Lens for Nikon (55 - 200) VR

[adsl3g]

Nice to see the group expanding - I got myself a Nikon D60 about a month ago as a replacement for my Pentax k100D super - (wanted more mpx's)

Also got the Nikon 18 - 105 VR ED Lens for a general walkaround lens (must flog the kit lens as i will never use it)

At this stage still using the Pentax 75 - 300 lens on the K100D for pics next to the kids sports grounds but considering a 55 to 200 VR for the Nikon - just not sure if I will miss the extra 100mm (to 300mm). Any suggestions.

The jackpot would be the Nikon 70 to 300 VR but it costs 3x as much.

 

[greg_SA]

I am very happy with my 55-200mm VR... it is great for the money! I normally use it in bright light so it is fast enough for me. I use it with a D40, and the lens is small, so it it fits the camera very well. The extra reach of the 70-300 would be nice, but I have read that it is quite soft at 300mm (but it seems most consumer lenses are soft at max zoom). I bought the lens for shooting wakeboarding from a boat, so the subject is alway about 70 feet away with is not very far.

Here are some pics taken with the D40 + 55-200mm VR - http://www.flickr.com/photos/30218032@N03/

 

[binkybozo]

you will miss that extra 100mm. the 55-200mm is a great lens but it is also more of a walk around lens and you are apparently already set with a walk around lens so i would skip the 55-200.
i am assuming that you got the 18-55mm lens as the kit lens on the d60, if so, if it is also a vr then you might get an okay price on it if you flog it. if it is not a vr lens then you will not get much for it and you may find it hard to sell. if it is a vr then you might find a shop that will do a trade in discount on a 70-300mm vr for you. the 70-300mm vr is going for about R6000 here in joburg, the 55-200mm is going for about R3000 so if you can get a trade in discount or can flog your 18-55 vr then you won't be talking about spending a huge amount of cash in the end.
if it is still out of reach for you cash wise then i would consider either saving to get the 70-300mm vr or trying to find one 2nd hand, also check the nikon shop on the nikon south africa website they sometimes have demo lenses there and they aren't too badly priced.

if you do get the nikkor 70-300mm get the vr one though, it is much better than than the non vr and tends to be sharper at the 300mm level. the non vr is cheaper but i would hold out for the vr if you can.

 

[greg_SA]

Also remember... what ever you buy, you will always "need" more zoom It really all depends on what you actually need...

What you should do is check the focal length of your previous photos taken at the sports ground (EXIF data) and then you'll know what focal length you actually need... but if you were used to the 75-300, I agree that you'll probably miss the extra reach.

 

[ldmelsa]

Also got the Nikon 18 - 105 VR ED Lens for a general walkaround lens (must flog the kit lens as i will never use it)

don't do that those things are great and they're small
plus you don't get much for them - keep it

 

[adsl3g]

Thanks - will definately keep the 18-55 as its not a VR and won't get much for it. Will hang onto it in case I upgrade the D60 one day again. As for the 70to 300 - there is no way I will not get a VR lens. I had enough problems in my canon days with the 300 setting on the ol 70 to 300 non IS lens.

I like the checking of the EXIF data idea - never thought of that - will look at them.