AF-S lens

[D40]

I am looking at:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/449088-GREY/Nikon_2161_70_300mm_f_4_5_6G_AF_S_VR.html

Or

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486717-USA/Nikon_2166_55_200mm_f_4_5_6G_ED_AF_S.html

I like that the 70-300mm has a metal attachment piece ( what do you call it?), and it does have 100mm more zoom, but I have heard that the lens works best from 70-200mm and then performence goes down after 200mm. If that is true than that would defeat the purpose of getting it? I am also wandering 70mm would not be low enough for doing a portrait shoot so maybe the 55-200mm may be a better way to go? I do not shoot wildlife that is very far but just find the 18-55mm to short for normal shooting. Also what sun hood would I get for the 55-200mm lens, 52mm?

Thanks

 

[Mad_Gnome]

The 55-200mm VR comes with a lens hood (sun shade). It's also one of the best bargains going for Nikon shooters from the buzz I've heard. Not necessarily pro-quality glass, but great bang-for-the-buck value.

 

[Garbz]

Nikon lenses come with sunhoods mostly these days.

The 70-300 is worse at 300 than 200 but it's not unusable. Mostly lateral chromatic abberations get bad, but they are also pretty nasty at 200. The problem here is the large zoom range.
The 55-200 is not much better really the 70-300 is actually sharper over the 70-200 range than the 55-200.

For portrait work either lens will be good. 85mm is a great lens for portrait work no APS sensors. If you need to go wider angles you still have your 18-55mm.

 

[fmw]

My advice is always to choose the more modest zoom range. The wider the zoom range, the greater the compromise.

 

[D40]

Ya I know that the 70-300 is a better overall lens in build quallity and from what you say it will take better photos from 70-200 than the 55-200 will. Is the focus ring in the front of the 55-200mm lens or in the back like the 70-300. I tend to like it in the back better, the 18-55 focus ring is too loose and easy to focus so you tend to have a harder time getting it just right.

 

[JIP]

There is no real comparison with these 2 lenses. Just in price comparison the 70-300 is $450 the 55-200 is $250 this should tell you wich is a better lens. If this doesn't help look at the size of the lenses the 200 is what? 1/2 the size of the 300 and the focal length does not account for this size difference. The 300 in this case is a much better lens. And as fmw said always go with the shorter zoom range.