We have the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 AF G Lens, the non vr version.
For the most part I don't need a focal length more than say 200. However my wife, the Nascar fan who attends two races a year, is not quite happy with the results from this lens, in terms of sharpness.
So we're consdering purchasing a replacement. Since we really only use this twice a year, I'm trying to keep the price down and have come up with a couple of options.
Tokina AT-X 80-400mm f/4.5 - f/5.6 840 AF
Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
Sigma APO 150-500mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Nikon AF 80-400mm VR Zoom Nikkor F/4.5-5.6D ED
The Nikon lens is probably more than we want to pay. Another option that I thought about is simply replacing our lens with the VR version. The Nikon-AF-S 70-300mm VR Zoom-Nikkor F/4.5-5.6G ED, but I wouldn't want to do that unless there was a noticable improvment.
Does anyone have any experince with any of these lenses, or perhaps another suggestion?
I had the Nikkor 80-400mm VR lens. The focusing is painfully slow which maked it useless as a birding lens, but it was a great motorsports lens.
If it's just twice a year, how about renting a Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 or 300mm f/2.8 for the events. You'll get killer quality images, fast focusing, and you won't have to store it the rest of the time.
Bob, you nailed the problem on the head: none of these lenses are sharp. As far as sharpness goes, they are all crap.
@sudweeks had a very good suggestion. If you really only want a lens to shoot two races a year, consider renting the Sigma 80-200mm f/2.8 or Nikon 300mm f/2.8. Keep in mind, the first will run you about $80 for four days, the latter about $150 for four days. The 300mm lens is a $6,000 lens, so even renting is kinda expensive.
Shooting with variable aperture lenses will never produce sharp photos, especially if you are using them at the extent of their focal range.
This is fairly unrelated to your post, but I remember you commenting on the 11-16mm Tokina...Sigma is about to or has just released a 8-16mm. Thought you might be interested, if you haven't seen it already. I know nothing about this new lens, but plan to research it more.
Oh, and I should also mention the Nikon 300mm f/4. It's a more compact version with a smaller aperture, about the same size and weight as the 70-200mm f/2.8, but it's still a silly sharp lens. I used this lens a lot when shooting NCAA baseball.
You might also want to check out the Nikon 200mm f/2. This is a damn expensive lens, but the larger f/2 aperture means you'll probably be able to shoot night races fairly well without motion blur.
@jasonbarnette@icywarm@sudweeks Thanks for the advice! Sounds like renting would be a good idea. I certainly don't want to replace an unsharp lens, with another that is a little less unsharp. :-)
Instead of buying, have you looked at Henry's... they do rental of spectacular type of lenses... you ain't far from me so that is just a thought. http://www.henrys.ca/Store-Locations.aspx it says Ottawa would be the closest to you.
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If it's just twice a year, how about renting a Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 or 300mm f/2.8 for the events. You'll get killer quality images, fast focusing, and you won't have to store it the rest of the time.
@sudweeks had a very good suggestion. If you really only want a lens to shoot two races a year, consider renting the Sigma 80-200mm f/2.8 or Nikon 300mm f/2.8. Keep in mind, the first will run you about $80 for four days, the latter about $150 for four days. The 300mm lens is a $6,000 lens, so even renting is kinda expensive.
Shooting with variable aperture lenses will never produce sharp photos, especially if you are using them at the extent of their focal range.
I have several long zooms and my long primes kick their bum...
You might also want to check out the Nikon 200mm f/2. This is a damn expensive lens, but the larger f/2 aperture means you'll probably be able to shoot night races fairly well without motion blur.
http://www.henrys.ca/Store-Locations.aspx it says Ottawa would be the closest to you.