Nikon Zoom Telephoto Advice

[Tarazed]

I presently own a d90, 18-55mm kit lens and a 55-300mm vr. I couldn't get good shots of indoor soccer with the slow 55-300mm so a colleague of mine let me borrow his Nikkor 80-200 AfS. Amazing!!

So my question is, should I try and pick up a good used 80-200 afs and sell the 55-300 or should I keep the 55-300mm and get a new 80-200 afd? The cost will be close. I'd love to grab a used 70-200 vr I, but its out of my budget.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Tarazed]

I have also considered the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG HSM II. No opinions??

 

[Patrice]

The nikkor 80-200 f2.8 comes in many flavors and by all accounts all of them are very good. I had an AF-D version and liked it a lot. I replaced it with 70-200 for the vr.

If you need to sell the 55-300 to raise some funds then before you do think about how often you have used the 300 mm end. If not a lot then maybe you won't miss it too much. Older 300 mm primes in the f4 range can be found for reasonable prices though. (I got one for less than $200 including shipping and tax.)

I also have a 17-55 and did not find the gap from 55 to 80 at all limiting.

However those are my experiences and opinions, let your own experiences, habits and wishes influence your purchase.

Pat

 

[benhasajeep74 72]

I have had my two ring version of the 80-200 f/2.8D for 10 years or so. Still very happy with it. This is the model currently still in production. The AF-S version was only produced for a couple years. The original push pull version can be purchased used for about half the going rate of the two ring version. It is said to be the slowest focusing of the three models. Like I said I have the two ring and people complain about it being slow to focus, which as of yet hasn't bothered me. As for glass quality, its still a top notch lens.

 

[Tarazed]

Would the age of an 80-200 afs be of concern? They are all between 7 and 11 years old. An afd would be new with a 5 year warranty. Is the afs that much better?

 

[PASM]

So my question is, should I try and pick up a good used 80-200 afs and sell the 55-300 or should I keep the 55-300mm and get a new 80-200 afd? The cost will be close.

The costs would be very different wouldn't they? Outcome of A is cheaper with some recovered cost. Outcome of B is full price without any offset.

 

[benhasajeep74 72]

Would the age of an 80-200 afs be of concern? They are all between 7 and 11 years old. An afd would be new with a 5 year warranty. Is the afs that much better?

Well the AF-S lens has an electric motor basically. Do they wear over time? When I bought my AF-D the AF-S either just came out or was comming out. I decided to go with the AF-D. I believe the only reason the AF-S was discontinued was because of the 70-200 AF-S. It would be direct competition.

Becasue I would not be worried about AF speed. I would probably stay with the AF-D with a new lens vs. AF-S in a used lens.

 

[Tarazed]

Well I took the leap today and ordered a 80-200 AF-S from KEH. So any thoughts on keeping the 55-300 VR? What would be a good lens to accompany the 80-200? I also borrowed a Nikon 300mm 2.8 from a colleague, what a beast, awesome to say the least!!!

Thanks for the input above, really appreciated!!