What zoom lens to use with Nikon D70?

"luvjava" wrote in message
news:ZEkLc.2537$ml.1320@lakeread05...
I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX
lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent
been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly
made for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I
would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out
chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at
close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??

I have been very happy with my Nikkor AF 4-5.6 70-300mm G on my D70,
especially for getting in close on water birds, and especially for the
money (=$US140 here in New Zealand, and probably cheaper in the US).
But have a look a few, and check out the ratings on the Tele zooms
section of http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm#Zstf

You will see there that the Sigma AF 4.0-5.6 70-300mm APO Macro Super
that Douglas recommended is the best rated of the reasonably economic
options. But for use on any recently introduced camera, there is always
the worry that Sigma's reverse engineers might not have got quite right
what all of the CPU contacts on Nikon mount lenses are meant to do on
cameras released after the lens was (unlike Tamron, who pay Nikon for
this info, and who probably made the two Nikkor 70-300mm lenses anyway -
especially the more expensive D, which is identical to their
f4.0-5.6LD). But I never looked at that Sigma myself, as here in NZ it
is more than twice the price of the Nikkor G.

--
Apteryx
Treat anger like gold. Spend it wisely or not at all.

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 22:36:32 -0400, "luvjava"
wrote:

I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly made for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??

In addition to the DX lenses, I have used the Nikor 75-300 f4.5-5.6
AF. It works quite well. Both the metering and AF work with the D-70
and it's a relatively inexpensive lens.

The sharpness is quite good as well.

However, IMO the 70-300, or 75 - 300 turns the camera into what is
pretty much a special purpose camera. You really need a "normal" lens
for those "snapshots", Also the 75-300 is considerably heavier than
the "normal" lens which is a very good lens for about $300.

Good luck on which ever way you go.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Bill
Hampton Va

Budget is the big question. Personally, to get a lens in that kind of range,
the 80-200/2.8 Nikon lens cannot be beaten.

Derrick

"Roger Halstead" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 22:36:32 -0400, "luvjava"
wrote:

I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent
been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly made
for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??

In addition to the DX lenses, I have used the Nikor 75-300 f4.5-5.6
AF. It works quite well. Both the metering and AF work with the D-70
and it's a relatively inexpensive lens.

The sharpness is quite good as well.

However, IMO the 70-300, or 75 - 300 turns the camera into what is
pretty much a special purpose camera. You really need a "normal" lens
for those "snapshots", Also the 75-300 is considerably heavier than
the "normal" lens which is a very good lens for about $300.

Good luck on which ever way you go.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Bill
Hampton Va

Budget is the big question. Personally, to get a lens in that kind of range,
the 80-200/2.8 Nikon lens cannot be beaten.

Derrick

"Roger Halstead" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 22:36:32 -0400, "luvjava"
wrote:

I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent
been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly made
for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??

In addition to the DX lenses, I have used the Nikor 75-300 f4.5-5.6
AF. It works quite well. Both the metering and AF work with the D-70
and it's a relatively inexpensive lens.

The sharpness is quite good as well.

However, IMO the 70-300, or 75 - 300 turns the camera into what is
pretty much a special purpose camera. You really need a "normal" lens
for those "snapshots", Also the 75-300 is considerably heavier than
the "normal" lens which is a very good lens for about $300.

Good luck on which ever way you go.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Bill
Hampton Va

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 22:36:32 -0400, "luvjava"
wrote:

I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly made for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??


The Nikkor 70-300G is a good lens, but also you may want to try the Sigma 28-300
which covers a lot of ground and is fully compatible with the D70 - I go
everywhere with this lens! The only thing I don't like about it is the 4 foot
focus distance, so you have to zoom in to get a closeup... I need a macro lens!

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 22:36:32 -0400, "luvjava"
wrote:

I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly made for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??


The Nikkor 70-300G is a good lens, but also you may want to try the Sigma 28-300
which covers a lot of ground and is fully compatible with the D70 - I go
everywhere with this lens! The only thing I don't like about it is the 4 foot
focus distance, so you have to zoom in to get a closeup... I need a macro lens!

Thanks everyone for the great info.
I'll be making a trip to the local shops with the D70 in hand for a round of
test shots, the I'll come home and do my evaluation.

Again, thanks for the time,

Bill "Just loves his D70"


"luvjava" wrote in message
news:ZEkLc.2537$ml.1320@lakeread05...
I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly made
for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??

Bill
Hampton Va

Thanks everyone for the great info.
I'll be making a trip to the local shops with the D70 in hand for a round of
test shots, the I'll come home and do my evaluation.

Again, thanks for the time,

Bill "Just loves his D70"


"luvjava" wrote in message
news:ZEkLc.2537$ml.1320@lakeread05...
I'm looking for a little longer lens than the 18-70 f/3.5-8.5 ED DX lens
that came with my D70 outfit..

I would like to go with something that is as long as 300mm but havent been
able to find alot of info on what is compatable with the D70.

The review sites usually state that the stock 18-70 was specificly made
for
the D70.

What options do I have? Sigma, Quantaray, Tamron??

My uses would be for getting a little closer for nature shots.

I'd be taking shots for myself, to put up as art on my own walls. I would
like to keep the price down and wont be having profotographers ove for
dinner judging my work, so issues like a photophile picking out chromatic
distortion at the edge of the field when zoomed all the way out at close
focus.


The short question, What have you used that works with the D70??

Bill
Hampton Va

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 19:26:56 -0700, {STP} wrote:

In article ,
"Surfworx Photography" wrote:

Budget is the big question. Personally, to get a lens in that kind of range,
the 80-200/2.8 Nikon lens cannot be beaten.

And if money is an issue, go with the old 70-210/4 Nikkor.

If you can find a good one there is nothing wrong with going used. You
can probably find a pretty good lens on the used market. Our local
photography shop usually has quite a selection and I'd assume they are
pretty much typical.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

{STP}

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 19:26:56 -0700, {STP} wrote:

In article ,
"Surfworx Photography" wrote:

Budget is the big question. Personally, to get a lens in that kind of range,
the 80-200/2.8 Nikon lens cannot be beaten.

And if money is an issue, go with the old 70-210/4 Nikkor.

If you can find a good one there is nothing wrong with going used. You
can probably find a pretty good lens on the used market. Our local
photography shop usually has quite a selection and I'd assume they are
pretty much typical.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

{STP}