In need for a new lens.

[simion]

Hey guys!

I just volunteered myself to shoot an event, to which i was warmly welcomed to.
I don't want to disappoint, and not having any zoom lenses, i think i need one.
Now, the budget is pretty low, as i don't have a large sum of money around to give for something i volunteered for.

At the moment, in my view i have the following: one two three aaaaaand four .

Question 1: does the zoom after 200mm start becoming soft?
Question 2: do all those fit on my Nikon D90? (sorry, even though i have had it for a year, still can't know which lenses fit my camera :/)

Along with that lens, i will also have 10-20mm for group photos, a 50mm 1.8 prime, and a 18-105mm, but which i think i'll leave at home if i buy 50-200/300.

Thank you!E

Edit: i just realised lens #4 is a macro lens :/ . I knew i'd leave something out if i'm rushed.
Any other lenses are welcomed, if in the same budget.

 

[sm4him]

I have/had the Nikon 55-300 (that is, I still have it, but dropping it in the river didn't do it any favors ); and I've also used the Sigma 70-300. Haven't used the others, so I really can't comment on them, but between those two, if you can swing the price difference, the Nikon is a MuCH better lens. The Sigma was okay, and I would probably have been happy with it, but compared to the Nikon, the focus was much softer.

Both of the ones I've used would definitely work on your D90.

 

[o hey tyler]

Is the event outdoors?

 

[PhotoTish]

Is it a wedding?

I had the Sigma 70-300 APO Nikon fit - not for long though! I thought it was heavy, noisy and sluggish and the photos were very soft. Fortunately I was able to return it. I was going to get the Nikon 70-300 but they were out of stock so I took the Nikon 55-300 and I have found it to be a decent lens for the price. :thumbup:

Do you need a 300mm lens for this event?

 

[simion]

Thank you for the replies.

@sm4him, Thank you, good to know. together with phototish's comment, that made me back off from sigma.
@o hey tiler, no, the event is indoors, however, i'll try use a flash to "freeze" the moment, since the aperture only goes up to 4 .
@PhotoTish, definetely not a wedding XD. It's more of a geek event, with a showcase and everything. Also, i'm not actually sure whether i need 300mm or not, which is the only reason i even considered it (from the fear that 200mm wouldn't be enough). However, if the focus doesn't go soft after 200mm, i'd consider a 55/70-300mm.

Also, could someone explain the whopping differences between one and two ? I mean, i know it says that one has VR, but from the photos provided, it shows that the 55-300 has VR too.

 

[sm4him]

From everything I've read, I *think* the 70-300 is just better optically. I've never used it so I don't really know.

I do know that I was perfectly happy with my 55-300; yes, at the VERY end of its range, it may be a little softer than it is around the middle, but--again, just from what I've read, I am NOT very educated about it!--I *think* that is true of most "budget" sort of zooms. They tend to be best in the middle of their focal length range.

 

[o hey tyler]

I would stick to the 50/1.8, especially if you don't have a hotshoe flash.

If you do have a hotshoe flash, I'd still stick with the 50/1.8, ISO 800, f/2.2, 1/125, and ETTL flash.

 

[simion]

@sm4him, thanks, will consider it when i make my choice
@o hey tyler, i will be using a hotshoe flash, and i see what you're saying, the 50mm will be mostly always on my camera, but as it's a showcase, i'll be quite far from the subjects most of the time, and i just think 50mm just isn't going to cut it

 

[o hey tyler]

@sm4him, thanks, will consider it when i make my choice
@o hey tyler, i will be using a hotshoe flash, and i see what you're saying, the 50mm will be mostly always on my camera, but as it's a showcase, i'll be quite far from the subjects most of the time, and i just think 50mm just isn't going to cut it

I doubt using a flash at 70mm+ is going to work at all at f/4.

The last wedding I shot, I was in a pretty big church. I was shooting 85mm (on a full frame) at f/2, ISO 800 with flash. You're going to be using 2x the amount of light I was, at double the range. But if you're fully zoomed in, your aperture will be f/5.6, which is actually 4x the amount of light roughly. So you'd need to be on ISO 3200 to compensate.

 

[simion]

Ah. yes. very good point there.
Wouldn't at least a 55-200 be at least beneficial in SOME cases though? (when i'd hopefully have more light)

 

[o hey tyler]

Ah. yes. very good point there.
Wouldn't at least a 55-200 be at least beneficial in SOME cases though? (when i'd hopefully have more light)

Yes, when you're outdoors and have more light. It would certainly be beneficial. But at that range indoors, you'd need a 80-200 f/2.8 at the least expensive to pair with a hotshoe flash if you wanted a decent exposure.

I wouldn't worry about using that lens for the event indoors, really. If they want you to take photos, they'll let you get closer to the action. You just have to ask.

 

[pixmedic]

Ah. yes. very good point there.
Wouldn't at least a 55-200 be at least beneficial in SOME cases though? (when i'd hopefully have more light)

ANY lens would be beneficial in SOME cases. the question is, whether or not the 55-200 would be beneficial in THAT particular case. with the variable aperture, you would need very good lighting conditions to be shooting at the long end of that lens, or the 70-300mm lens. If the place you are shooting is very well and evenly lit, those lenses will be fine. if you have less than ideal lighting, the fixed focal with the larger aperture would probably be your best bet, with a hot shoe flash. hopefully you can human-zoom enough to get the shots you need. if you have to crank the iso up too high, the pictures wont be as clean.

 

[CCericola]

Remember you can always rent what you need. I use borrowlenses.com and lensgiant.com

 

[cgipson1]

My advice would be to go with the Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR. It is an FX lens.. which means it would be compatible with an FX body if you ever get one. Another MAJOR advantage is that on a DX body, you will only be using the center of the lens.. the sharpest, most distortion free part of the lens. Makes a noticeable difference in IQ.

The 55-300 Nikon is a DX lens... and the Sigma is a Sigma! Top End Sigma's rock... but the lower end stuff??? I wouldn't own it, personally!

 

[simion]

@o hey tyler, thanks a lot for the advice. would have given money on almost nothing really, as i don't really take wildlife shots.
@pixmedic, reciprocally, thanks for that too. I doubt it will be even-lit, as i attended that event last year (as a participant), and it wasn't actually well-lit, nor even-lit.
@CCericola, i'll look into it, but doubt i'll actually borrow anything, as usually 3 or 4 borrows would pay the full price for it!

Concluding, i'm backing off. If anything, i'll get my 18-105 3.5f, but that's about it.
However, since i now have an audience, would you say a nikon battery grip is better than a 3rd party one? And if not, could you direct me to one?
The d90 has a really good battery, but wouldn't want to chance it and be left with no battery.

LE edit: thanks cgipson1, will go for it, but when i'd have to shoot outside, as i wouldn't get much use of it in that venue