budget nikon format lens question

binaryknight · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:03

basically i have a sigma 55 - 200 that came with my d50 as part of a package with the other lens being the nikon 18 - 55 kit

wanting a touch more reach but being on a budget im thinking of bidding to try and get a cheap replacement for the 55 - 200 and hopefully flog it for a few pennies.

the common cheapo lenses i come across are

SIGMA 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG MACRO

and

NIKON 70-300mm f4/5.6 G

while the sigma has macro features im not impressed with the focusing speed of the 55 - 200 i currently have and this makes me lean towards the nikon (yeah i know at this end of the range its not going to be blindly fast either)

any comments?

Strax · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:28

I have no experience of the Sigma but the 70-300G Nikon is slow at focusing.

robmiller · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:38

Can you stretch to the 70-300 VR?

divine` · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:39

Anything that doesn't have it own motor (ie. anything non AF-S/AF-I or HSM for Sigma) will be more dependant on the camera motor for speed than anything else.

If the 55-200 is slow, no AF 70-300 will be noticeably quicker or slower I wouldn't have thought.

Maybe look into getting something like the 70-30 AF-S VR?

Strax · 20 Apr 2008 at 00:28

I have the 70-300VR now and it is much faster at focusing than the G series lens.

reddeathdrinker · 20 Apr 2008 at 09:32

Stretch a little further and get the Sigma 70-300mm APO version - better glass. Should be able to pick one up 2nd hand for £85-£90 in mint condition... Don't ignore the Tamron 70-300mm either - that was my first telephoto lens on my D50, and some of my best shots were taken with it.

Unfortunately, the words "budget" and "fast focussing" aren't seen together when it comes to lenses