Zoom Lens Reccomendation for Nikon D70

[southworths]

I am a amateur photographer looking for a new lens for my Nikon D70. My price range is under $500 and I would like some sort of telephoto zoom lens in the 300mm range. Please help.

[Hards80]

Originally Posted by southworths

I am a amateur photographer looking for a new lens for my Nikon D70. My price range is under $500 and I would like some sort of telephoto zoom lens in the 300mm range. Please help.

you may want to ask this question in the nikon lens forum
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/nikon-lenses-62/

[TCav]

Originally Posted by southworths

I am a amateur photographer looking for a new lens for my Nikon D70. My price range is under $500 and I would like some sort of telephoto zoom lens in the 300mm range. Please help.

The Tamron 70-300 Di LD ($170) is better than anything at twice the price, but the Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR ($540) is better still, and it's stabilized.

[JimC]

southworths

Welcome to the forums.

You posted this question in our Canon Lenses forum. So, I've moved your posts into a separate thread within our Nikon Lenses forum, so that you'll have a better chance at getting more informed responses.

I'd probably take a look at the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR lens if you can stretch your budget a few bucks (it's around $539 now at popular vendors of used gear), since it would have a bit faster AF compared to less expensive lenses with 300mm available, with the added benefit of being stabilized.

Hopefully, some of our Nikon shooters will chime in with opinions.

[southworths]

Thanks for your help with moving me threads. Not sure how I posted that there.

[KDKarlson]

If you have a fair amount of light, the 70-300VR is great, but I tried to shoot at a night Padres baseball game and was not satisfied with the results.

[cczych]

I have the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR that I use with a D80 - it is a great lens and I highly recommend it. The only issue is it is a bit above your $500 budget. There is a non-VR version Nikon lens in the same range but for $160-ish - this would work if you plan on shooting with a tripod at the 300mm end. Otherwise - highly recommend stretching the budget and going for the VR 70-300mm.

[southworths]

Thanks. I think I will be going with the VR 70-300mm.

[TCav]

Originally Posted by southworths

Thanks. I think I will be going with the VR 70-300mm.

Good luck with it. And come back and post soem photos when you have a chance.

[gregg]

I know you made your choice. But for others who might read this, who like me are on a tight budget...I picked up a quantaray 18-200mm OS for $190 on craigslist about a year ago. Strangely, they say this lens is sharper then the nikon at 18 and 200mm. It is a re-branded sigma and now goes for about $400. It can be a little softer at wide apertures, but in the florida sunshine it certainly isn't hard to step down for a slightly sharper picture...at least 7.1....and the sweet setting f9-11. I use it on a d40 and d70. The pics below were taken on a d40...please excuse any minor noise, I used 800 or 1600 to catch my bucs at pre-season practice in august...this was my first attempt at sports photography....there was no post processing...only some cropping and re-sizing. Oh, i found this lens to be a little warm...no problem...I set my d40 at 1a, sharp +1, contrast +1

my 2 cents for what it's worth