lens comparison

[dayvurd]

so i want to get a lens thats beter than my current one, i feel like im being held back by my stock lens in the photos i want to take when i go to places like the zoo or national parks and my lens just wont cut it.
so im thinking of getting Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 - why i like this lens?. its got a far zoom, it has a macro option at a long distance, its fairly cheap also.

BUT im also looking at Nikon 20050 AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200 mm VR II Lens - why i like this lens? this is ofcourse a VR lens, but i loose 100m off the zoom and the macro feature. im just stuck on what would be better, what kind of shots id like to get, i feel if i went for the 200m VR lens i could still wont be able to get the shots i want. if i go for the 300mm lens will there be less quality in the shots?. for both lenses id be shooting with a tripod and handheld at full zoom and wide open, its pretty mixed bag of shots.

Thoughts?

 

[kevy73]

The 55-200 is a stock lens also.

What lens do you have now?

 

[dayvurd]

Its the 18-55 lens i have as stock

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[kevy73]

The only advantage over the 18-55 you will have with the 55-200 is a longer reach.

I am not sure how the quality of it compares to what you have, but both of those are standard kit lens combinations that are shipped with a lot of the DX nikon range.

 

[paul04]

I've had both lens, and still have the tamron 70-300mm(only works in manual mode now, as auto focus gave up)

Both OK lenses and will give you good photos, personally I would save up and get a better lens,

 

[Blacktop]

Get the Nikon 70-300mm VR. ( I normally don't make bold recommendations like this, but in this case I'll make an exception. It is that good of a lens)

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

I have had both the 18-55 and the 55-200. Not a lot of difference in the quality. Also it you do not have the 18mm range in some lens you will miss the wide section of shooting. You can't always back up enough


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[dayvurd]

In some ways i am swinging morr toeards the tameron 70-300, just cause of the macro settings. Im also going to greece in july and hope to get a few good shots of the vast landscapes over there. I could save up a bit more and possibly get the nikon 70-300 as previously suggested, although im not sure if i will get enough cash in the timeframe i have

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[Elliot87]

I had the non VR 55-200mm and I didn't like it at all really. I can only think of one shot I got with it that I'm somewhat proud of and that was when all conditions were pretty much perfect. The VR one is probably better but I wouldn't recommend it.
I had the newer better VC (vibration control/reduction) version of the Tamron 70-300mm, which other than lacking macro (can't focus as close) should outperform the one you're looking at in most other ways.
I liked my Tamron quite a lot, more at first but gradually became frustrated over time and I certainly couldn't recommend it as highly as Blacktop does with the VR Nikkor 70-300mm. I got many good sharps pictures with the Tamron, the VC is invaluable but the sharness drops off quite a bit at 300mm and wide open and that is why I became frustrated with it. A used version of the VC Tamron might well be in your price range and still a good option.

You could also look at the Nikkor 55-300mm, I haven't used it and it probably isn't as sharp as the Nikkor 70-300mm or Tamron VC but I have seen good results posted on here and people seem to like it. It will be lighter too I think being a DX lens.

 

[dayvurd]

I had the non VR 55-200mm and I didn't like it at all really. I can only think of one shot I got with it that I'm somewhat proud of and that was when all conditions were pretty much perfect. The VR one is probably better but I wouldn't recommend it.
I had the newer better VC (vibration control/reduction) version of the Tamron 70-300mm, which other than lacking macro (can't focus as close) should outperform the one you're looking at in most other ways.
I liked my Tamron quite a lot, more at first but gradually became frustrated over time and I certainly couldn't recommend it as highly as Blacktop does with the VR Nikkor 70-300mm. I got many good sharps pictures with the Tamron, the VC is invaluable but the sharness drops off quite a bit at 300mm and wide open and that is why I became frustrated with it. A used version of the VC Tamron might well be in your price range and still a good option.

You could also look at the Nikkor 55-300mm, I haven't used it and it probably isn't as sharp as the Nikkor 70-300mm or Tamron VC but I have seen good results posted on here and people seem to like it. It will be lighter too I think being a DX lens.

Look at this on eBay Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G ED VR f4.5-5.6 for D5500 D5300 D7100 4960759026255 | eBay

Would this be the item youre talking about?

 

[Elliot87]

Look at this on eBay Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G ED VR f4.5-5.6 for D5500 D5300 D7100 4960759026255 | eBay

Would this be the item youre talking about?

That is the 55-300 I was talking about. I haven't used it so couldn't make a recommendation but I would buy it over the 55-200 if I was choosing between those two.
This thread has lots of images from the 55-300mm http://nikonites.com/telephoto/13163-nikon-55-300mm.html?highlight=55-300#axzz4AspFwScA

 

[Elliot87]

This is the 70-300mm Tamron lens I have Tamron SP 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di VC USD Lens - Nikon Fit 4960371005546 | eBay

 

[JH Foto]

I have the Nikon 55-200 very good little lens.....

 

[dayvurd]

My photography is quite mixed up, i love both sunsets/rises and i love macro shots. I think im very tempted to go for the nikkor 70-300mm because it seems like a very good lens, for what i want to do with it i think the zoom will come.in handy. I think i might look into getting a dedicated 1:1 macro lens when i save up a bit of money.

 

[Elliot87]

I think im very tempted to go for the nikkor 70-300mm because it seems like a very good lens, for what i want to do with it i think the zoom will come.in handy. I think i might look into getting a dedicated 1:1 macro lens when i save up a bit of money.

That sounds like a good way to go. If you can it is generally better to save and get what you really want rather than comprising. Saying that I'm still bad at it and compromise too often.

 

[dayvurd]

Saying that I'm still bad at it and compromise too often.

its so easy to do. plus with all of the different manufacturers out there i guess its easy to do, especially when they're offering the same focal length at a cheaper price. although i guess you also get what you pay for.

 

[salukfan111]

My photography is quite mixed up, i love both sunsets/rises and i love macro shots. I think im very tempted to go for the nikkor 70-300mm because it seems like a very good lens, for what i want to do with it i think the zoom will come.in handy. I think i might look into getting a dedicated 1:1 macro lens when i save up a bit of money.

It has to be the VRG model the cheaper one is different optically.

 

[dayvurd]

I just won a VR 55-300 on ebay for £166 bargain!

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