What to get??

Just-Clayton

Senior Member
Besides a new computer, I am looking at another body and lens. I wouldnt mind another 610 body. But as for a lens, I have a beat up Spectrum 7 70-300. I would like something with the same reach. I do a few weddings a year and several portraits. I was thinking, due to budget was to get an older 80-200/2.8. Any suggestions would help. I would get the 70-300 VR, but it is only 3.3. I have the small primes.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Besides a new computer, I am looking at another body and lens. I wouldnt mind another 610 body. But as for a lens, I have a beat up Spectrum 7 70-300. I would like something with the same reach. I do a few weddings a year and several portraits. I was thinking, due to budget was to get an older 80-200/2.8. Any suggestions would help. I would get the 70-300 VR, but it is only 3.3. I have the small primes.

I wonder how many Tamron 70-200/2.8s there will be on the market with people swapping over for the G2 version? That lens is already a great deal, but if people are unloading them to pick up the latest model ...
 

Just-Clayton

Senior Member
I was looking into the Tamron too. I borrowed one for a hockey game and was pretty nice.
I wonder how many Tamron 70-200/2.8s there will be on the market with people swapping over for the G2 version? That lens is already a great deal, but if people are unloading them to pick up the latest model ...
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
If you can get a good 2-ring Nikon 80-200 f2.8 lens it is very, very good. It is the sharpest zoom I have and is built like a truck (and weights accordingly). The only thing I miss on it is VR, but gladly trade this for the better breathing performance vs. the Nikon 70-200 VRs. From everything I have heard, the Tamron 70-200 is also a very good lens, but have no personal experience with this lens.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
As long as I get a quality picture on the zoom is what matters to me.
My Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD (not to be confused with the Di LD Macro version) all but lives on my D750; it's a fantastic lens. I'm taking a wait and see attitude on the G2 version but it's going to have do some pretty spectacular shooting to get me to even consider dropping the "G1" version I have now.

Another workhorse lens I wouldn't want to be without is the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD.
....
 

Just-Clayton

Senior Member
Whats the big difference between the 2 models??
My Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD (not to be confused with the Di LD Macro version) all but lives on my D750; it's a fantastic lens. I'm taking a wait and see attitude on the G2 version but it's going to have do some pretty spectacular shooting to get me to even consider dropping the "G1" version I have now.

Another workhorse lens I wouldn't want to be without is the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD.
....
 

pforsell

Senior Member
Does your Tammy focus breathes like the Nikon version at close focus?

The Tamron G2 has severe focus breathing, it is about 115 mm at 200 mm setting at the minimum focusing distance. The G1 is a bit better clocking at 140 mm. These numbers are published by Mansurov and Bob Atkins and others. What's weirder is that the G1 is only 188 mm at infinity. The G2 also reportedly has much improved autofocus speed, the dismally slow micromotor in G1 makes the autofocusing experience torturing.

Of the three Nikkor versions the VR II is the heavy breather, being about 135 mm at MFD. The VR I and the E FL don't breathe much and this was one reason why I skipped the VR II altogether and stayed with the VR I up to this point. Now I'm getting the E FL.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Does your Tammy focus breathes like the Nikon version at close focus?
It probably does, and I'll take what pforsell posted as truth because while I understand what focus-breathing is, I don't really see how it would affect my shooting in any real, practical sense and I don't think I'd do anything differently either way. I guess I'm just more concerned with other things when it comes to my lenses. Lastly, the AF on my Tammy seems entirely snappy. I've shot this lens for years now, equating to thousands of shots, and I have zero issue with its auto-focus speed, accuracy or consistency.
 

pforsell

Senior Member
It probably does, and I'll take what pforsell posted as truth because while I understand what focus-breathing is, I don't really see how it would affect my shooting in any real, practical sense and I don't think I'd do anything differently either way. I guess I'm just more concerned with other things when it comes to my lenses. Lastly, the AF on my Tammy seems entirely snappy. I've shot this lens for years now, equating to thousands of shots, and I have zero issue with its auto-focus speed, accuracy or consistency.

I agree 100%. A perfect lens doesn't exist, they all have their strengths, weaknesses and peculiarities. Every user has to weight the different features themselves and make the most favorable compromise.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
From everything I have seen about the Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 G2 is a great lens. However, the big thing that gives me pause on this lens is the less than stellar track record of Tamron lens reliability. Look at the issues with the Tamron 150-600mm reliability issues posted on this site. Also, I have had one lens failure in my 50+ years in photography, and yes it was a Tamron 28-200mm lens. I also have only one lens that I think is really bad, and yes it too was a Tamron (200-400mm).
 

Sarum Stroller

New member
I don't understand the "3.3" reference to the Nikkor VR 70-300mm?? I once had one of those anyway and it broke very easily (terribly located thin manual focus ring that you have to look at each time to locate) and I replaced with Tamron's SP 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC, which has similar and sometimes even better quality (certainly a more even performance). But, you seem to be steering towards a used 70-200mm f2.8 (or equivalent) - I don't have a Nikon or even a Tamron one of these but certainly do still enjoy my 5 year old Sigma EX 70-200mm f2.8 Apo 'macro' II - the best handling lens I've ever had and still turning in fine results, but without the OS of newer models it will be much cheaper, though Nikon's own will be more consistently sharper wide open - but at a much higher cost, of course. I think that all these lenses, especially those that focus close have this 'focus breathing' - meaning that the actual focal length decreases as the focus distance is shortened, something you have to live with but most wouldn't recognise this or worry too much if they did know.
 
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