First DSLR purchase

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rozeltf
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p.1 #1 · First DSLR purchase

I would like to purchase a D50 for outdoor sports photography (high school soccer, lacrosse) hobby/personal use. I believe I need a min. of 300mm. I would like to go with a zoom under a $1,000. It looks like the Sigma 100-300 f4 APO EX HSM is well regarded.
Will I be able to hand hold and get well focused shots with this at full zoom? Is there an alternative in this price range I missed?
Thanks very much.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 19, 2005 at 03:13 AM

Stripper
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p.1 #2 · First DSLR purchase

FYI, my local Nikon rep just showed me some 40 inch prints from his D50 of his kids in window light. They were just incredible. This camera seems to have really hit the nail on the head.

I don't know anything about this lens. It may be OK. If you live in a big city with a good photo store which rents lenses, go rent the Nikkor 300 f4 AFS. You can buy these lenses used for well under a grand.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 19, 2005 at 03:30 AM

lxdesign
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p.1 #3 · First DSLR purchase

hmm.. what about getting a 50mm f/1.8 for portraits, a 300mm f/4 for sports/nature, and maybe some money left over for a wide? I personally am not going down the Sigma road again.... just didn't find any of the sigma lenses I owned in the past as satisfying as my nikkors.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 19, 2005 at 03:37 AM

Bernie
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p.1 #4 · First DSLR purchase

I went with the 50mm f 1.8 and 70-300 f4 ED. Both are Nikon and give excellent results at much less than $1000.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 19, 2005 at 09:27 PM

DustinW
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p.1 #5 · First DSLR purchase

I shoot sports with the Sigma 100-300/f4. Its a great lens. I handhold it all the time (even with the 1.4x TC) without any problems - just make sure you keep your shutter speed up. Here's a few I posted in the sports forum just the other day... some with TC and some without.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/295404

The new DG version just came out, but if you don't mind the non-DG, you can save some money and still buy it new.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 19, 2005 at 09:45 PM

lxdesign
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p.1 #6 · First DSLR purchase

Is it me, or does anyone else notice a difference in images between using a sigma lens and a nikkor. You can tell me I'm full of crap too - but I've noticed in the past some quality of the images I have shot using Nikon vs. Sigma just seems better.

Anyhow - not knocking Sigma at all - they do make some excellent lenses.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 20, 2005 at 05:40 PM

Stripper
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p.1 #7 · First DSLR purchase

lxdesign wrote:
Is it me, or does anyone else notice a difference in images between using a sigma lens and a nikkor. You can tell me I'm full of crap too - but I've noticed in the past some quality of the images I have shot using Nikon vs. Sigma just seems better.

Anyhow - not knocking Sigma at all - they do make some excellent lenses.

I notice it in the color rendition first (reds especially), then in something subjective which I will call depth. The Nikkor images just look a little bit more 3d. It is not quite sharpness or contrast or something I can really put my finger on. I have only used a few Sigma lenses over the years, and like you said, they are really nice, but not quite the same.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 21, 2005 at 03:03 PM

rozeltf
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p.1 #8 · First DSLR purchase

Thanks for those pics Dustin, very nice! Just what I was looking for.

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 22, 2005 at 03:48 PM

JunSawa
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p.1 #9 · First DSLR purchase

rozeltf wrote:
I would like to purchase a D50 for outdoor sports photography (high school soccer, lacrosse) hobby/personal use. I believe I need a min. of 300mm. I would like to go with a zoom under a $1,000. It looks like the Sigma 100-300 f4 APO EX HSM is well regarded.
Will I be able to hand hold and get well focused shots with this at full zoom? Is there an alternative in this price range I missed?
Thanks very much.

Have you considered the 300mm AF-S F4? Thats a handy lens, and with a TC 14E II or 1.7 they're quite sharp. A reputable dealer may have this lens for about $900.. such as B&H.

*edit.. woops zoom... my bad!!! hangs his head

Edited on Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM

Oct 22, 2005 at 10:50 PM

DragonflyDM
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p.1 #10 · First DSLR purchase

You want quality and good on cost/value...

buy my D100, and get a 70-210 f/4-5.6 for long lenses and a 50mm f/1.8, 35-70 f/2.8

I don't have those lenses anymore, but they are inexpensive and incredibly sharp.

Oct 23, 2005 at 01:40 AM


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