Is it really worth it?

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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Interesting stuff.

Like the car comparison. I guess right now I'm driving the 1990 Ford Escort with my 90's era Siggy 100-300 F/4.5. Saw one like it on eBay the other day, wow $67 - ouch. But in the meantime I will spend a little more time learning how to shoot long with that on my D610 but I do yearn for a little better lens. I guess there will be folks who still manage to get to work in the 1990 Escort and I can still take pictures with my Siggy.

Yet a better long zoom is on my want list. (or is that my need list?).
 
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Krs_2007

Senior Member
zutty said:
Well I pulled the trigger on the 70-200 and the only question remains is whether to keep the 70-300 or not.
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I sold mine and rolled it into a TC as I never used the 70-300 after I got the 70-200. Congrats on the purchase, I think it was one my best purchases and its my favorite lens.
 
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zutty

Senior Member
Thanks Kevin. It just seems that everyone who has one (and so many do) says it is an indispensable tool to have. The only thing I liked about the 70-300 is the long reach especially on the D7100 (dx-450mm) So I'll mull it over before selling it...Thanks again, my friend.
 
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zutty

Senior Member
Pretzel said:
How about some SxS comparison with raw data?

Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II on Nikon D800E versus Nikkor AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED on Nikon D800E versus Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR on Nikon D800E - Side by side lens comparison - DxOMark

The link above compares the 70-200 f2.8 VR vs the 70-200 f2.8 VRII vs. the 70-200 f4. Compared to the 70-300 VR, the 70-200 f4 and 70-200 f2.8 VRII are SLAUGHTERHOUSES!!! DXOmark score for the 70-300 VR is a 23, both the f2.8 VRII and the f4 VR rank in with a 31 (all as tested on the D800E), as shown in the link below:

Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II on Nikon D800E versus Nikkor AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED on Nikon D800E versus Nikkor AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED on Nikon D800E - Side by side lens comparison - DxOMark

I LOVE websites that have already crunched the numbers!

Having said all that, I love my 70-300 VR, especially for the price I paid for it... but the other two, for the EXTRA price, crank out some high quality results!
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Thanks for the great info Pretz....It helped with my decision.
 
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PapaST

Senior Member
PapaST said:
You're in trouble zutty... this is what will end up happening. You will buy the 2.8 and as STM mentioned, you'll have redundancy in your glass. So you'll get rid of the 70-300 and you'll eventually yearn for more reach. You might entertain a teleconverter. But ultimately end up buying a Tamron 150-600 to cover your reach. ;)

That's my prediction.
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My prophecy is coming true.
 
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robbins.photo

Senior Member
Krs_2007 said:
I sold mine and rolled it into a TC as I never used the 70-300 after I got the 70-200. Congrats on the purchase, I think it was one my best purchases and its my favorite lens.
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Pretty much same here - after I got the 70-200 I just wasn't shooting with the 70-300 hardly at all, so I wound up getting a 1.4x TC and a 2x TC for the 200 - and selling the 300. In retrospect the 1.4 hasn't really proven to be all that useful, originally I was thinking it would be great to have 280 mm at F4, but in truth I've found I just don't use it much at all. I'm hanging onto it for now, it really wasn't all that expensive and I figure you never know when it might come in handy.

But quick tip for those of you wanting to buy a TC - don't buy new. Thing about TC's is a whole ton of people buy them new and try to use them with slow glass like F/5.6- and of course they don't work worth a darn because the TC cuts out so much light that they lose autofocus or it hunts. So they turn around and sell the TC after only using it once or twice. My preferred source for TC's is KEH - you can generally pick them in in pretty much new condition for about half what an actual new one would cost.
 
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Krs_2007

Senior Member
robbins.photo said:
Pretty much same here - after I got the 70-200 I just wasn't shooting with the 70-300 hardly at all, so I wound up getting a 1.4x TC and a 2x TC for the 200 - and selling the 300. In retrospect the 1.4 hasn't really proven to be all that useful, originally I was thinking it would be great to have 280 mm at F4, but in truth I've found I just don't use it much at all. I'm hanging onto it for now, it really wasn't all that expensive and I figure you never know when it might come in handy.

But quick tip for those of you wanting to buy a TC - don't buy new. Thing about TC's is a whole ton of people buy them new and try to use them with slow glass like F/5.6- and of course they don't work worth a darn because the TC cuts out so much light that they lose autofocus or it hunts. So they turn around and sell the TC after only using it once or twice. My preferred source for TC's is KEH - you can generally pick them in in pretty much new condition for about half what an actual new one would cost.
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Thanks for the reminder on that, I bought new because it was a deal on the other lens but I always forget to look at KEH when I am ready to buy. I do use for used pricing.
 
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zutty

Senior Member
PapaST said:
My prophecy is coming true.
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Haha..Papa you're a clairvoyant. I still don't know if I'm selling the 70-300 though. I do have that extra reach esp. on dx. But I can't wait to see what that 70-200 can do! Or better put, what I can do with that 70-200. Uh..Now what was that about the Tamron???Haha
 
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zutty

Senior Member
Let me also just say...When I was a working musician, I made sure I had the best tools and always found that it gave me a big edge because I knew what to do with those tools. But with photography, I simply don't have the 10,000 hours of learning/practice I had as a young man. But I still understand the value of proper tools.
 
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robbins.photo

Senior Member
Krs_2007 said:
Thanks for the reminder on that, I bought new because it was a deal on the other lens but I always forget to look at KEH when I am ready to buy. I do use for used pricing.
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I love KEH - huge fan. I bought both my teleconverters and the 50 mm 1.8 AFS-G from them used, and everything I've gotten from them has been top notch.

I've bought from Adorama and B&H as well, also a great places to do business with - we really don't have much in the way of local camera stores so it's really nice to be able to purchase stuff and know it's going to get here on time and as described.
 
ABoon

ABoon

Senior Member
I just wanted to say that I am very happy with my Tamron 70-200 and would recommend it highly. I haven't got the Nikon to compare side-by-side, however in my research and eventual decision to go with the Tamron I watched and read a lot of comparisons online. The Tamron appeared to be equal in almost all respects and on 'DXO' it actually outscores the Nikon.

I will point out that my first copy of the Tamron did have a focus motor issue, perhaps Tamron is not as 'consistent' as Nikon. Luckily the store I bought it from recognised the defect and replaced the lens without question. Also many people in my research have suggested that Tamron is extremely good with their customer care which is great if you run into issues.

I also should point out that my Tamron had some front focus so I did have to fine tune the AF however my Nikon 50mm 1.8G also suffered from front focus to a similar degree so likely my camera body is to blame. Just wanted to share my experience, at half the price I reckon the Tamron is an easy choice.
 
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Whiskeyman

Senior Member
It could just be me, but whenever I've "needed" a lens, it was very apparent, and there was no need to even ask the question of whether I needed it.Such was the case when I started shooting the local high school marching bands' performances and needed a fairly high speed lens. That's when I ordered my 80-200 f2.8D. Later, I wanted to get the 70-200 AF-S f2.8 and I did; that was a want, not a need. However, my wife keeps reminding me that everything photography related is really a want for me. :DWM
 
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Blacktop

Senior Member
As humans , we really only need food and shelter. Everything else is a want.:) (except a good walk around lens of course). That we also need.
 
SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
BackdoorHippie said:
I hate to use a car analogy, but it makes the most sense here since I'm comparing cars to cars, not to cameras.

Do you commute to work? Does your current car get you there safely and on time? Let's assume it's a Honda Accord. Would an Acura get you to work any more safely? Faster? Would it give you access to roads you can't get on now? How about the Acura NSX - same questions? Ferrari? Rolls? See, and now you have to worry about where you park it!!

If it covers the same ground then the only reason to replace what you have is for performance or failure. If you can't name the shortcomings of what you have right now by looking at your own work then chances are you don't need it.
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Got a better one for ya- how fast it accelerates, how quick it turns. All will get you to work, but when you shaving those minutes off the commute make or break the trip, that's when you start considering a sports car over an economy.

Lens wise, there ARE times where you might shoot moving objects, at night, and focusing in 1s or .5s will make it or break it. That's when you reach for that 1000$+ pro glass.
 
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zutty

Senior Member
Well the 70-200 2.8 V2 arrived, but I'm awaiting arrival of the D810 so I have only a D5300 to try it out on for now. I'm a little confused by what some of the switches on the lens do. Also, I've never had a lens with a collar on it. Pardon my ignorance, but I'd appreciate some help...
 
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sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
zutty said:
Well the 70-200 2.8 V2 arrived, but I'm awaiting arrival of the D810 so I have only a D5300 to try it out on for now. I'm a little confused by what some of the switches on the lens do. Also, I've never had a lens with a collar on it. Pardon my ignorance, but I'd appreciate some help...
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I took the tripod mount off of the collar....the collar isn't removable....what switches are you not understanding? You might want to read this:
 
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