[fannycht]

Hello C Hings, I've got the following lens with my D700 and would like to complete my gear with a tele zoom (probably better with micro function), hopefully not exceeding $10K. I've already spent too much. Any suggestion?

50mm 1.8
85mm 1.4
24-70mm 2.8

[歪咀夜壺]

NO OTHER CHOOSE,

ONLY AFS 70-200 F2.8 VR

[B and H]

Tele?? All you suggested lens are not tele ^_^.

With D700, you can choose:

1st choice: AFS 70-200 2.8 VR
2nd choice: 80-400 VR
3rd choice: AFS 70-300 VR

[老叟]

one of the best is 50/1.4 F!!!! just great!!

[andrewlaw007]

Nikon 18-35
Nikon 70-300VR

[fannycht]

Thanks for all you comments. 70-200 is too heavy and not so practical. Is there any with macro function so that I could combine the lens in one?

[fishchk]

why don't 384 lei???

[B and H]

Then go for 105mm 2.8 VR. ^_^ Very good, but only with fixed focal. ^_^

[pkpartner]

if you look for zoom lens and concern weight than 70-300 is the right and only choice....
tele with fast aperture or go exceed 300 = heavy, 80-400 70-200 &80-200 is about the same weight and size
and i am using 105mm Macro (non VR) & 300mm f4 + 1.4x both serve me well

[fannycht]

Final decision: 80-400mm VR vs 70-300mm VR???

Do focal length of 300mm and 400mm make a big difference in application?

[B and H]

80-400mm VR vs 70-300mm VR

Factor to be considered before you made the decision:

1. weight: if you prefer light, 70-300mm VR
2. volume: if you prefer more easy to carry around, 70-300mm VR
3. tele: If you want to shot bird, etc, 80-400mm VR more appropriate
4. price: if you want cheaper, 70-300mm VR
5. quality at tele: if you need quality for more than 200mm, go for 80-400mm VR

Do focal length of 300mm and 400mm make a big difference in application? ----> it depends on you, not the len itself ^_^

[fannycht]

May I ask one more question? Is f5.6 at 300mm good enough to take indoor photo like stage performance without flash? Not sure whether it can be compensated by VR and high ISO.

[B and H]

Suppose that you can take photos at 1/125s (not really moving very fast object) at 2.8 at 200mm with VR on at ISO 800 (there was the case when I took photos for stage performance without flash), then you can imagine when you use a tele 300mm at 5.6 as follows:

1. For rule of safety, the shutter speed for a 300mm len should not less than 1/300s. With VR on, then you can take photos with it at shutter speed lower than 1/300s. I think 1/125s is OK for a 300mm lens as two step upwards is 1/500s. Usually, VR claims for 4 steps lower, but I would be safe for 2 steps lower in taking photos.
2. The difference between f5.6 and f2.8 is two steps. But increasing the ISO by two steps, i.e. ISO3200, you can compensate for the loss of f number.

From the above, you can see that both VR and higher ISO can help you to take photos at dim light condition. As you have D700, you can set the ISO as high as 25,600 (of course with lower quality), then I think you can still take photos for stage performance by turning on the VR and set ISO as high as possible. In D700, you can use ISO upto 6400 for acceptable quality images (I think because I do not have money to buy it). ^_^

Hope this help!!

[gwu1]

300mm and f5.6 should be okay if you use ISO 800 or above with a monopod. Would have problem if the light is too dim.

[fannycht]

Hi B and H C Hing, your advice helps me much. Thanks a ton.