really confused

[rugbygal]

hi, im very new to photography, ive got a nikon d5100, im lookin at getting another lense, can someone tell me what is the difference between Nikon AF-S VR 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED, Tamron AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 Nikon+Motor, Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens with Built in Motor and nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300MM f/ 4.5-5.6G ED VR LENS. I no theres a difference in price, im not really understanding the letters and numbers, and that some are not compatable to the d5100. i want a good lense that will give me lots of zoom, and a good allrounder.

 

[eric1971]

Read this:

Understanding Camera Lenses

Or if you don't want to do that, my recommendation would be to pick up a Nikon 55-200 VR. It is a great lens for someone staring out and will give you plenty of reach on your D5100. Also, it is pretty inexpensive.

Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED Lens 2166

 

[fjrabon]

your D5100 doesn't have an in camera focus motor. Thus it can only autofocus with lenses that have a focus motor built into the lens. From Nikon, these will be called 'AF-S'. Tamron will simply say 'built in motor', Sigma will call them HSM, Tokina will say 'AF-S motor'.

If it doesn't say one of those things, you will only be able to focus the lens manually, which for 'all arounder' zooms is annoying.

That's the biggest thing to note. It seems like all the lenses you've mentioned will focus with the D5100, though I'd want to triple check.

Next most important thing is VR, VC and OS. These all mean roughly the same thing. They lessen the visible effects of the camera not being held steady and make your pictures sharper if you take them at low shutter speeds. VR stands for vibration reduction, vc stands for vibration control, os stands for optical stabilization. ALL the same thing for all intents and purposes.

the next important thing is the mm range. The lower the number, the wider it goes, the higher the number the more zoomed in it is. So the bigger this range is, the more different types of 'zooms' it can do. generally, 18-30 are considered wide on a crop frame camera (which your D5100 is). These are good for landscapes, buildings, and anything you want to get very close to, but still have a bunch of in your frame. 30-50 are considered 'normal' lengths, and are good for day to day type pictures. 50-80 are considered mild telephoto and are good for portraits and other situations where you need a little zoom. 80+ are considered telephotos and are good for some portraits any anything you need to zoom in a lot for.

Next is the aperture. this is the f/x.x number. Aperture controls how much background blur you get (bokeh) and how much ight your camera lets in, and thus how fast you can make your shutter speed. the lower the number the better here. All of the lenses you mentioned are variable aperture, which means at the widest end of their focal range, you get the lower number, and the most zoomed in range you get the highest number as the minimum aperture.

If you want a 'do everything' lens, the tamron 18-270 is a do it all type lens. However, this means that it's not particularly sharp, and at the 270mm end (very zoomed in), your most open aperture is going to be f/6.3, which means you'll only be able to really use it in daylight, or on stable subjects on a tripod.

Most of the other numbers and letters can be more or less ignored for the time being, as they are super technical things about how the lens is made, that you don't really need to know unless you are very far along. And even then you probably still dont really need to know.

 

[rugbygal]

great thanks eric, and fjrabon, that was great information, really understood what you said, thanks again

 

[MMM]

hi i'm sorry. I don't have answer to this. but i am new and don't know how to post a new question. can you help?
sorry about adding this to your question..

 

[jimsignorelli]

I have the VR 70-300 and wish I hadn't bought it. I've yet to get a sharp picture. Highly recommend that you spend the extra money and get the Nikon VR 55-200. All around great camera. With this and a Sigma 110 for Macro, I'm all set. If you still want to purchase Nikon VR 70-300, I will soon be selling mine on ebay....CHEAP!

 

[orb9220]

I have the VR 70-300 and wish I hadn't bought it. I've yet to get a sharp picture. Highly recommend that you spend the extra money and get the Nikon VR 55-200. All around great camera. With this and a Sigma 110 for Macro, I'm all set. If you still want to purchase Nikon VR 70-300, I will soon be selling mine on ebay....CHEAP!

Then you are doing something Wrong! And Many user's state it's a very sharp lens. Even the reviewers.

The 70-300vr is a very sharp lens even sharper than my preferred 55-200vr which is my preferred walkabout lens. The 70-300vr in good light have achieved handheld at 1/60th even at 270mm. It is all about technique and practice. How you stand,hold and even breathing technique when using bigger & heavier zoom lenses.

Exposure	0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture	f/5.6
Focal Length	270 mm

Red Tailed Hawk Fledging July 5th 2 of 2 by Orbmiser, on Flickr

Tho I find the 55-200vr a much more usable for walk about being smaller,lighter more compact zoom.
.

 

[TheLost]

I have the VR 70-300 and wish I hadn't bought it. I've yet to get a sharp picture. Highly recommend that you spend the extra money and get the Nikon VR 55-200. All around great camera. With this and a Sigma 110 for Macro, I'm all set. If you still want to purchase Nikon VR 70-300, I will soon be selling mine on ebay....CHEAP!

Ummm.. i don't think you have a Nikon 70-300 VR.


The Nikon 70-300VR is $600... the Nikon 55-200vr is $250.

The 70-300VR is a pro-sumer level lens built for FX bodies. Its larger, is built better, uses better glass and has a much faster AutoFocus system. The 55-200VR is a DX 'kit' lens. Its made out of plastic, has a slower AutoFocus motor, and will only work on DX bodies.

Like @orb9220 says, the 70-300VR is known to be one of the sharpest variable aperture zooms Nikon makes.