Stumped On Nikon Lens Need

Fellow Foto Freaks,

I am shooting action photography, mainly sports, and have found my Nikon
300mm f/4 Af-S ED-IF to be a great tool. But in some situations I have a
need for a shorter lens in say the 200mm telephoto range (like the smaller
fields the young kids play on). All Nikon has without spending $4K on a
200mm f/2G VR is the 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF at about $800. This 180mm lens
lacks the Silent Wave autofocus (AF-S) and I am concerned about the focusing
speed for sports needs. Any of you have experience in this area? I'd even
consider another brand if it would do the job.

I have looked at the new 70-200 f/2.8 VR lens, but since I shoot through the
fence so much I question if this is a good choice, especially at $1500
bucks. My camera, by the way, is a D70s. Thanks in advance for your help.

Dave

 

s/h 80-300 2.8D - a good example is around $750 ??

Guy

 

Does this exist ?

I only find a 80-200 2.8D for some € 1200
(http://www.europe-nikon.com/category.aspx?countryId=3&languageId=3&catId=121)

-Michael

 

I haven't tried the 180 so I can't comment of focusing speed, but I would
assume it would be reasonably fast but not as fast as one with AF-S.

Dave, the 70-200mm VR is a "must have" lens that is very versatile and will
fill most of your needs beyond sports photography. The price is definitely
worth it. You get an extremely sharp fast focusing lens that has pleasing
bokeh. The only drawback is it's a big heavy lens, but is well worth
carrying since the optics are so pleasing. Oh, and the focusing speed is
very snappy and accurate. I really enjoy using mine and always carry it
when I go out with my cameras.






Rita

 

Rita,

With this lens what focus settings do you find give you the best focusing
for sports/action? Thanks fpr the info!

Dave

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Nikon-Nik...ryZ30070QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
GB£564.99

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-Nikkor-...yZ106862QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
US$700 at present

Guy

 

I recently picked up a used 80~200 2.8 AF Nikon lens. Very nice lens, easy
to handhold and very sharp. No built-in motor, so the focus is a bit slow,
but fast enough.

 

It depends.

You might want to pre-focus at certain points that you know where there
will be action and leave the lens on manual.

I have had no trouble following basketball players with it on
auto-focus and VR on (or even the 18-200mm VR, for that matter; it is
also an AF-S lens). I would like to shoot a cockfight with it but have
not yet had the opportunity. I figure that would be the greatest
challenge for the 70-200: bad light, fast action, small sports
'participants' constantly moving closer and further away, probably a
plexiglass wall to shoot through. That, to me, would possibly be one of
the most difficult things to photograph that there is. I suspect the
lens would handle it quite well.

 

I used to own the 180mm f/2.8 ED-IF and it was an awesome telephoto lens
- probably one of the sharpest I've used. However, that said, it isn't a
fast focussing lens, even when used on a pro-spec body like the F5.

I have to second the proposal to get the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR. That's the
best Nikon zoom lens I have ever used. Simply outstanding in all areas.

 

If you know anyone who has the birds, ask them about setting up
"muffing" and shoot that. Muffing (fighting with either leather
protectors over the natural spurs or with just the natural spurs) is
legal in any US state. If you live in a state or nation where
cockfighting is legal, that's another matter (in a number of states,
the fighting is a misdeamenor but the betting is a felony).

Fighting cocks move amazingly fast and in all directions. Even in
good light, they're a challenge (I didn't have autofocus then,
though).

 

You guys are great! I am trying to see what I can sell to buy the 7-200 VR!

D

 

I have been considering the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED AF Zoom lens, mainly for
nature photography. Comments?

Bill

 

I am in the Philippines, doing some missionary work, but I do find time
to take pictures (about 17,000 of them since May of last year).
Cockfighting is one of the national sports. The big matches are
broadcast on TV, which does give me a few ideas of how to approach
photographing a cockfight. As a missionary, I have not wanted to appear
to countenance gambling in any form, so I figure that most likely I
will have to visit a cocker and photograph the sparring matches they do
to train the birds.

The biggest threat to cockfighting in Southeast Asia nowadays is not
people who are opposed to it, but bird flu. The transporting of birds
all over the place and the constant close human contact are seen as
increasingly dangerous.

 

I have no experience with that one, sorry. It is a consumer grade lens
so don't expect the world from it. I seem to recall a rumour that it was
actually made by Tamron under license from Nikon.

 

A popular rumor, probably spread by some ignorant camera store clerk.
Nikon has no lenses made under license by anyone else, yet you hear
this rumor all the time. You hear the opposite one, too, that some
Tamron or Sigma lens is actually made by Nikon or Canon. That rumor is
also hogwash.