Nikon 55-200VR vs 55-300VR (vs 70-300VR)

hydkaran420 · Aug 28, 2011

hi all first of all sorry if it is a repost.

i own a nikon d5100, 18-55vr and a 35mm f1.8g at the moment . i am looking to get a zoom lens and my first prefrence is the cheap 55-200mmvr (152 gbp) but i can go for 55-300vr (220 gbp) if it is far better than 55-200vr and worth the extra 70 quid. i dont bothr about the extra reach but gud if i can get it. please please please dont suggest me the 70-300 vr (340gbp) becoz way too much out of my budget and moreover its weight 750gm is greatr than the body which could make my already unstable handling worse. it has awesome reviews but i am a newbee and definetely have no chance of going full frame in the near future atleast 5 or 6 years. so please suggest me between 55-200 and 55-300. i know there are many reveiews out there but some of them are conflicting. so you know this question is pointed at the one who have usedthem or know a lot about them. is the 70-300 really worththe moremoney and the weight? if so i can wait for a month or so to save theextra money needed.

please understand my problem of leaning towards the 70-300 but cant afford or handle it. do u think i bettr go for the 55-200 ?

sorry once again if it is a repost coz no article or review out there cant serve my purpose.

MTVision · Aug 28, 2011

I have the the 55-300 and I like it. From the few reviews I've read the 55-300 rates slightly higher than the 70-300mm. I'd go with the 55-300 over the 55-200.

hydkaran420 · Aug 28, 2011

MTVision said:
I have the the 55-300 and I like it. From the few reviews I've read the 55-300 rates slightly higher than the 70-300mm. I'd go with the 55-300 over the 55-200.

55-300 is rated better than 70-300 ???

MTVision · Aug 28, 2011

hydkaran420 said:
55-300 is rated better than 70-300 ???

Haha. Wrote it backwards. The 70-300mm is slightly better than the 50-300mm. The 70-300 is a little faster an a little sharper. So, IMO if you can afford the 55-300mm I'd get that over the 70-300.

hydkaran420 · Aug 28, 2011

MTVision said:
Haha. Wrote it backwards. The 70-300mm is slightly better than the 50-300mm. The 70-300 is a little faster an a little sharper. So, IMO if you can afford the 55-300mm I'd get that over the 70-300.

Thanks for the advice. I'll wait to know what others think about it.

adversus · Aug 28, 2011

The price difference between the 55-200 and the 70-300 isn't bad, and you'll get a far better lens.

I kicked myself because I bought the 55-200 and then 2 months later discovered how much better the 70-300 was. So I sold the 55-200 and bought the 70-300. I used it on a D5000 at first and the balance isn't that big of an issue.

You said to not suggest the 70-300, but, well, I never did follow directions very well.

hydkaran420 · Aug 28, 2011

adversus said:
The price difference between the 55-200 and the 70-300 isn't bad, and you'll get a far better lens.

I kicked myself because I bought the 55-200 and then 2 months later discovered how much better the 70-300 was. So I sold the 55-200 and bought the 70-300. I used it on a D5000 at first and the balance isn't that big of an issue.

You said to not suggest the 70-300, but, well, I never did follow directions very well.

Well I'm inclined towards 70-300 but the weight and rate are making me not to think about it.moreover my hand held shots are so shaky n I haven't got a tripod yet.
Thanks for the suggestion anyways.

MTVision · Aug 28, 2011

Just sent you a PM cus everytime I post on here there is a typo and I can't edit my post on the phone!

KmH · Aug 28, 2011

Which 70-300? Nikon currently offers 2 of them.

If you make the appropriate capital letters when you type a post you'll have more credibility.

If you notice, most who don't make the minimal effort it takes to occassionally use the shift key are new members. You might wonder why that is>

hydkaran420 · Aug 28, 2011

KmH said:
Which 70-300? Nikon currently offers 2 of them.

If you make the appropriate capital letters when you type a post you'll have more credibility.

If you notice, most who don't make the minimal effort it takes to occassionally use the shift key are new members. You might wonder why that is>

The 70-300 VR f4.5-5.6 is the one. I'm on my phone and it really sucks typing on it. there's no shift key on my mobile

andyg72 · Aug 28, 2011

Try Ebay ive just bought a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6G VR ED IF, for £280 in Jessops £440 ok its 2nd hand but im a newbie aswell.

hydkaran420 · Aug 28, 2011

andyg72 said:
Try Ebay ive just bought a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6G VR ED IF, for £280 in Jessops £440 ok its 2nd hand but im a newbie aswell.

Do you observe any bad thing about the lens? I am scared of buying used things on ebay.