Looking to purchase a f2.8 70-200

Rebekah5280 · May 11, 2012

I have a Nikon D7000. I have a 28-70 2.8 Tamron that I LOVE and have used for a little over a year. This has been perfect for me as I am primarily a family photographer and the lens has been the perfect length for me.
However, I am now being asked to do events (baptisms/weddings ect) and I need more reach so I can get the good pictures without being intrusive to the ceremony that is going on.

My question is, what is the difference between the different brands, other than price, for the f2.8 70-200?

Tamron is around $750
Nikon is around $2300
Sigma is around $1500

What would you recommend and why? The reviews all seem to be stellar for all three, but personal opinions are appreciated!!

Thanks in advance for all your feedback!

Mach0 · May 11, 2012

Idk if its still available but someone in the for sale section was selling a Nikon 70-200 vr. I'd hop on that.

cannpope · May 11, 2012

Mach0 said:
Idk if its still available but someone in the for sale section was selling a Nikon 70-200 vr. I'd hop on that.

That would have been me

And I sold it on eBay for more than what I was asking here. Go me, go me, go me.

KmH · May 11, 2012

Tamron, Sigma, and other 3rd party lens makers have to 'reverse engineer' the electronics and programming in their lenses so they will work on the various camera brands they include lens mounts for. Nikon does not provide them with that information.

Consequently, they sometimes have issue with 'forward compatibility' and have to be returned to be 'rechipped' so they will work with newer cameras.

Some of the ways Tamron and Sigma keep their costs lower than Nikon's costs are:

using materials that are less durable (like more plastic and less metal)
by accepting broader tolerences, which is why some of the same type of lens are good performers, and some aren't
and by using fewer, and less stringent, quality assurance checks in the manufacturing/assembly process. which also contributes to some of the same type of lens are good performers, and some aren't.

joaopsr · May 11, 2012

I would not choose the Tamron. It has some really bad reviews concerning AF accuracy.
The Sigma is supposed to be fairly good. That is if you're lucky enough to get a good copy. There are two options: the "classic" and the stabilized (OS). The OS version has a whole new design and is supposed to have better IQ than the previous version.
The Nikon is the best of them all. The price is the downside.
Consider getting an 80-200 f2.8 - there are at least 3 versions: one AF-D push-pull zoom; one AF-D standard ring zoom, and one AF-S. The AF-D ring-zoom is still being produced, I believe. The AF-S was replaced by the 70-200 VR (first version). Any of the 80-200 has great optics and color rendition. You can find them used for a reasonable price.

Nikon_Josh · May 11, 2012

joaopsr said:
I would not choose the Tamron. It has some really bad reviews concerning AF accuracy.
The Sigma is supposed to be fairly good. That is if you're lucky enough to get a good copy. There are two options: the "classic" and the stabilized (OS). The OS version has a whole new design and is supposed to have better IQ than the previous version.
The Nikon is the best of them all. The price is the downside.
Consider getting an 80-200 f2.8 - there are at least 3 versions: one AF-D push-pull zoom; one AF-D standard ring zoom, and one AF-S. The AF-D ring-zoom is still being produced, I believe. The AF-S was replaced by the 70-200 VR (first version). Any of the 80-200 has great optics and color rendition. You can find them used for a reasonable price.

The first point you made about the Tamron 70-200 2.8 having poor AF accuracy is false I am afraid, it is known to have SLOW autofocus but it's accuracy is not poor from many of the reviews I have seen. And I have two Sigma lenses and no problems with QC issues.

joaopsr · May 11, 2012

Nikon_Josh said:
The first point you made about the Tamron 70-200 2.8 having poor AF accuracy is false I am afraid, it is known to have SLOW autofocus but it's accuracy is not poor from many of the reviews I have seen. And I have two Sigma lenses and no problems with QC issues.

Hi,

Here's an example of what i said about the Tamron.
Not sure about credibility, though