Nikon 70-300mm VR Thoughts? (1 Viewer)

Jim Swims

New member

• Aug 30, 2009

• #1

Hi Folks,
I've recently purchased a D90 and have been having fun with the 55-200mm kit lens but have quickly found its serious shortcomings. I'm looking for a better lens for walking about and using hand-held. I realize the 70-300mm isn't a great deal longer than the 55-200mm but wondered if anyone was using it successfully. Also I'm not certain whether I can use a teleconvertor with it without any loss of function.
Any thoughts or direct experience with this lens with or without a TC???


Cheers,
Jim.

 

pduxon

Quacked up Member

• Aug 30, 2009

• #2

i like the 70-300 vr. it's a nice compromise in size and weight compared to say the 80-400.

i wouldn't put a tc on it though.

 

stoop

Well-known member

• Aug 31, 2009

• #3

I use an AF-S 70-300mm VR on a D300 and have been happy. It's light to carry and has both af-s and VR. My gallery has a few examples of this combo, check it out. I have been thinking of either the 300 f4 or 80-400mm VR for improvements but am not sure how much better my results would be. I wish Nikon had an af-s 400mm f5.6 VR -(The photo of the Yellow-throated Scrubwren in my gallery was in very dark undergrowth with no flash and is a tad grainy. I'd expect similiar results with any lens.) Hope you're happy with your choice.

 

Fozzybear

Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter

• Aug 31, 2009

• #4

I use the 70-300VR as my main walkabout wildlife lens and I find it really good for that purpose. It 'is' short for wildlife but still works well and would certainly give significantly more 'pull' than a 200mm. The VR is excellent (I've handheld shots at 300mm down to 1/40th of a second with a still subject and care in my handling) and the image quality is very good for a consumer zoom. Although not a macro lens it works well for photographing dragonflies and butterflies too.

You would find AF struggles a LOT with a teleconverter fitted, I have tried a Kenko on mine and it wasn't very successful. You really need a very good lens indeed for a teleconverter to be worth using on a zoom. A pro-grade constant f/2.8 or f/4 lens really.

A lot of shots in my gallery are taken with the 70-300, for example:

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/265471/ppuser/69297
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/267705/ppuser/69297
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/265139/ppuser/69297
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/262554/ppuser/69297
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/251588/ppuser/69297

I do have a Nikon 300mm f/4 but prefer to use the 70-300VR - for less than perfect light it is more suitable (vr makes a big diffference for me) and the AFS autofocusing is much better than the old screw-drive on my prime, which is painfully slow!

 

greypoint

Well-known member

• Aug 31, 2009

• #5

The 70-300mm vr is the best lens in that range I've used. I've used mine on both D90 and D300 for both birds and action stuff like dog agility [those collies really move!]. AF is very quick, smooth and silent for a lens of this type and it's very sharp. I'd recommend it to anyone. Unfortuntaely mine developed a fault over the weekend - it now vibrates madly each time you depress the shutter button to focus - so I hope there's not a general reliability issue with them.

 

Jim Swims

New member

• Aug 31, 2009

• #6

Hmmmm I suspected the consensus would be that the lens will stuggle to AF with a TC
attached. I was just hoping someone had found it worked well. I certainly don't expect it
to excel at catching birds on the fly. I would like to try it at least using a x1.4 TC.

Cheers,
Jim.

 

shutterpop

Member

• Aug 31, 2009

• #7

Jim,
I own this lens and like its IQ very much,unfortunately Nikon says not to use a TC on it.

Mike

 

gvca1

Well-known member

• Sep 2, 2009

• #8

I would not try to mount the 70-300 on a TC14E-II. It's not on the 'approved list' on the Nikon web site. There may be interference issues with glass on the rear of the lens and the front of the TC.

That being said, the 70-300 works well, is fairly light, and the VR feature allows passably sharp images at pretty low shutter speeds. On a tripod, I'd much much rather have the 300/f4 AFS, however...

 

yossi

Well-known member

• Sep 4, 2009

• #9

Here is my test report of this lens:
http://www.kramery.com/en/DUarticles/detail.asp?iArt=580

I use this lens quite a lot, and it shines even better on my D700 (full frame) than on my APS cameras.

 

I

I4ani

Well-known member

• Sep 4, 2009

• #10

Jim, if you have not already seen them, there are 26 reviews ? on the lens at www.fredmiranda.com. Not so detailed as Yossies (great review thanks) but it might be of use to you.

 

Jim Swims

New member

• Sep 8, 2009

• #11

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, opinions and links.

I placed an order for one today and look forward to playing with it soon.

Got good price for it on good old eBay


Cheers,
Jim.

 

Fozzybear

Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter

• Sep 8, 2009

• #12

Looking at the prices I'm glad I'm not buying now - I got mine a couple of years ago and it's still my most used lens... plus I've had three SLRs in that time (D50, D80, D300... blimey!)! Hope it works out well for you Jim. :t: