View Full Version : Saving up for a bigger, bader lense
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 11:40 AM
Looking for a better and bigger tele lense than my 70-300mm.
I'm flat broke for now, so let's stay under a 1000 bucks please.
Not in a hurry to get it, I'm quite happy with my gear for now. I'll make the best of it.
Been looking on the Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm), anyone who can recommend it?
Looks like an awesome lense.
JerseyJay
07-21-2005, 1:13 PM
Looking for a better and bigger tele lense than my 70-300mm.
I'm flat broke for now, so let's stay under a 1000 bucks please.
Not in a hurry to get it, I'm quite happy with my gear for now. I'll make the best of it.
Been looking on the Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm), anyone who can recommend it?
Looks like an awesome lense.
Alex,
Bigger and better lens than 70-300 under $1000 ??? I don't think there are that many choices, if any good ones. Don't settle for sloppy seconds. Get a GOOD lens instead of an excuse to buy something cheaper. Save UP !
I would think about 300 f/4 + TC or 70-200VR (used) + TC. In my opinion 70-200 should be a MUST for every Nikon owner looking for a lens ~200mm and willing to spend ~1000$.
Good luck
Been looking on the Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm), anyone who can recommend it?
Looks like an awesome lense.
ccplim should be able to give you some first hand information on that lens. Bear in mind that a lot of these larger lenses are heavy and not that fun to run around with for a whole day.
Cheers,
Agreed. Save up a bit more for the 70-200mm VR lens. If you need more range than that, ANY of the three Nikon TCs (TC14EI/II, TC17EI/II, TC20EI/II) will work with that combo and still maintain autofocus. Take a look at the quality of Hir0's pictures taken with the 2x TC (becomes a 140-400mm f/5.6 with VR!).
As for the 50-500mm, I believe that CP has one and uses it quite often for his bird photography. Has a very nice zoom range, but would need some decent lighting. Definitely not as quick focusing as the VR lens. There's also the Sigma 100-300mm f/4 lens. Still have it in my bag, but haven't used it since I picked up the 300mm f/4 AFS. The 300mm f/4 is better optically (ran a test on these, with and without the 1.4x TC) and is much easier to handhold than the Sigma (the 70-200mm VR trumps all these other lenses with the addition of VR).
One last point about going with Nikon glass. Resale and retention value. Nikon glass holds its value better than 3rd party and you'll lose less out of it (if any at all). Gonna put my Sigma 100-300mm f/4 on sale real soon and go for the 70-200mm VR lens myself and when that happens, I'm expecting a beating from the price that I'll get for it. As for retention value, I doubt that you will be getting rid of the VR lens once you have it. Nothing but rave reviews from others who have it and the ones who are letting theirs go is doing so for financial reasons or switching camps.
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 2:09 PM
Okey, guess I'll have to save up for that one. Been looking at it earlier, just so friggin expensive!
2.470$ + the converter.
But I have what I need for now. So I got time. Which is good, 'cause it's going to take forever to afford it.
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 5:04 PM
Btw, just curious. What are you selling your sigma for? :)
:) Just posted it on a few forums. $600 shipped with Hoya 82mm circular polarizer and kirk lens plate (arca swiss) in the con U.S. That's for MO, otherwise $620 for paypal.
FYI, EMS 5lb. package (lens weights slightly more than 3 lbs.) to Norway costs $38.
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 5:51 PM
Oh that's tempting.
But as I mentioned, budget is zero for the moment.
Good luck m8 :)
Thanks. Yeah, I priced it so that I can get rid of it quicker since it's been sitting in my bag since I picked up the 300mm f/4 AFS lens. It should be a tempting price since the circular polarizer and kirk lens plate goes for over $200 by itself.
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 6:09 PM
Well, I'm a better, so might be a have a couple of dollars to spend after this weekend (I allways say that :confused:)
:) I have the same problem myself. Just picked up another box of ramen, haha.
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 6:20 PM
Noodles?
Good luck, let's go for that D2X!
Yup. That's how I can afford Nikon glass (j/k). Cutting back on eating out too much, since it shrinks what you can spend really quickly (just came back from Japanese).
Can't swing the D2X. No justification for it and am just picking up some glass while I await for the replacement for the D100.
Hi Alexander. Actually, i think i need something longer than what i have. my recommendation for something bigger, would be a 200-400mm f4. LOL. ok, honestly, i have considered the bigma. nothing else will get you to 500mm as good at that price. i do agree that the 70-200 is a must have... i'm considering a 300f4 and a 1.7x TC. gotta find out for sure if it'll still af though.
How long until you finalize on your 300mm decision, Hir0? I'm thinking about renting the 1.7x TC and 2x TC to test out on the lens. Want some more reach for some white tail kites which are a bit too skittish.
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 6:44 PM
hir0: Well, I got to agree there, I often feel 300mm doesn't quite cut it for me.
I'll talk to ccplim when he logs on. The bigma is very tempting.
The 200-400 is also a tempting lense...
I'll probably get a VR lense eventually, but c'mon, I'm a poor student for now!
Alexander i tell you what. get the 200-400 VR. if you don't like it, i'll buy a bigma and trade you :). Eric, i probably won't buy one anytime soon... maybe towards the end of the year or possibly tax season. my next purchases will more than likely be a printer, a computer, and a good ballhead.
Obliviou$
07-21-2005, 6:53 PM
Hm...sounds like a good deal...I'll have to sell some of my organs first though.
Sounds good. Plenty of time to do some testing. :)
BTW, Feisol actually just came out with a carbon fiber tripod. Interested in seeing how well it works considering the quality in their tripods and monopods.
how do you like yours? btw what ever happened with the bh-55? i still am undecided, but i think i'll just get an m20 and be done with it.
Love mine. Other than the 17-55mm lens, this sucker is usually on the end of my D70. Love the combo with the 1.4x TC (handholdable) and am gonna test to figure out which of the other two TCs to pick up.
I didn't get a chance to take a look at the BH-55. The guy is in New York still and will be returning early in August. I'll stop by his place then and check it out. The M20 and the BH-55 are very close in price (10% more for the RRS).
i wonder which one is better. if they are that close, it makes for a tough decision. are the bh-55's ready made or do they need to be built up like the markins and the kirks?
Ready made? All you would need is to order any of them and you're basically set. All you would need is to pick up an arca swiss plate (e.g. L-bracket or camera bracket for the camera and/or lens plate for your lenses).
what i mean, is i talked to kirk and they said they don't keep ballheads assembled. they build them per order. i thought markins site said the same thing. i'll have to look into it.
ccplim
07-22-2005, 9:32 AM
what i mean, is i talked to kirk and they said they don't keep ballheads assembled. they build them per order. i thought markins site said the same thing. i'll have to look into it.
Per order? Shouldn't be the case right? I got my Markins straight from the camera store.
ccplim
07-22-2005, 9:43 AM
As for the 50-500mm, I believe that CP has one and uses it quite often for his bird photography.
Often? It's weekly man :-D
As for bigma, some information can be found here (http://www.aquatic-photography.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3982) .
Another good lens will be the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8. It's a very sharp lens but the price is on the higher range.