70-300mm lens: Nikkor or Sigma?

fluppet

I want to purchase a 70-300mm lens, but I'm having trouble deciding between the Sigma f/4-5.6 APO DG MACRO and the Nikkor f/4-5.6G. In Conn's Cameras the Sigma is Eur 50 more expensive than the Nikkor, which doesn't matter to me, so don't take price into account.

I have been reading reviews on various websites of the two, and most seem to favour the Sigma.

The Sigma has a Macro feature and a metal mount (the Nikkor is plastic), but as Ken Rockwell says, Nikon know Nikon cameras the best, and so can make their lenses the most compatible with Nikon cameras.

I use a Nikon D50.

Related to the same question: approximately how much light would I need to get good results with these lenses? I've heard people saying that unless it's a very bright sunny day these lenses are best left at home.

Thanks

Edit: Ah, perhaps the Conn's Camera Sigma is not the DG version (the newer version), as it does not mention that it is DG on the website. Just compare the DG version, however, as I'm sure I will be able to find it somewhere.

Borderfox

I got a the Sigma from Conn's for my EOS 350D and couldn't be happier with it. It needs modest light to get the best out of it but I took some good shot's with it so far. I don't know about the Nikon lens but I compared the Canon equivalent to the Sigma and it wasn't a patch on it, so maybe at the budget end Canon or Nikon don't really put in the work.

Here's a sample from the Sigma
http://static.flickr.com/50/127634269_0c1398a158_b.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/46/127659840_6c30df51fc_b.jpg

fluppet

Thanks for your reply. The photos were very impressive. I take it from your horse pic that with enough light, you can take very fast shots (short exposure I mean). I know you would need a tripod for low-light photos, but how does the autofocus perform under low light, and what kind of shutter speeds would you need?

Thanks

Borderfox

Yeah it needs the right light to perform well. Autofocus sometimes hunts around if not set to centre focus point in low light. What sort of things are you looking to take pictures of? Here's another few pictures of various subjects in varying light taken with the Sigma. I would also reccomend getting a 50mm f1.8 or f1.4 prime for low light as I have found that type excellent for all sorts of pictures...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/Robinedit.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/IMG_5854.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/IMG_5839.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/IMG_5564.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/IMG_5609.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/IMG_4518.jpg

Benster

I have the Nikon 70-300 G-type. It's not a bad tele, I am quite happy with the quality of pics it gives and it wasn't that dear either. It has a good chunky feel too. You're right about the lens mount, it is plastic and I'd be happier with a metal one for longevity. But one rather annoying thing about it is the speed of auto-focussing, it can take about a second to go from nearest to farthest focus and when you're shooting birds or people, you need the shot right there and then.

I've no experience of other zooms, so can't say if the Nikon is better than the rest.

B.

fluppet

Borderfox wrote:

I would also reccomend getting a 50mm f1.8 or f1.4 prime for low light as I have found that type excellent for all sorts of pictures...

A fast prime is on the list of lenses that I want, but I think the angle of view with a 50mm lens on a digital SLR is too small for most of my needs. I am hoping that a reasonably priced ~20mm fast prime lens will be released sometime.

Alun

fluppet wrote:

A fast prime is on the list of lenses that I want, but I think the angle of view with a 50mm lens on a digital SLR is too small for most of my needs. I am hoping that a reasonably priced ~20mm fast prime lens will be released sometime.

Sigma do the 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM, which is pretty close to 50mm when you multipy by 1.6. It's a digital lens for APS-C sensors, so not for 35mm film cameras or digitals with full-frame sensors. Only €355 at technikdirekt.de.

melekalikimaka

whats the price for a 70 - 300?

Alun

melekalikimaka wrote:

whats the price for a 70 - 300?

I'd look for you, but then I'd have to send an invoice Clickety-click on www.technikdirekt.de !

melekalikimaka

ugh...cheers :mad:

halenger

I had completely dismissed the 70-300G/ED as junk/cheap/whatever but I saw some pretty decent pictures from it over on NikonCafe.com. One thread in particular is http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=65979

Another thing to keep in mind is that there's a VR version expected soonish. Of course it'll be dearer but it could be an interesting one. Worth keeping an eye out for anyway.

halenger

Alun wrote:

Sigma do the 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM, which is pretty close to 50mm when you multipy by 1.6. It's a digital lens for APS-C sensors, so not for 35mm film cameras or digitals with full-frame sensors. Only €355 at technikdirekt.de.

For Nikon it's a 1.5 crop...

There's also a Nikon 28mm f/1.4 if you want faster. That might be more what you're looking for? I'm not sure what the availability is. It's listed on Nikon's website but I can't see it on ac-foto/B&H etc.

fluppet

I have looked at the Sigma 30mm mentioned and also the full-frame wideangle primes. I have also considered the 28mm Nikkor proposed. The problems are:

1. Even 30mm is not wide enough for me... I like to shoot more landscape-type photos.
2. The wider lenses are too expensive (I forgot to mention that I am on a student's budget )

Hopefully a ~20mm lens will be released for digital SLRs and so won't waste all that glass that a full-frame lens would, therefore may perhaps be a bit cheaper. I know I'll probably have to wait quite a while, because most people nowadays just go with wideangle zoom lenses. I want a prime because it should allow me to get a faster lens for less (I like to do a lot of low-light shots, but lugging around a tripod takes most of the fun out of it).

fluppet

As I said in another thread, I went to see both lenses yesterday in Conn's. Both were actually better than I thought they would be, but the Sigma is definitely far superior to the Nikkor and definitely worth the extra Eur 50.

Just to clarify a point from my first post in this thread: the Sigma for Eur 200 in Conn's is indeed the DG version (the newest version), which is good.

Finally, I'd just like to mention that they don't sell the Sigma in Gunn's, and the Nikkor is Eur 189 there (Eur 150 in Conn's).

I forgot to ask while I was there: does anyone know if Conn's has any student discount?