Quote:
Originally Posted by tkinnj
One of the major pushes for this is all of the kids pictures taken in a dim auditorium. I'd like to get a zoom that could do 200 or 300 well in low light.
My question is: Could you provide some guidance on zooms that would work well in low light, preferably without breaking the bank??
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You're asking for three things that don't go together: fast, long, and low cost. You're also tossing in zoom and fast-focusing just to make it worse.
On the Canon side, to get a lens that does all this, you'll be spending more than four figures. There's no way around that. A 70-200 f/2.8L USM (IS or non-IS) may be the only lens that fits your description. The non-IS version is $1300, the IS version is about $2000.
But if you're willing to give up the ability to zoom, and go with a prime, and you're willing to give a little on the focal length, there are few less expensive options: the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (~$440) has been dubbed "Mr. Basketball" on the dpreview Canon Lens forum. There's also the EF 100mm f/2 USM ($430). If you're willing to spend a bit more for reach, the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM is $840. USM stands for "Ultrasonic Motor"--it's a fast, silent autofocus motor and is typically what you need to get precise autofocus on a fast-moving target.
The Nikon equivalent to USM is AF-S. And the only fast primes that have it in their lineup are a 35mm f/1.8, a 50mm f/1.4 and a $5000 200mm f/2. Most of their zooms come equipped with AF-S, though. But with a 70-200 f/2.8, there's no option to get an unstabilized one for less money, there's only the VR version for about $2000. And, of course, any lens that
isn't AF-S (or Sigma HSM) won't autofocus on a D5000.
For what you're talking about? I think Canon may be the better way to go, or at least upgrading your body choice on the Nikon side to a D80/D90.