Nikon Lens Question

[adz_34]

Hey guys I have a Nikon D70 currently utilising a 200-400mm f5.6 Tamron and a cheap nasty 70-300mm Tamron

I have a question regarding 2 lens I am considering purchasing
1. The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 and the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 What are the relative benefits disadvantages of each please.
any help would be appreciated and yes I would love to afford the 70-200mm VR but I dont have the moolah for it.

Thanks in advance, Adam

[Dave_G]

I don't have personal experience with either lens, so I can't help you there. However, if I'm shopping for a lens, one of the first places I check is the review section here: http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/.

The reviews are plentiful and fairly sophisticated (compared to the average consumer site).

I'm sure there are other good review sites as well.

[vs346]

The problem with the Sigma is that it doesn't always agree with the Nikon body. It can be unpredictable with focusing properly due to the simple fact that it's not an in house lens, making it slightly incompatible sometimes.

It's a bit like comparing Coca Cola and one of those off brand soda's, they're similar but Coke is still the real thing.

I've used all three lenses you mention and of course, the 70-200 VR is the way to go, not because of the VR but because it is Nikon's replacement for their best lens ever the 80-200 AF-S (now discontinued)

The 80-200 D (which is still available and does not have VR is decent, especially if you'll only need it for racing and personalities in the paddock etc. It's not as good if you shoot football or rugby.

The bottom line: The 80-200 D will have a much easier time tracking on AF than the Sigma 70-200 which gets lost soemtimes and focuses in and out searching for the subject. Also the actual glass seems to be nicer on the 80-200 D.

[Pigit]

I use a sigma 70-200 and have found no such problems,in fact i have ask a few people they all agree that the sigma lens is as fast as the nikon.With some of the older sigma's yes you did get problems but all they needed was to be re-chipped.I cant see how the old 80-200 nikon is as fast as the sigma 70-200 there have been many reveiws on the Sigma and all say that it is a fine lens,granted not as sharp as the 70-200 VR wide open but for the money it is a delight to use and own..
www.pgtmotorsport.co.uk

[adz_34]

thanks guys I am travelling over to the UK, France, Ireland and Italy in about 6 months time does anyone know where i would find the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 at a good price? (we get shafted here in oz)

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by Pigit

I use a sigma 70-200 and have found no such problems,in fact i have ask a few people they all agree that the sigma lens is as fast as the nikon.With some of the older sigma's yes you did get problems but all they needed was to be re-chipped.I cant see how the old 80-200 nikon is as fast as the sigma 70-200 there have been many reveiws on the Sigma and all say that it is a fine lens,granted not as sharp as the 70-200 VR wide open but for the money it is a delight to use and own..
www.pgtmotorsport.co.uk

I have had a similar experience with an older Sigma. It was fine when coupled to my 35mm Nikons but when I connected it to my D100 it has its moments as it every so often goes off hunting for the correct focussing.

[Pigit]

Microglobe 37 New Oxford Street. London WC1A 1BH. United Kingdom 0044(0)207 240 6774 £548.73 .

[Hubble]

Originally Posted by adz_34

thanks guys I am travelling over to the UK, France, Ireland and Italy in about 6 months time does anyone know where i would find the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 at a good price? (we get shafted here in oz)

We get shafted here in the UK too.....I got my Canon 400mm f2.8 from the US - price and exchange rate made it worth all the aggro with shipping/duty/VAT etc.

I have found www.digitalfirst.co.uk to be good with lens prices - when I bought my Canon 70-200 f2.8, they were £100 cheaper than anyone else I tried. Also I have found the service at www.warehouseexpress.co.uk to be very good. I buy most of my Canon stuff there.... I'm trying to see how many times I can squeeze the name Canon into a Nikon thread....not bad, 4 so far in this post alone....

Happy hunting

Phil

[Pigit]

Be the only time it will be mention this week end if i hear you mention Canon on sunday im walking to the other end of the field.....Pigit

[Hubble]

Originally Posted by Pigit

Be the only time it will be mention this week end if i hear you mention Canon on sunday im walking to the other end of the field.....Pigit

....you could do with the exercise.....

[Pigit]

Cheeky Sausage..

[Allen Mead]

Originally Posted by Dave_G

I don't have personal experience with either lens, so I can't help you there. However, if I'm shopping for a lens, one of the first places I check is the review section here: http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/.

The reviews are plentiful and fairly sophisticated (compared to the average consumer site).

I'm sure there are other good review sites as well.

That is an excellent link and site! Thanks for putting it up. Perhaps if the powers that be etc are in agreement, it could be put up as a 'sticky' for reference by everyone.

[djb]

I have used a 80-200 Nikon for a number of years now, a lot wide open or thereabouts, and so can vouch that it is a well built lens that performs very well optically, albeit the focus is a good deal better on a D2 body than with a D70 or D100, but that is to be expected. It always comes down to available money doesn't it. About your question directly , if it is possible, I'd test each on your body at a store, at 2.8, 3.2, 3.5, f4 lets say as these will show any differences more than smaller aperatures. yes, you will have to be technically uniform in shooting to realistically take a proper opinion from a test like this, but at least you'd be able to also see and feel each lens and see and feel how they focus and zoom physically. Oh, and purposely shoot some shots towards a highlight or light source to see how flare and contrast holds up under that sort of condition, another situation that better lenses outperform lesser ones, exspecially wide open.

I'd keep an eye out for used ones as well, again, ideally ones that you can touch and feel. Good luck

[adz_34]

Excellent thanks for all the help so far guys anyone else out there have experience of either of the 2 lens'?

[v8mgbgt]

Originally Posted by adz_34

Hey guys I have a Nikon D70 currently utilising a 200-400mm f5.6 Tamron and a cheap nasty 70-300mm Tamron

I have a question regarding 2 lens I am considering purchasing
1. The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 and the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 What are the relative benefits disadvantages of each please.
any help would be appreciated and yes I would love to afford the 70-200mm VR but I dont have the moolah for it.

Thanks in advance, Adam

I have Been Using Nikon for the last 16 years
all i will say is that if you use a lesser quality lense on a great body you stand a fair chance of getting a soft image, spend as much as you can on the lense
i have a 80-200 Nikon f2.8 silent wave and use it with a d70 and a d2x it is great,sharp and focus is very fast and smooth..... i dont know how much it is there with you but here in the uk it is quiet abit of ££ however it willpay in the long run, or use the web and look for a deal , here in the uk i would say Robert White in Bournmouth is the best place fpor a deal.... regards

dave @
www.davewoodall.com