help me choose a telephoto lens

[ian]

Hi

I'm looking to get myself a telephoto lens, mostly for travelling and kids sport so weight is probably a consideration.
The camera it will be used on is either a D70 of a D40.
If a particular lens is more suited to the D70, I'll leave the D40 at home and vice versa

I already have the kit 18-55 lens which comes with the D40, a 24-85 f/2.8 IF which I use on the D70 and the (in my opinion) brilliant 85mm f/1.8.

The lens I'm considering are:

AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED $350

AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED $1100

AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED $900

AF VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED $2400

AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED $2900


does anyone have experience with any of these lens or a recommendation?


ian

[Kaiser Soze]

You may have forgotten this question but I was looking at old posts re photography. This site is great for seeing what lens types will do on your chosen body. Very useful.

http://www.pixel-peeper.com/

[hitch]

The 18-200 is a great lens for the money. Very suited to travel and kids sport. I use it on a D200 with really pleasing results. When next I travel it will be the only lens I take. I also have the 70-300 but it is not as versatile and much heaver. My other 4 or 5 lens don't get camera time much these days.

[hitch]

Forgot to mention you should consider purchasing from here -http://www.bhphotovideo.com.

Great service and saving on Aus prices with 3 day delivery to your door

[clubbyr8]

Ian,

There's a place in Nth Sydney called Discount Digital Photographics that sell Canon and Nikon at far less than normal retail. I bought my Canon EF 100mm 2.8 macro USM for $300 less than retail. Got a 5 year warranty with it. The lens performs flawlessly. Don't know anything about Nikon but have a look anyway.

http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/

[ian]

Ian,

There's a place in Nth Sydney called Discount Digital Photographics that sell Canon and Nikon at far less than normal retail. I bought my Canon EF 100mm 2.8 macro USM for $300 less than retail. Got a 5 year warranty with it. The lens performs flawlessly. Don't know anything about Nikon but have a look anyway.

http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/ Thanks everyone

In the end I bought the AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED
It cost me just over $800 and then I got the GST back when I went on holidays. :D

What eventually persuaded me on this lens was the vibration reduction and the compatibility with the image size needed by my old F90 and the new D3.
I don't want to buy too many DX format lenses and them have to change them in 5 years time.


Bob, thanks for the tip but to date I've had very good service from Nikon on Broadway http://www.nikononbroadway.com/


ian

[rsser]

IIRC there's a German website that posts performance ratings for some lenses. www.photozone.de (http://www.photozone.de)