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AF Nikkor 70-300 f/4 ~ 5.6 D


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5 replies to this topic

#1
Jim_TX

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Okay, this is a "screw-drive" autofocus lens.  My Nikon Df body seems to possess the requisite horsepower to work those lenses with alacrity.

 

Which factor I'm told, may open up a sizeable portion of the Nikkor lineup to favorable purchase prices, vs. the newer in-lens focusing motor wonders. (G series is right out.  I gotta be able to grab an aperture dial!)

 

I'm looking at a MINT rated lens priced right at $200.  Is this lens a good

performer, and is this a good price/performance delta for this lens?  

 

My current (and for now) only lens is the AF Nikkor 28-105 f/3.5 ~ 4.5 D.

 

The 70-300 will fill my need for some longer glass, and I'm leaning towards the always beloved (at least for me!) Tokina RMC manual focus 17mm f/3/5 for the wider end of things. 

 

Back in my F2a/FE days, I had the Tokina, and then the 24mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 105mm f/2.5, 70-210 E-Series and 300mm f/45 Nikkor lenses.  Relatively fast, prime lenses for the win.... and for a VERY HEAVY camera bag!  (with Vivitar 285 HP, Vivitar pistol grip bracket and 6-D cell power pack.. and all the other filters, batteries, etc?  Heavy!

 

I'm looking to avoid the HEAVY bag this time around.  The 17, 28-105 and 70-300 oughta do me, unless y'all tell me that the Nikkor 70-300 is crap.

 

And then, I'll be asking for your alternative suggestions?



#2
Merco_61

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There were two 70-300 D lenses. The one with an ED element and the text in gold was a decent performer. The one without exotic glass and the text in light grey shows almost as much CA as the old 75-300. It worked well enough on consumer film, but I would avoid it on a good sensor like the Df. Unlike the even older telezoom, it doesn't produce the glow at highlights that can work well as a special effect.

 

I liked the Tokina 75-300 version II better than the Nikon 70-300 D back at the turn of the century.


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#3
Jim_TX

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Merco, thanks!  

 

I'm in luck, it's the Gold Text.  And that price includes shipping, from Japan.

 

With the aforementioned lineup of glass, I'll have "fair" coverage, from wide, normal, moderate telephoto, and a wee bit of macro in the bargain.  All in a three-lens setup, with flash, chargers and a lens cleaning kit.  Now to find a bag for the gear, in a format I'll like and use.

 

Gotta get it all put together by April.  As it happens, I've secured Media Credentials to the National Rifle Association General Meeting in Indianapolis.  I'll try not to photographically embarrass myself, and by extension, y'all here!

 

Oh, and one more bit of (non-photographic) kit I'll wanna obtain.  And I trust the vast knowledge of the assembled crowd.  What's a good value on a capable and reliable Voice Recorder, something along the lines of the tiny Sony or Olympus ones we see members of the press shoving into people's faces?  I won't be that rude, but I've got a couple of interviews I'll want to record for transcript/accuracy purposes.

 

Thanks!



#4
Merco_61

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I have used Zoom H2n, Olympus LS-P1 and Tascam DR-40X in the lower price range with good results. The Tascam is a bit better at eliminating wind noise as Rycote make a very good deadcat for it, the Olympus has the best UX by far, IMNSHO. The Zoom is about foolproof and can record surround-sound.

 

Another good piece of kit if you already own an iPhone with enough memory is the RĂ˜DE iXY stereo microphone or the Zoom iQ6. They both connect to the lightning port on your phone and are easy to use.

 

The best handheld recorder I have used is my current one, a Tascam Portacapture X8. The sticker shock is severe, but when one starts to use the *very* precise noise gating and the built-in compressor one forgets the cost. It would be a bit of overkill as a simple voice recorder, though.


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#5
lightcapture

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Merco, thanks!  

 

I'm in luck, it's the Gold Text.  And that price includes shipping, from Japan.

 

With the aforementioned lineup of glass, I'll have "fair" coverage, from wide, normal, moderate telephoto, and a wee bit of macro in the bargain.  All in a three-lens setup, with flash, chargers and a lens cleaning kit.  Now to find a bag for the gear, in a format I'll like and use.

 

Gotta get it all put together by April.  As it happens, I've secured Media Credentials to the National Rifle Association General Meeting in Indianapolis.  I'll try not to photographically embarrass myself, and by extension, y'all here!

 

Oh, and one more bit of (non-photographic) kit I'll wanna obtain.  And I trust the vast knowledge of the assembled crowd.  What's a good value on a capable and reliable Voice Recorder, something along the lines of the tiny Sony or Olympus ones we see members of the press shoving into people's faces?  I won't be that rude, but I've got a couple of interviews I'll want to record for transcript/accuracy purposes.

 

Thanks!

Glad you found a lens.

Your cell phone can be used to record dialogue.



#6
Jim_TX

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As luck would have it, I found it's twin, with a 6,000+ count 97.6% ebay seller, also Japan.

But at less than half the price of the first.  SOLD.  Now for the wait as it wends its way to Texas.

 

At that price, the 17mm Tokina is going to be in the Feb. budget, for sure.  

 

Next, I'll put a beg in the Camera Bag section.  There, I'll list the sum total of my current and projected gear, and pick y'all's brains for carry options.  Previous century, I had the huge Lowepro, Halliburton case, and a box in the car with as many spare batteries as I could buy at the time.

 

NO WAY I'm gonna be lugging that much gear, ever again!

 

 

Jim
Sunk New Dawn

Galveston, TX