Nikon Telephoto Lens Recommendation Needed - Sharp/Color

Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 36 Location: IRVINE, CA

Hello everyone,

My name is Brian and I have a Nikon D50. I bought my camera about a year ago in the month of October so I've been into photography ever since. As far as photography techniques and post processing, I would consider myself above average, so it's definately not new to me. However, I want some help from you guys, I would like a recommendation for a Telephoto Zoom lens!

So here it goes, right now I have two lens: the 18-55mm Kit Lens and the 50mm f/1.8 Prime lens! I enjoy both of them very much. However, I think it's time that I want to get a new lens and it should be something in the range of focal lengths 55-200 or 80-200 or even 70-300mm.

I am thinking about being really dedicated to photography, because I enjoy it greatly, so I am willing to make this a big investment. I know how important it is to have GOOD Glass, so I am thinking about spending a lot of money, and well I have cut my choices down to a couple lenses and i want YOUR opinions on a couple of these lenses and how they rank amongst each other as far as Sharpness and Color (how great they contrast and stuff like that).

These are the lenses:

1.) AF Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4-5.6G $130
2.) AF Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED $330
3.) AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED $500
4.) AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED $250
5.) AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED $800

Okay, so i have been doing a lot of thinking and decided that if I should ever choose the 70-300mm lens, then it would be the VR - most up to date model. I assume that it would perform the best out of those three, but is it really worth the extra cash: $500 total?

For Choice #4, I have heard of excellent things about this lens. For one, it is selling for a very good price: $250. The cutback is that it is 55-200mm, but do you guys think the 200-300mm focal range is necessary? Just to let you know, I'm not going to do any wild-life, or sports photography - at least for now. Most of my photography is of PEOPLE, Candids, Travel (architecture, commercial, cars) - most is still life objects, the kind of casual photography i guess you could say. But yeah besides that, I've heard that this lens is very sharp and has great color contrast, what do you guys think?

Last, but not least - Choice #5 which is sort of old, but have heard Excellent things about this lens. First of all it is 80-200mm, for me i'm not really worried about focal length range, but I want a lens that will kick some butt, SHARP and GOOD COLOR? Is this the one? If it is, is it worth it though? I found it for $800 import on BHPHOTOVIDEO and I am willing to spend this money. This will probably be as far as I will go as far as money budget. By the way, this is the AF-D version. There are two kinds i believe, a push and pull and a 2 ring kind. The 2 ring kind is the one im going for. I have heard that the AF-S is faster, but that the AF-D will suit perfectly fine.

Between all these lens, which gives the best Sharpness and Color? Which is the runner-up and which places in last? Sorry for such a long post, but I would greatly appreciate all your help guys!

Thanks so much in advance,
Brian

Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:23 am

my future "uncle-in-law" (if there is such a thing) shoots nikon, and this is one of his lenses. I can say that the results I've seen have been VERY sharp and have great color. He has the 2 ring type.

I use canon, so I can't comment on day to day use, but the images from the 80-200 he has have been clearer and sharper than mine.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:07 am

I have the 80-200mm AF-S Nikkor and it is an excellent lens. I don't have nor have seen or used the others so I can't comment on them.

In general you should feel pretty confident in almost all Nikkors as I have not gotten a bad one yet.

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:57 am

for sharper and clearer image I go for 80-200 and if the money is not a concern then the AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 VR

next to that will be the 70-300 VR
I never own the 70-300VR but looking at some of the sample images I've seen its pretty sharp too but a slow lens compare to 80-200 which is a constant f/2.8 all through out the zoom range

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:42 pm

Hands down the best of this lot is the 80-200mm f/2.8. From there the 70-300 VR and then the 70-300 "D" lens.

The 80-200 might be "old" but that does not equate to "bad". This is a great lens. For one, it's a fixed f/2.8 lens. In other words, it can shoot at f/2.8 regardless of focal length. It is the only lens on this list that can do that.

The color is wonderful and saturated. The sharpness is top notch. This is a great lens.

Last.... expense is a relative matter. The 70-200mm f/2.8 AFS VR is the top lens in this range right now. That is a $1,600 lens. I say this to put that option into perspective. The $800 to $900 80-200mm is an excellent lens. Even though it is limited to 200mm on the long end, I'd pay the price before I'd settle for the 70-300mm, if money in that range is not an issue.

In the end, money spent on Nikon glass is always a good investment. The lens mount has not changed for 50 plus years. This is a good sign that the investment you make here will be ported to the next body you will eventually get. In short, think long term.