Your opinions count

[M.Hinch]

Looking to add a new lens to my arsenal.

Nikon 80 - 200mm f2.8
or
Sigma 150 - 500mm f5.-6.3

Will mainly be use to photography sons soccer games.
Wildlife and landscapes. (early morning hours)

Do I opt out for speed or closeness?

I'd like to thank you in advance for your replys.

Michael.

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

It will depend on what is most important to you. Sports photography, landscape and wildlife photography are three different types of shooting and no one lens is going to meet the needs of all three or any two for that matter. Each has it's own shooting requirements. Neither one of these lenses will be good for landscapes. For that you will need any where from 10mm to 50mm prime lenses. Landscapes are most often wide views not telephoto. For your sons soccer games the 80-200mm will probably work best. At a continuos f/2.8 it will be fast enough to give you the shutter speeds needed for stop action. The 150-500m is to slow and cumbersome for that type of shooting. With the 80-200 you can follow the action around the field from the sidelines and get good close action shots. You don't need a high powered zoom lens for most sports action shots. With wildlife it's different matter. Then the 150-500mm will work best. This lens will be best used with a tripod and set up waiting for the wildlife to appear. Hand holding a 150-500mm lens is very difficult at best especially in the early morning hours with slower shutter speeds. Lots of planning involved to know where the wildlife will be and at what time and you be waiting there to get the shots.

 

[M.Hinch]

Thank you so much for the quick response. I do have the 50mm 1.8. So that should take care of the landscape. I have been using my 55-200mm 4.0-5.6 for the soccer, ( shutter priority, release mode High). I'm stopping the action but at the same time everyone behind him is clear. Thus the reason for the 2.8. The reason for the 150-500mm is not to spook the wildlife. Aha, if only my pocket book was bigger. Once again thank you.

 

[Fotojo]

I think Joseph spelled it out very well. Unless you foresee some play money so you can do both, I would agree that the 80-200mm would give you more bang for the buck. Nice lens for plays or concerts (kids or grand-kids ect.). Nice glass for Wedding / Event / Sport lot more rounded and flexable.

 

[goz63]

Michael,
Keep in mind that it is not just the aperture that affects the DOF, it also has to do with the focal length of the lens and how far away the target is from the background. You may still end up with people behind him still "clear" or in the DOF range. You state you are shooting in shutter priority, you might try shooting in aperture priority and then make sure you get a shutter speed you like. If not you can adjust the ISO to get the shutter speed fast enough to stop the action. In shutter priority, you may be actually getting an aperture smaller than the you would like to get the depth of field you want. Might be worth trying a couple pictures that way to see before you plunk down the cash.
JMHO
Mark

 

[LensWork]

I would go for the 80-200 f/2.8. If you can find one of the AF-S version, it can also be used with a Nikon teleconverter giving you the best of both worlds: fast 2.8 (native), or more magnification when used with the TC. Used AF-S 80-200 f2.8's can be had for about the same cost as a new 80-200 f2.8D, and with the AF-S version you get faster focusing and compatibility with TC-E teleconverters.