55 - 300 VR zoom lens, what are your opinions on this?
ta
Chat Forum
Nikon DSLR users
-
Posted 5 months ago #
-
anyone?
Posted 5 months ago # -
Got 18 - 200 which is aI fantastic walkabout lens
No idea about the 55 - 300
Would imagine 300 is near tripod territory on a digitalPosted 5 months ago # -
kenrockwell
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-300mm.htmPosted 5 months ago # -
Used to own a 55- 300 F 2.8, main problem I had was the focus distance
was about 15 feet in front. The VR may be different.In the end I sold it as it was in the bag most of the time.
Used a lot of battery also.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I tested both the Nikon 55-300vr & 70-300vr for my D90
Image quality wise I could not split them at their 70mm-250mm setting, but the 70-300mm had the edge over 250mm, but both I was more than happy with the image quality tbh.
The 70-300mm was snapier focusing, on my D90.
But the 55-300mm is noticably lighter, which might make a difference if you are carying quite a bit of kit.
I am not sure that's enough to justify the extra you have to fork out for the 70-300mm.
The biggie for me, well when I get one, is it will work with a full frame, if I was sticking with the D90, I would be more than happy going for the 55-300mm
Posted 5 months ago # -
I haven't used the 55-300mm VR, but have own the 70-300VR, which is a nice lens.
Looking at that Ken Rockwell review, he reckons the 70-300VR focuses faster. I sometimes find that mine hunts about a bit in low light, so am not sure I would want anything that is slower than the 70-300VR.
But looking online, the 55-300 seems to be about £200 cheaper, which is a significant saving. KR rates the optical qualities of the lens as good.
VR definitely makes the lens usable at the long end in most conditions. Of course, poor light can make you struggle a bit but not a great deal you can do about that.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Depends what you want to do with it. For what it is, it's a good lens.
It's fairly cheap, and it's light if your lugging it around. Compared to the 70-300 it's not as quick on AF and it's less usable at the longer end, and it's DX format so if you want/have a full frame camera it's not going to work out.
I've used both and while I preferred the 70-300 it's heavier if you're lugging it around which might be important. Try the 55-300, if you get on with it but at some point feel that you want something better they hold value pretty well. I bought the 70-300 over the 55-300 in the end but mainly because I picked it up for £299 brand new in an Argos clearance!
Posted 5 months ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
