Best "cheap" telephoto+macro for D70?

[kshoari]

Hi,
I am trying to buy a telephoto with some macro close-up capability along with the D70 18-70 kit lense. Spending almost all my allowance on the kit, my budget will be pretty limited (say < $200-250) for the telephoto. I know I cannot afford a fast large aperture VR lense. But that is probably OK for now

Here are the lenses I am considering:

1- Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G (~$130) plus Nikon Close-up 5T or 6T (~$50)
2- Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED (~$250 after rebate) plus Nikon Close-up 5T or 6T (~$50). (This combination would be a bit more expensive, and I am not sure if the metal mount and the aperture ring on the ED is worth for me the extra cost as compared to the G lense. Please advise...)
3- Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF-D (~$200)
4- Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro Super II Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF-D (~$150)
5- Tamron Zoom Telephoto AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF-D (~$150)

I've read some good reviews on both Sigma lenses. I would greatly appreciate it if you guys can provide me with any help/advice/suggestion as to what would be my best option, or if you could forward me a link where I can find a comparative review of these lenses.

Thanks,

[D70FAN]

Hi,
I am trying to buy a telephoto with some macro close-up capability along with the D70 18-70 kit lense. Spending almost all my allowance on the kit, my budget will be pretty limited (say < $200-250) for the telephoto. I know I cannot afford a fast large aperture VR lense. But that is probably OK for now

Here are the lenses I am considering:

1- Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G (~$130) plus Nikon Close-up 5T or 6T (~$50)
2- Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED (~$250 after rebate) plus Nikon Close-up 5T or 6T (~$50). (This combination would be a bit more expensive, and I am not sure if the metal mount and the aperture ring on the ED is worth for me the extra cost as compared to the G lense. Please advise...)
3- Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF-D (~$200)
4- Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro Super II Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF-D (~$150)
5- Tamron Zoom Telephoto AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF-D (~$150)

I've read some good reviews on both Sigma lenses. I would greatly appreciate it if you guys can provide me with any help/advice/suggestion as to what would be my best option, or if you could forward me a link where I can find a comparative review of these lenses.

Thanks,

While none of the 70-300 lenses is rated in the "very good" to "excellent" catagory, the Sigma APO Zoom Macro fared at the top of the list in the "average" catagory. The rest of your list is in the lower "average" catagory.

So the Sigma APO would work very well for most general photography. For $199 it's probably worth it. Had I known when I bought the Nikkor 70-300G I would have spent the extra $50 on the Sigma APO.

[kshoari]

While none of the 70-300 lenses is rated in the "very good" to "excellent" catagory, the Sigma APO Zoom Macro fared at the top of the list in the "average" catagory. The rest of your list is in the lower "average" catagory.

So the Sigma APO would work very well for most general photography. For $199 it's probably worth it. Had I known when I bought the Nikkor 70-300G I would have spent the extra $50 on the Sigma APO.

Thanks a lot for your input. It indeed seems like Sigma APO would be best telephoto option in my price range. One question though... When you talk about "very good" or "average" category, is it based on your familiarity with these lenses, or are you referring to some specific categorization? In the latter case, may I ask where can I find such information about different lenses, their reviews, and which category they belong to?

Thanks again...

[D70FAN]

Thanks a lot for your input. It indeed seems like Sigma APO would be best telephoto option in my price range. One question though... When you talk about "very good" or "average" category, is it based on your familiarity with these lenses, or are you referring to some specific categorization? In the latter case, may I ask where can I find such information about different lenses, their reviews, and which category they belong to?

Thanks again...

This comes from a compiled lens review using an average of at least 3 professional reviews per lens.

Here is a very handy reference to a lot of lenses (again thanks to TheObiJuan for the link):

http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm#Ztele

[palmbook]

I vote for Sigma 70-300 APO Super Macro II (blah blah blah, so long name.)

Its MTF chart is the best in its kind. The images are superb. 1:2 macro is nice and becomes 1.1:1 when used with DSLR.

Make sure you buy one with "RED-ring", not gold.

[D70FAN]

Make sure you buy one with "RED-ring", not gold.

Why is that?

[palmbook]

Why is that?

Gold is the old one. Red is new one

[palmbook]

Comparison between 70-300 Lenses

[palmbook]

This is the version without APO

[palmbook]

Tamron/Nikon 70-300mm F4-5.6 D ED (Tamron produces these lenses for Nikon)