If you had $700 to spend on a 70-200 f2.8 for D7000.

I have a D7000. The majority of the pictures I shoot are outdoor sports and indoor gymnastics. There is of course the general photography, but it is mostly the sports/gymnastics that I do 3/4 the time.

I want to upgrade from the 55-200 VR 3.5-5.6 kit lens that I have with my D7000 to a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. My budget is around $700. I will be looking for used lenses on Craigslist/ebay/etc for the best deal possible.
With that in mind, what would you be shopping for?
Obviously $700 isnt going to buy a Nikon brand 70-200, but I have seen numerous Sigma/Tamron brands on Craigslist for between $500-$1000. It seems like there are so many different models varying in price, especially with the Sigma's, it is hard to figure out the differences in some of them.

Thanks for your help.

I'd google the differences. I'd also check out the Nikon 70-200 f4. I've never used it personally, but heard really good reviews about it, and it's much cheaper/lighter

Any 70-200 2.8's in your price range will be the older non-VR/VC versions. You may actually find the older Tamron new in your price range. It is know to have slower focus. If you could live without 2.8, I'd get the new tamron 70-300 VC.

I'd suggest the 80-200 2.8 AF. Older model, but great on DX.

I have been Googling for days on the differences between the lenses, and the Sigma lenses seem to be a little tricky. Some of their models have so many letters in the model that its hard to tell if the reviews you are reading are for the same lens. For instance, one of the lenses I was looking at was a 70-200mm F2.8 II APO EX DG Macro HSM lens. When I google that, I start seeing reviews for different lenses, some with I, some with II and some with nothing after the F2.8. Then there is the HSMI and HSMII. It is hard to tell which lens someone is reviewing unless they write out the model number exactly the way it is stamped on the side of the lens. Then the reviews themselves say things like "The II is a big improvement over the I", but are they talking about the "F2.8II" or the "HSMII"? Either way, sorry for the tangent.

I do prefer a F2.8 lens. Outdoors the F4 would be ok, but indoors when I am shooting gymnastics the lighting isnt always the best. I also like to play with the DOF when doing portraits, and the F2.8 helps with that.
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The D7000 does pretty well at higher ISO, the 18-200 mm VR does pretty well, fast accurate focus and are inexpensive used.

Of coarse I'm going to suggest the Sigma AF 100-300mm F4 EX IF HSM APO. There is not a lens out there to replace this one except another one of the same which I will do at one stage as a back up. Rarely comes of my camera with the Sigma 1.4 converter. You can pick up one of these in that price range. Many of the following images were taken with this lens
dramtastic's Images - Nikonites Gallery @ News

Also another link devoted to this lens
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG HSM - Page 20 - Canon Digital Photography Forums

btrotter said:

I want to upgrade from the 55-200 VR 3.5-5.6 kit lens that I have with my D7000 to a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. My budget is around $700. I will be looking for used lenses on Craigslist/ebay/etc for the best deal possible.
With that in mind, what would you be shopping for?
Obviously $700 isnt going to buy a Nikon brand 70-200, but I have seen numerous Sigma/Tamron brands on Craigslist for between $500-$1000. It seems like there are so many different models varying in price, especially with the Sigma's, it is hard to figure out the differences in some of them.

Thanks for your help.

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Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR1 can be had around $1,200 to $1,300 if that fits your budget.