You can also check out the current cheapest Canon 70-300mm DO lens currently available.
Canon 70-300mm F4 IS USM DO lens video review
Reply
Tag Archives: telephoto
Nikon / Nikkor AF 70-300mm review
Don’t forget, you can also watch the Nikon AF 70-300mm video review.
Nikon produce two 70-300mm telephoto lenses. The cheaper standard version – which this review covers – and a more expensive version which has VR image stabilisation.
This lens weighs 480g which is pretty light compared some of the competing lenses at the same focal range. It is important to note that the magnification levels when using this lens will vary depending upon the size of the sensor within your digital camera. When using a cropped sensor digital camera such as the Nikon D80, the image will be cropped, making it look magnified unto 1.6 times the actual focal length you are using. So, for example, taking a photo at 300mm will in effect be 480mm. If, however, a full frame digital camera is used, such as the Nikon D3, the image captured will be the same as the focal length of the lens.
Nikon 70-300mm lens construction
It’s a very simple lens to use, with no switches or buttons to worry about. The MF/AF switch is found on the digital camera rather than on the lens. The barrel of the lens provides enough resistance when moving from 70mm all the way up to 300mm, without it being juddery. It does feel surprisingly light in your hands almost like a toy. When trying to auto focus, the lens is typically noisy – much like the Sigma and Tamron lenses – and takes a similar amount of time to focus in. There isn’t a specific macro function either with this lens, and the minimum focusing distance is 1.5m away.
Nikon 70-300mm image quality
Alternative lenses
The more expensive Nikon/Nikkor 70-300mm has VR (vibration reduction). This noticeably increases the price but affords the ability to take photos at slower shutter speeds. The direct competitors to this lens however would be the Sigma APO 70-300mm and the Tamron 70-300mm.
Overall
Considering the price of this lens, it is ideal if you want an introduction into telephoto photography without having to spend a lot of money. The Sigma and Tamron have the advantage of incorporating a macro function which is very useful. So, if you’re only concerned with telephoto photography, perhaps the Nikon 70-300mm would make more sense, however if you are interested in delving into the world of macro photography as well, then the Sigma APO 70-300mm would be more suitable.
Nikkor AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 (non VR) lens video review
Don’t forget, you can also read the Nikon 70-300mm review and check out the cheapest Nikkor 70-300mm price.
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO Macro lens Canon fit video review
Don’t forget, you can also read the Sigma 70-300mm review and check out the current Sigma 70-300mm cheapest price.
Sigma 70-300mm review
Don’t forget, you can also watch the Sigma 70-300mm video review
Sigma is another company that produces lenses that fit a number of the main camera manufacturers. The 70-300mm APO lens incorporates Sigma’s low dispersion technology glass which limits colour aberration. This generally reduces the fuzziness that can sometimes appear around the edge of objects within the frame of your shot where there is a somewhat large difference between the luminosity of the object and the background. Basically, it means a Sigma lens with APO technology will produce sharper images than a Sigma lens without it.
Sigma 70-300mm lens construction
The lens itself weighs 530g, this places it pretty much in the middle, when compared to competing 70-300mm lenses. It is important to note that the magnification levels when using this lens will vary depending upon the size of the sensor within your digital camera. When using a cropped sensor digital camera such as the Canon EOS 60D, the image will be cropped, making it look magnified unto 1.6 times the actual focal length you are using. So, for example, taking a photo at 300mm will in effect be 480mm. If, however, a full frame digital camera is used, such as the Canon EOS 1DS, the image captured will be the same as the focal length of the lens.
The lens feels sturdy and well built. The focusing mechanism offers a suitable amount of resistance which makes it easy to move between different focal lengths. The macro toggle only works once the barrel of the lens has been extended beyond 200mm. Turning the macro function on and off can be a bit difficult, and does require a certain amount of fiddling with the focusing and the extending / contracting of the lens. Like the Tamron 70-300mm, it is necessary to stand around 1m away from the desired target when using Macro mode.
Sigma 70-300mm image quality
Alternative lenses
70-300mm is a popular focal range and there are a number of manufacturers that produce lenses at this level. Sigma and Tamron both produce lenses at a similar price. Canon produces a 70-300mm with image stabilisation and a USM ring motor. This produces superior results however it costs more than twice the price of the Sigma 70-300mm. Finally Nikon produces a number of 70-300mm lenses, a basic version without any extra functions, and a more expensive version with vibration reduction – Nikon’s version of image stabilisation – and this would be a similar price to the Canon 70-300mm USM IS.
Overall
For those on a budget, the Sigma 70-300mm APO DG is an excellent purchase allowing many types of photography ranging from nature photography through to portrait work ending up in macro photography. In my opinion it is slightly superior to the competing Tamron 70-300mm lens due to its slightly faster focusing and better build quality.
Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di LD Macro review
Don’t forget, you can watch the Tamron 70-300mm video review
Tamron produce lenses compatible with many camera manufacturers and the Tamron 70-300mm telephoto lens is a good example of a multipurpose lens suitable for those on a budget. It weighs 435g, which is lighter than the majority of competing lenses from other manufacturers which have the same focal range. It is important to note that the magnification levels when using this lens will vary depending upon the size of the sensor within your digital camera. When using a cropped sensor digital camera such as the Canon EOS 50D, the image will be cropped, making it look magnified unto 1.6 times the actual focal length you are using. So, for example, taking a photo at 300mm will in effect be 480mm. If, however, a full frame digital camera is used, such as the Canon EOS 5D, the image captured will be the same as the focal length of the lens.
Tamron 70-300mm Lens construction
The lens looks sturdy and feels surprisingly light. The outer casing is plastic, and the zoom and focusing ring has a rubber coating. The zoom feels suitably tight when moving through the focal lengths, however when in manual focus mode, the focus ring feels a bit loose, and it can be a bit tricky keeping the subject in focus once you’ve located the right position. When using the autofocus, the motor is noticeably louder than alternative lenses such as the Canon 70-300mm – which has a quieter and faster USM ring motor. It also takes quite a while to focus in on a subject, and is even more noticeable when in macro mode. The macro mode itself is perfectly ample, however it requires the lens barrel to be extended to a minimum of 180mm before you can switch the macro on. This also means you need to be standing a minimum of 1 metre away from your target to be able to focus adequately.
Tamron 70-300mm image quality
Alternative lenses to the Tamron 70-300mm
There are a number of lens manufacturers who produce lenses at the 70-300mm focal range. Sigma for example produce a 70-300mm APO Macro lens which is of a similar quality and price point to the Tamron 70-300mm. The next level up from the Sigma and Tamron lenses would be the Canon 70-300mm IS USM and Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm which include image stabilisation technology (VR – Vibration Reduction – with the Nikon lenses). These are typically twice the price but have the advantage of quicker focusing mechanisms and image stabilisation. For those who have a Nikon camera, Nikon also produce a budget 70-300mm lens which, brand new, can be purchased for as little as £100. Finally, for Canon users, there is a Canon 70-300mm DO USM lens. DO stands for diffractive optics, and is noticeably shorter than the standard 70-300mm. This comes at a price however, and the lens also has a wider diameter.
Overall
The Tamron 70-300mm isn’t going to win any awards for it’s image and build quality, however it is very cheap compared to the alternatives out there. The images that can be produced with this lens are perfectly adequate, especially in better lighting conditions, and the macro function adds an extra level of versatility.
Tamron AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 Canon fit video review
Don’t forget, you can also read the Tamron 70-300mm review and check out the current Tamron 70-300mm cheapest price.
