Nikon 55-200

[mcdaniel]

I am looking for a good functional telephoto lens for my Nikon D-50. I have a wide angle Tokina 12-24, and am very pleased with it and the camera also. I would have bought this before my S2IS Canon if I had known the difference and ease of use. Any thoughts on a good telephoto, without distortion,not real heavy,from experienced owners, I would love to get feedback before I make the purchase. Thanks so much!

[rjseeney]

If you're looking for a solid, inexpensive lens without decent performance (cheap and outstanding rarely go together when describing lenses) there are two very good choices. The 55-200 is a solid performer as is the 80-200 f/4.5-5.6d. The latter is a great bargain, at around $100 used. It has a bit better build quality, but is a little slower focusing and heavier. I would only use the 70-300 if you absolutely need the extra reach.