Theoretical question for Nikon users

[ScottWy]

Say you wanted action shots in low light, such as a football game or auto race.

Choice one is a D700 with the Sigma 70-200 HSM lens.

Choice two is a D300 with Nikon 70-200 AF S lens.

Which one would you choose, and why?

The price difference, according to Adorama, is greater between the two lenses than the two cameras.

Is that lens really worth it, or is it the brand name recognition?

 

[epp_b]

Tricky one.

The D700, being full frame, has phenomenal high ISO performance, but the Sigma has some significant CA problems. On the other hand, the D300 is still quite good in terms of high ISO.

Whether the price difference between the lenses is worth it is up to you, but the Nikon 70-200 VR is pretty widely regarded as a darn-near perfect lens.

On balance, I'd probably choose the D300 and Nikon 70-200 VR. That combination should give you more than enough low-light performance, better performance and more reach out of the 70-200 from using it on a crop frame.

 

[Derrel]

Action shots in low light? The D700, due to better High ISO performance, but also due to the D700 allowing the 70-200 to have its entire field of view. The D700 sensor is better at HIGH ISO performance than any DX body Nikon, and the D700 also gives you 2.3 times bigger a capture, from which you can crop.

The FOV crop-down effect of a DX body is not always helpful; instead, many times it prevents you from being able to utilize longer focal lengths,and forces you into using short lengths only, so you have a lot of background in focus.

 

[Dwig]

Say you wanted action shots in low light, such as a football game or auto race.
Choice one is a D700 with the Sigma 70-200 HSM lens.
Choice two is a D300 with Nikon 70-200 AF S lens.
...

Its not a realistic choice by any stretch of the imagination. The D700 with the Sigma lens has noticeably less telephoto than the D300/Nikon lens combination. To make a reasonable realistic choice the D700 would need to be paired with something with a longest length of 300mm. Lacking the longer reach makes the choice easy, the D300/Nikkor combination. The D700 with only a 200mm lens is not particularily suitable for football or auto races.