You guys were right!
I got my inexpensive 70-300 and went a testing. Spent my lunch shooting everything I thought would show me quickly how the lens performed. I was prepared to be disapointed. I should do that more often ... because this is the one time I surely was not!
This is a winner. It is sharp. Nothing anywhere to be ashamed of. Wide open it shows a drop in sharpness but surprisingly this copy ( a used 8+ from B&H for 129) was best at 200-300mm.
At less than about 135 and under 5.6 it really gets soft but at the max of 5.6 and over 200 it is surprisingly good. I shot targets near middle and far at 70,100,135,200and 300. The only other thing is a bit of CA when used at the wider end that disappears by F8.
I would call this a winner. The focus was pretty good considering the aperture and build - not fast but decent. The only thing I couldn't do was test out the tracking ability and speed. I'm extremely pleased and for the guys (you know who you are) that steered me towards this lens THANK YOU!
Who says you have to spend a fortune?
The biggest problems is that now I will have a harder time avoiding the lesser Nikon lenses. It's just a bit harder to justify spending much more on the top end stuff. Those are the kind of problems I need more of
This is exactly why I went Nikon, the "lesser" consumer glass can be very nice at a more than reasonable price. Well done all round to buyer, shooter and maker.
Pavel wrote:
You guys were right!
I got my inexpensive 70-300 and went a testing. Spent my lunch shooting everything I thought would show me quickly how the lens performed. I was prepared to be disapointed. I should do that more often ... because this is the one time I surely was not!
This is a winner. It is sharp. Nothing anywhere to be ashamed of. Wide open it shows a drop in sharpness but surprisingly this copy ( a used 8+ from B&H for 129) was best at 200-300mm.
At less than about 135 and under 5.6 it really gets soft but at the max of 5.6 and over 200 it is surprisingly good. I shot targets near middle and far at 70,100,135,200and 300. The only other thing is a bit of CA when used at the wider end that disappears by F8.
I would call this a winner. The focus was pretty good considering the aperture and build - not fast but decent. The only thing I couldn't do was test out the tracking ability and speed. I'm extremely pleased and for the guys (you know who you are) that steered me towards this lens THANK YOU!
These are full size jpg straight out of the camera with nothing done to them except resized for the web and then sharpened mildly to make up for the loss by shrinkage. (PS unsharp at 60,0.4,3)
BTW ... this sucker focuses surprisingly close!
Who says you have to spend a fortune?
The biggest problems is that now I will have a harder time avoiding the lesser Nikon lenses. It's just a bit harder to justify spending much more on the top end stuff. Those are the kind of problems I need more of ...Show more →
thanks for sharing the pictures. it's actually quite sharp.
which 70-300 is it? I assumed the ED version.
It will be more surprising if these pictures were taken by the 70-300G.
I really hoped that Nikon will come out a VR version of this lens.
Canon has already one 75--300IS (since 1995), one 70-300DO IS (a shorter and better version since 2004) and another updated 70-300IS (since 2005)
anyhow, let's wished that some more VR lenses are coming.
yup, ed. I pretty much want to stay away from G lenses because I may still get an Nikon MF Film body.
These web size shots are tough to judge by of course but I've poured over the full size shots and am very pleased. Of course yes you can tell it apart from the better stuff, esp in contrast but this is one sweet surprise.
You know what? This is absolutely the best bargain I've ever come across to date.
The size makes me think that the guys that are into those 18-200 vr's may be onto something.
I clicked on this thread thinking it said "Cheap Wine"... nevermind, hic
My 70-300ED is sold and on it's way to a new owner (FM'r) and I'm already wondering when Nikon will announce that rumored AFS ED VR version of the 70-300.
My brand new prime 180/2.8 will have me "wearing out shoes" with sneaker-zoom before long.
85 f 1.2? I've heard of an 85 f 1.4 and I hear that it's the best David ... but 1.2? Never heard of that .... whachatakinbout? Now how bout dat new Zeis 85 !?
