Help me pick a lens for my Nikon D60

[Cheeze439]

I'm a Nikon D60 user, I currently own the kit 18-55mm AF-S VR DX 3.5-5.6G lens as well as a Nikon 50mm Nikor AF 1.8 D lens. I'm only an amateur hobbyist user.

I'm after a telephoto lens and have my eye on these 2 on eBay that are within my current price range...

Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR DX

Nikon AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 G

I'm already used to manually focusing my nifty fifty and I am also looking at getting a D90 in about 6 months, so an AF lens doesn't bother me over an AF-S. But the 55-200 has VR. But I ideally wanted a 300mm to get some nice moon shots.

Any advice or experience from anyone using either of these would be VERY appreciated as I'm looking to make the purchase in the next 48 hours or so.

[OsmosisStudios]

If you're looking at the non-VR version of the 70-300, skip it: it's terrible. If you're looking at the VR version of the 70-300, then go for it! The one you linked to is the non-VR version.

The 55-200 VR is good, but the 70-300VR is better.

[kirbinster]

I would forego both and get the Nikon AF-S 70-300 VR, you can pick a used one up for around $400 or less. If you have to get one of the two you are looking at I would go for the 55-200, as the optics are not great on the old 70-300.

[Cheeze439]

To be honest I'm on a pretty limited budget right now, but I was also looking at this...


Tamron 70-300mm F/4-5.6 DI LD

And that has a built in motor, anyone used one of these?

I'm not expecting professional quality results but want at least half decent results.

[OsmosisStudios]

The 70-300 VR is pretty much what i'd reccommend for "half-decent". A slow (f/5.6) lens at 300mm almost requires some kind of stabilizer.

[Cheeze439]

I've gone for a Tamron that I linked too, after a lot of searching and review reading the general impression I am getting that is for the price bracket I currently have, less than £150, it's as good as I'll get. Most of the reviewers are at my kind of level, amatuer/hobbyist, and are more than happy with the shots they are getting. A few mention it being soft at over 200mm but I can live with that.

I can always stick it on eBay when I have a higher budget and get a better one, this one will just give me the chance to experiment and work out what I want to do with my shots.

[OsmosisStudios]

Frankly, I'd opt to save up and wait. But that's just me.

[TheEagleSpirit]

Personally I would wait and save on the telephoto also since getting a Nikon D90 which I use with a 2.8 70-200 mm Nikkor lens which is quite expensive but does great for any purpose. My walk around lens is a Tamron 2.8 17-50 lens. Both great lens.