55-200 or 70-300 ?

[ed33]

Hi!
I'm getting my first DSLR: the d40 with kit lens and cant decide if I should get the 55-200VR with it or the 70-300 (second hand for the same price..)
will I miss the 55-70 part?
Is the 70-300 much heavier and is it as sharp as the 70-300?
Thanks for any advise!!
Ed

[K1W1]

Which 70-300? There are three or four that Nikon have made over the last couple of years.
I have had a Nikon 70-300 plus a Sigma 70-300 and now I use a 55-200VR. I prefer the 55-200 and don't miss the 200-300 part.
What you need will be largely determined by what you are shooting but the consumer 70-300 all tend to be a bit soft in the 200-300 range anyway.

[erichlund]

As K1W1 said, there are a bunch of Nikkor 70-300s. The two you should consider would be the 70-300ED and the new 70-300VR. The latter at the price of a 55-200VR is a very good value - IF - it is in perfect condition and it comes with a valid warranty. The ED was the only really good 70-300 of the older types.

I often carry this same range with me, as I have the 17-55 and the 70-300VR. You really won't miss the small gap, but the extra reach is nice to have.

If the lens is not one of the two I have mentioned, then you DEFINITELY want the 55-200VR. Even with the ED version, you will have to decide how you shoot. If you are handheld a lot and don't like using a tripod, then the 300 without VR is going to be troublesome in limited light.

[K1W1]

The two you should consider would be the 70-300ED and the new 70-300VR.

I don't think the 70-300ED will auto focus on a D40.

[jmorgan]

Just got the AF-S ED 70-300VR a couple days ago, and took it out this morning with my D40, did not know if it was AF-S so I was not sure if it would auto focus but it does. Its real nice to have the extra zoom but overall 200-300 is not really that big of a difference and I think it gets a little soft around 300. Very good lens though.


Im going on a safari this summer and figured the more zoom the better. But for most people the 55-200 should be plenty. The VR does make a huge difference and is very nice. The 70-300VR does feel solid, but is a little heavy and kind of throws the balance off on the d40 but its ok.

[erichlund]

I don't think the 70-300ED will auto focus on a D40.

Good point.