A Nikon lens for motorsport?

[flyinfordson]

Ok

I'm thinking about the racing new season - yeah someway off I know but I was considering my options/upgrades to my tele lens.

It will be for motor sport - drag racing where your reasonably close to the action and circuit/sprint courses were sometimes your not........you know the score...

At the moment I have the capable Sigma 70 - 300 and the Nikon 18 - 200VR as well as the 18-55 kit lens.

I don't really want to get rid of the 18-200VR, so I therefore see the upgrade being on the Sigma, and I need more range sometimes..........

What happens if I use a teleconvertor on the Sigma?? Can I? Are the results worth the ££? Could I use the same teleconvertor on the Nikon lens?

What would be my other options? The Nikon 70-200 f2.8? But I'd still struggle with range and how could I justify the 18-200 then?

Any other options - or do I have a reasonable setup?

Sorry for all the questions in one mail..... I don't mind spending the cash if I can get the good results - obviously I don't have a bottomless pit either. You see my dilemma??

Cheers

Dave

[RobDickinson]

I assume the 70-300 is f5.6 at the long end, that precludes using the teleconvertor if you want to use AF, and it'll be SLOW (& dim).

IMO the 70-200f2.8 will be good if the 200 is enough reach.

The only longer zoom with f2.8 is the sigma 120-300f2.8 , excelent, fast but expensive.

So for 300 your looking at f4 or more zooms or primes.

I'd be tempted with the 70-200f2.8 and 1.4 or 2.0 convertors - do nikon make a 100-400 f4-5.6 'L' equivelant?

[Yandros]

Originally Posted by RobDickinson

I assume the 70-300 is f5.6 at the long end, that precludes using the teleconvertor if you want to use AF, and it'll be SLOW (& dim).

IMO the 70-200f2.8 will be good if the 200 is enough reach.

The only longer zoom with f2.8 is the sigma 120-300f2.8 , excelent, fast but expensive.

So for 300 your looking at f4 or more zooms or primes.

I'd be tempted with the 70-200f2.8 and 1.4 or 2.0 convertors - do nikon make a 100-400 f4-5.6 'L' equivelant?

Yeah, they do - the 80-400 f4-5.6 ED VR D for £960. I had a play with one briefly, and it's not too unwieldy. The only problem is that it's not an AFS lens and first generation VR, rather than the VR II you get on the 18-200, so it's a bit stoneage. The optimistic wing of the rumour mill says it's overdue for a makeover.

Take a look at this thread...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...6246147&page=1

[viffer]

Another option is the Sigma 100-300 f/4, though it can be a little soft wide open. Not to bad weight wise either.
Its got HSM for quick autofocus.



Taken at Oulton Park for the BSB round last may with the Sigma 100-300

[mansell]

what about the Nikon 300mm F4?

warehouse express price bedlow

300mm f/4D AF-S IF ED
(77mm) £798

or the 80-200mm F2.8 and a T1.4 or T2, probably a better option than above tbh.

[rrfierce]

A good recommendation came in the form of the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF-S. a Bit short for motorsport, but apparently lightening fast and super sharp

[flyinfordson]

Thanks guys - theres a few options there and i guess it basically comes down to cost - as always

Yandros - what would be you opinion of an update for the 80-400? I don't really need to buy anything just yet - maybe till spring/early summer. Would anything likely be about by then?

Realistically, the Sigma 120-300 is out of my price, as is the 70-200F2.8 and TC. So I guess at the moment, it's between

Nikon 80-200 F2.8 + TC

Sigma 100 - 300 F4

Nikon 80 - 400 F4-F5.6

Cheers

[alfienoakes]

I personally use the 70-200 VR and the 300 AF-S f/4. I've also got 1.4 and 1.7 teleconvertors to cover longer reaches. That covers pretty much everything apart from the pits/paddock.

The 70-300 VR is also not bad at all. It got me by until I purchased the above. It does get a little soft over 200mm though. As long as you don't mind bumping up the ISO, it will give good results whatever the weather.

The Sigma 100-300 and 120-300 ($$) are also very popular choices, but I don't have any experience of using them myself.