 70-200 would compliment it nicely.

I think you need to ask yourself how long do you need your lens. Do you always use your 55-300 around 200, or always at the 300 end, or do you need longer than 300 ?
 
I

Ironwood

Senior Member
Michael, I own the Nikon 70-300-VR, it is a very nice lens for the price. But I am not sure it will be enough of an upgrade over your 55-300 to warrant spending the money.
I also own the Nikon 105-VR, it is my favourite lens and it lives on my camera most of the time, but its not much longer than the 85 on your 16-85. And it is slower to focus than the 16-85, but it does take great photos.

I am seriously thinking of selling my 70-300 and buying a 70-200 f2.8 (probably the Tamron because of the price, the Nikon is too expensive for me) because I think thats a very useful range and worth spending some money to get a good lens, but, I will also get the 150-600 at some stage because I want the long reach for the wildlife around here. While I have a DX camera I will always keep my 16-85, but I think a good 70-200 would compliment it nicely.

I think you need to ask yourself how long do you need your lens. Do you always use your 55-300 around 200, or always at the 300 end, or do you need longer than 300 ?

Edit- sorry I have probably given you more questions than answers.
 
Michael J.

Michael J.

Senior Member
Ironwood said:
Michael, I own the Nikon 70-300-VR, it is a very nice lens. While I have a DX camera I will always keep my 16-85, but I think a good 70-200 would compliment it
.
Click to expand...
Reading this and other postings I think 70-200 is what I am going to give a thought.



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