Have you ever used 70-300 Lens?

[nerwin]

I have the 70-300 VR and its been really good to me. I don't use it all that much because I typically shoot under 100mm most of the time, but I got no problems grabbing my 70-300 VR when I need a tele or when shooting wildlife, its focuses fairly fast if your body has enough power and the built quality is pretty good. I haven't used the Tamron version, but I expect it to be pretty much equal. Either one you get, you'll be happy with. I only bought the Nikon one because I got an amazing price on a new one, couldn't resist it.

Took this with the 70-300 VR handheld at 1/60th at 125mm, I'd say the VR works decent.

Chipmunk, f/5.6, 300mm, 1/320th

 

[Trangela]

I have the 70-300 VR and its been really good to me. I don't use it all that much because I typically shoot under 100mm most of the time, but I got no problems grabbing my 70-300 VR when I need a tele or when shooting wildlife, its focuses fairly fast if your body has enough power and the built quality is pretty good. I haven't used the Tamron version, but I expect it to be pretty much equal. Either one you get, you'll be happy with. I only bought the Nikon one because I got an amazing price on a new one, couldn't resist it.

Took this with the 70-300 VR handheld at 1/60th at 125mm, I'd say the VR works decent.

Chipmunk, f/5.6, 300mm, 1/320th

As you said, Nikon works decent, the photos are really amazing.

 

[Derrel]

What about the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G w/out the VR? B&H has it for $130. Is that a super outdated lens or would that be a good buy if I didn't need VR because I'm always mounted.
Is that lens a manual only focus lens?

I own one of these, the 70-300mm f/4 to f/5.6 G models, one of the earliest G-series lenses. This lens is unusual in that although it is a G-series, meaning it has no aperture control ring on the lens, it uses screw-drive focusing!!! So it will NOT autofocus on the D40,D40x,D60, or the entire D3xxx and D5xxx series bodies. The original 70-300mm G also has a very narrow, front-mounted manual focusing ring. It is f/4.0 at 70mm and f/5.6 at 300mm. It has NO VR.

What about the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G w/out the VR? B&H has it for $130. Is that a super outdated lens or would that be a good buy if I didn't need VR because I'm always mounted.
Is that lens a manual only focus lens?

No, that lens is much older than the 70-300 VR and is nowhere near as good optically.

This lens is not very good. It's not very sharp, and it has a lot of color fringing, especially above 200mm...it's really NOT a very good lens,and it shows even on 6 MP crop-body camera that it's not a good lens. I have however used it as a soft-focus lens with a Cokin diffuser filter fitted to it, and with its long focal lengths and ample color fringing, it actually looks quite beautiful as a soft-focus or "effects-type" lens in bright lighting conditions with the diffusion filter added. And no, I am not kidding...this lens looks beautiful when used with some type of softening or diffusing or fog filter in front of it, and wide-open you get a nice, perfectly round aperture with no diaphragm blades.

 

[Matt Glick]

What about the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G w/out the VR? B&H has it for $130. Is that a super outdated lens or would that be a good buy if I didn't need VR because I'm always mounted.
Is that lens a manual only focus lens?

I own one of these, the 70-300mm f/4 to f/5.6 G models, one of the earliest G-series lenses. This lens is unusual in that although it is a G-series, meaning it has no aperture control ring on the lens, it uses screw-drive focusing!!! So it will NOT autofocus on the D40,D40x,D60, or the entire D3xxx and D5xxx series bodies. The original 70-300mm G also has a very narrow, front-mounted manual focusing ring. It is f/4.0 at 70mm and f/5.6 at 300mm. It has NO VR.

What about the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G w/out the VR? B&H has it for $130. Is that a super outdated lens or would that be a good buy if I didn't need VR because I'm always mounted.
Is that lens a manual only focus lens?

No, that lens is much older than the 70-300 VR and is nowhere near as good optically.

This lens is not very good. It's not very sharp, and it has a lot of color fringing, especially above 200mm...it's really NOT a very good lens,and it shows even on 6 MP crop-body camera that it's not a good lens. I have however used it as a soft-focus lens with a Cokin diffuser filter fitted to it, and with its long focal lengths and ample color fringing, it actually looks quite beautiful as a soft-focus or "effects-type" lens in bright lighting conditions with the diffusion filter added. And no, I am not kidding...this lens looks beautiful when used with some type of softening or diffusing or fog filter in front of it, and wide-open you get a nice, perfectly round aperture with no diaphragm blades.

Well that's good to know. Thanks man. I'm definitely wanting to pick up a 70-300 and it looks my best option is to go used through B&H with the 70-300 VR for$380 in 9/10 condition or the Tamron for $360in 9+ condition

 

[Derrel]

Matt, Pro Photo Supply currently has a 70-300 VR for $350... Pro Photo Supply - Used Photography Equipment Used Cameras Used Video and Used Lenses in Portland OR

 

[Matt Glick]

Matt, Pro Photo Supply currently has a 70-300 VR for $350... Pro Photo Supply - Used Photography Equipment Used Cameras Used Video and Used Lenses in Portland OR

Matt, Pro Photo Supply currently has a 70-300 VR for $350... Pro Photo Supply - Used Photography Equipment Used Cameras Used Video and Used Lenses in Portland OR

That was going to be my next step to check them. I may stop in there and pick it up for the weekend. Thanks man!

 

[Mr.Photo]

KEH has a few of the Tamron's in stock for under $300 in excellent to like new condition. Also they provide a 6 month warranty against any defects that arise. Also if you get the lens and you simply don't like it for whatever reason (even if it has a scratch where you don't like) they will take it back no questions asked.

TAMRON 70-300MM F 4-5.6 SP DI VC USD A005 AUTOFOCUS LENS FOR NIKON 62 - KEH Camera

 

[Matt Glick]

KEH has a few of the Tamron's in stock for under $300 in excellent to like new condition. Also they provide a 6 month warranty against any defects that arise. Also if you get the lens and you simply don't like it for whatever reason (even if it has a scratch where you don't like) they will take it back no questions asked.

TAMRON 70-300MM F 4-5.6 SP DI VC USD A005 LENS FOR CANON EF MOUNT 62 - KEH Camera

Sweet thanks. With the Nikon mount they are a bit more in Excellent plus conditon

 

[Mr.Photo]

I just did a quick search and didn't pay attention to the mount. Sorry about that.

I've updated the link in my previous post for anyone else that may be interested.

 

[Amber Vira]

Nikon is all time fav. 70-300 lenses is a more specified need. My suggestion is to not go full 300mm, doesnt matter which company product you are using; but rather control the mid range. It helps to maintain the clarity.

Its not the camera but the person behind the camera that matters!!

Amber Vira

 

[wfooshee]

I've had my 70-300 ED VR for several years and I love it. Oh, it wouldn't hurt if it were f:2.8, or even f:4 instead of 4.5-5.6, but I simply can't afford lenses with commas in the price, and I got mine new for under 500 4 or 5 years ago. My only previous "long" lens (recently anyway... we could go back to the 70-200 I had on my n8008......) was the 55-200 kit. That lens worked seemingly pretty well on the D50 it came with, but the higher-resolution sensor on the D5000 I upgraded to "back then" showed how bad that kit lens was, so I started shopping. I'm now on a D7000 (3 years now, and getting antsy! ) and still shooting wildlife, racing, air shows, sunsets, and whatever else with the 70-300. It's on the camera 80% of the time.