Posted by Brian Wolf on January 19, 2009 at 7:50 PM
I have a Nikon D80 and currently use the 18-135 mm lens and a Tamron 200-500 mm lens. I am looking at a vibration reduction lens that will act as dual purpose landscape and possibly wildlife. I am leaning toward the 80-400, but would be concerned about being able to hand hold it as the light goes down. Thoughts?
Brian Wolf
Posted by Gene Lugo on January 20, 2009 at 5:29 AM
If you are looking for a lens for wildlife, there is no substitute for a lens that has a wide maximum aperture. One of Nikon's best lenses, the 200-400 would be an obvious choice if price is no object. with VR, it can be hand-held, but it is big and heavy. Your best results will be on a tripod with a lens that this long. Most other zooms that go to 400-500mm tend to be soft at the long end, which is complicated by the fact that you have to use high ISO and flawless technique to get consistent results with the longer focal lengths. For under $1000 you can get a Sigma 50-500, which as good a compromise as you are going to find, or the 150-500 which is a stabilized lens. Both can achieve good results, but neither are as good as a Nikon prime lens at the equivalent focal length.
Keep in mind that even a lens that has an internal motor for focusing may be slow on anything less than a pro body, but acceptable on a D200. I would not get a lens that depends on the camera's focusing mechanism if I were doing wildlife photography.
If you get a new Sigma, make sure you take full advantage of Sigma's excellent field service, as many are still reporting that QC continues to be an issue. My experience with a 10-20mm zoom was that out of the box, the lens had horrendous IQ - uneven brightness across the frame, vignetting, poor to unacceptable sharpness in the corners and one edge. It went back to Sigma on Long Island NY, and 11 days later I had what has become one of my sharpest lenses, and lives on my camera 60% of the time. The only cost to me was the outbound shipping.
Posted by Doug Roane on January 20, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I just bought the new Tamron 18-270 mm primarily for travel and backpacking. It may not have the reach you are looking for, but you can't find a lens with a larger range from wide to telephoto. I haven't had it long enough to say much about it, but it was reviewed favorably in the latest Pop Photo. Bottom line from them is it's a very good lens, though the down side is its aperture, somewhat slower AF, and some softness at 270.
Posted by Brian Wolf on January 20, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Discussion
3 repliesBrian Wolf
Keep in mind that even a lens that has an internal motor for focusing may be slow on anything less than a pro body, but acceptable on a D200. I would not get a lens that depends on the camera's focusing mechanism if I were doing wildlife photography.
If you get a new Sigma, make sure you take full advantage of Sigma's excellent field service, as many are still reporting that QC continues to be an issue. My experience with a 10-20mm zoom was that out of the box, the lens had horrendous IQ - uneven brightness across the frame, vignetting, poor to unacceptable sharpness in the corners and one edge. It went back to Sigma on Long Island NY, and 11 days later I had what has become one of my sharpest lenses, and lives on my camera 60% of the time. The only cost to me was the outbound shipping.
Brian Wolf