Nikon 70-300 VR lower price at B&H

[Nikonfreak]

In case anyone is interested... the 70-300 VR dropped $50 at B&H for some reason.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

It is now $499.

Julio

[badpickev]

must not be new and indemand anymore

[Nikonfreak]

I suspect that the demand for that lens is lower than expected.

The demand for the 18-200 remains incredbily strong. The 70-300 VR, IMO, has received some good reviews and is a decent lens, but that 4.5-5.6 is the questionable aspect.

Could you imagine the demand for a 70-300 f/4 AF-S VR or even 100-300 f/4 AF-S VR? Price it say at $1,100 and you'd have people breaking down the doors to get it.

Julio

[akrab]

is this the one you mentioned as a suggestion for getting instead of the 55-200mm?

[badpickev]

yes this is way better than the 55-200

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by akrab

is this the one you mentioned as a suggestion for getting instead of the 55-200mm?

Yes, by far ... heads and shoulders a better lens than the 55-200

Julio

[badpickev]

Originally Posted by Nikonfreak

Could you imagine the demand for a 70-300 f/4 AF-S VR or even 100-300 f/4 AF-S VR? Price it say at $1,100 and you'd have people breaking down the doors to get it.

about a year ago i was given a list of 15 sigma lenses that were due to get os. i am still wiating for at least 3 of them to be announced. when i emailed sigma, the said they were looking at releasing numerous lenses with os. we got the 18-200os, yea, its still not here.

[Nikonfreak]

I suspect Sigma, as well as others...even Nikon, are constantly assessing what they perceive to be the market "need" and filling "holes" in their lineup as the priority.

Nikon, in hindsight, knew that if they wanted to really steal market share from Canon, they needed entry level DSLR's and other DSLR's in the lineup that are top performers in their class. The D80 and D200 really do that very well and Nikon really hit a home run with the 18-200 VR as a kit lens for the D200. They practically knocked it out of the park with a "one lens solution" that's quite good.

Fast forward. We all were wondering why all these consumer grade AF-S zooms. Well, the D40 answered that question as it only takes AF-S lenses. Now, Sigma could have a good upper hand here in that some of their lenses are of better quality than the consumer grade zooms of Nikon and Sigma does have the HSM line. That'd work. Nikon has opened the door for Sigma, and others, to come in and play on their turf. Heck, even Thom Hogan did his review of the D40 and spoke of the Sigma 30 f/1.4 and the Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 ...

The Sigma 30 f/1.4 has made me turn my head in that direction more than once and the Sigma 50-150 is something no one can deny that given the 1.5X crop factor .... well you get the picture...

The Sigma 100-300 f/4 has stood alone for a long long time where Nikon only played in primes with the 300 f/4, 300 f/4 AF-S and 300 f/2.8 AF-S I, II and VR

Nikon users have long since wanted a 100-300 f/4 or some equivalent...

Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 is a real attention getter for lots of working pros that would like that fast glass in a zoom.

Julio

[anthonyeco]

some good info julio i'm really wanting a good lense for my next purchase for my D40 but i figure i would stick to what i can use when i buy my second body obvisouly a d200+

[james23p]

I feel that because the demand for the 18-200 is so great and so many have bought this lens the 70-300 will be an odd range in their lineup only being 100mm more than there everyday lens the 18-200. If you have a 18-200 are you going to spend another 550 for 100 more mm and another lens change or wait and see if Nikon comes out with a AF-S updated version of the 80-400 at least with this lens you get 200 more mm and this is a more meaningful jump from 200 vs 300. Now for me I have the 18-135 and love it, the lens has for me a nice feel and size its very sharp and I do not have alot of CA just the distortion wide open that is also prone on the 18-70 and 24-85 AF-S G. Oops off subject so for me having a 18-135 and the 70-300 makes a nice 18 to 300 combo and since I find hand holding the 18-135 easy but VR on a long lens like the 70-300 just makes me want one even more. This is what I call a great zoo lens. So now that the price dropped I am only a few weeks away of having saved enough and getting one. Jim

[Nikonfreak]

Very cool. We do look forward to seeing some shots with the 70-300 VR. I don't think anyone yet owns it here in our forum.

I recently sold the 24-85 AF-S G... never experienced any CA that was of any concern and distortion was mild at the 24mm end. Truthfully, I never really used it much for landscape or architecture, where such problems would really poke out. I used it mostly for vacation and people pics...

Like Photographer Dirty Harry said..."A man's got to know his lens' limitations.."

Julio

Julio Sant's Photo Galleries at pbase.com

[james23p]

Julio my dealer is letting me use his next weekend as a try at the ZOO(I spens alot of money in his shop, plus the slides I bring in weekly still) so I will give a short review when I come home.

Yea I had the 24-85 on my F100 all the time great lens. I sold it all when I went to MF Nikons and Digital in the AF world. I agree little to no CA even on my D50 until sold. But in everyday stuff like you said no problems it would bend some buildings though and so does the 18-135 but all in all I love the 18-138 great walk around and everyday all around lens for the money. I did a mini review of it on another site I can post it if you want I am not exclusive or vey good . Jim

[JohnQ]

I have and always go back to, after borrowing several Nikon bodies, my trusted D50. For some reason it just feels good. Maybe I am just comfortable with knowing where the setting are. Has anyone tried any of the VR lenses? My lenses are basically the two that I bought with the package for the camera back along. Thanks, John Q.

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by james23p

Julio my dealer is letting me use his next weekend as a try at the ZOO(I spens alot of money in his shop, plus the slides I bring in weekly still) so I will give a short review when I come home.

Yea I had the 24-85 on my F100 all the time great lens. I sold it all when I went to MF Nikons and Digital in the AF world. I agree little to no CA even on my D50 until sold. But in everyday stuff like you said no problems it would bend some buildings though and so does the 18-135 but all in all I love the 18-138 great walk around and everyday all around lens for the money. I did a mini review of it on another site I can post it if you want I am not exclusive or vey good . Jim

Go for it. Please post your opinions...Everyone's opinions count towards making others aware of what's out there.

Not everyone is going to spend $1,000+ on each lens and certainly not every sub $1,000 lens out there is garbage. It really bugs me that some out there hold those kinds of opinions that if the lens isn't one of Nikon's best it's junk. Nikon, as well as third parties, have some very respectable offerings out there and it's good to hear from everyone their experiences, likes and dislikes on certain pieces of glass.

Julio