Which Telephoto lens for my DSLR & Mirrorless combo?

[buddy13]

I have a Z6 II & a D7500 and currently have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DI VC SP Tamron which I bought a couple years ago that I use on both.

It's a great lens for static subjects at f8. It's VC is incredible, I can shoot at 300mm and 1/50s all day if I wanted to.

Having said that, it's AF speed is far from fast and not very accurate and it is not as sharp as I like wide open.

I'm looking at replacing it with a 70-200mm faster aperture lens. I like the f/2.8 for their bokeh and their ability to do portraits & low light. On the other hand, I'm not sure about their weight and with such good High ISO capability of my gear I don't think I will have too much of a problem shooting with at least an f/4. I will use it for some (limited) wildlife, dogs, kids, portraits & travel mainly.

I'm even considering keeping the 70-300mm for it's light weight and small size and get the f/2.8 along side. But possibly the f/4 can replace both. I'm a bit of a minimalist, so I only want to keep what I need and use.

I'm looking at three options.

- Tamron 70-210mm f/4 DI VC USD
- Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 DI VC USD G2
- Nikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR

I can get the Tamron 70-210 f/4 at half the price of the Tamron f/2.8 or the Nikon f/4, which run for the same price (just over a 1000 Euros). What would you do?

Do these all work equally well on my Z with FTZ adapter?

PS: I have looked at both the 2.8 Nikkor FL ED VR & the new 2.8 Z VR S and though they are both beautiful, they are a bit too rich for my blood & I'd also like to be able to use on both my cameras interchangeably.

 

[fcotterill]

The missing gem in your list is the SIgma 70-200 f2.8DG, which gets most positive reports on bench tests (eg recent N-Photo Mag). It's ~1100 quid.

I have not used any of the above 3 you list, however; as I have the 70-200 f2.8E (thanks to major Special in 2018). IME, this does very well with TC14 III. Recently I've seen Used copies (eg in both Cape Town and London), possibly trade ins for the Z mount 70-200f2.8S. And let us be grateful

I have bought most of my lenses Used. Provided they have a warranty from a reputable shop, this strategy saves a huge amount. This option would also make yet another option possible: a 300 f4E PF, which many of us rate as one of the most versatile medium telephotos yet made. It also gives you 420 f5.6 with a TC14.

 

[joe43]

Given that most new cameras these days are "better" in lower light situations, I find the need for fast glass, like f2.8 lenses, are not needed as much as they were in the past. I use the Nikon 70-200mm f4 and find its image quality to be excellent even at f4. And the Nikon 300mm f4 pf gets the same recommendation. Both are light in weight.

Check out the minimum focus distance on any len you are considering as getting closer can have a huge impact on controlling backgrounds. Try and rent any lens you are thinking of buying and give it a test drive the way you will be using it. Your tests are the only ones that really count.

 

[buddy13]

Given that most new cameras these days are "better" in lower light situations, I find the need for fast glass, like f2.8 lenses, are not needed as much as they were in the past. I use the Nikon 70-200mm f4 and find its image quality to be excellent even at f4. And the Nikon 300mm f4 pf gets the same recommendation. Both are light in weight.

Check out the minimum focus distance on any len you are considering as getting closer can have a huge impact on controlling backgrounds. Try and rent any lens you are thinking of buying and give it a test drive the way you will be using it. Your tests are the only ones that really count.

Totally agree on minimum focus distance spec!

That is very handy on any lens. I have read that the F/4 is as sharp as the F/2.8 and that it is even as fast to AF. Can you confirm that it has little to no focus breathing at minimum focus distance?

I live on a very small island where renting lenses is not really an option unfortunately, so I have to do with reviews and recommendations.

 

[buddy13]

The missing gem in your list is the SIgma 70-200 f2.8DG, which gets most positive reports on bench tests (eg recent N-Photo Mag). It's ~1100 quid.

I have not used any of the above 3 you list, however; as I have the 70-200 f2.8E (thanks to major Special in 2018). IME, this does very well with TC14 III. Recently I've seen Used copies (eg in both Cape Town and London), possibly trade ins for the Z mount 70-200f2.8S. And let us be grateful

I have bought most of my lenses Used. Provided they have a warranty from a reputable shop, this strategy saves a huge amount. This option would also make yet another option possible: a 300 f4E PF, which many of us rate as one of the most versatile medium telephotos yet made. It also gives you 420 f5.6 with a TC14.

Yes I have considered the Sigma. Thing is that it is even heavier than the others and features a non removable tripod collar to add.

It is also 200-300 Euros dearer to the very similar performing Tamron G2 where I live.

As nice as the 300 F4E is, it does not work for most of my uses. I am not ready for a telephoto prime yet.

 

[Pistnbroke]

If you get tamron factor in the doc as without it you are not getting the best

 

[Steve W]

The 70-200 f/4 is a great lens. 78 mm diameter, 178 mm long and 850 grams. If you don’t need a f/2.8 optic or don’t want to carry 1450 odd grams then this is for you. It’s quiet, quick focus and great image quality.

 

[fcotterill]

some of these zoom teles have been discussed on past months eg this one

 

[BillW]

Totally agree on minimum focus distance spec!

That is very handy on any lens. I have read that the F/4 is as sharp as the F/2.8 and that it is even as fast to AF. Can you confirm that it has little to no focus breathing at minimum focus distance?

I live on a very small island where renting lenses is not really an option unfortunately, so I have to do with reviews and recommendations.

If you like a 70-300, have you considered the Nikon 70-300 AF-P FX lens? It a very good lens, fast to focus and works well on both DSLRs and Z bodies (with the FTZ). It’s also pretty reasonable in price and on sale now in the US. I currently use mine mostly on a Z6II, D500 or D850, although I have used it on other bodies as well. I don’t have the Tamron, so I can’t directly compare them.

I also have the Nikon 70-200 f4 and f2.8 FL E. The f4 is a nice lens, although the f2.8 FL E is sharper and faster to focus (as well as heavier and more expensive). The f4 has relatively little focus breathing, compared to Nikon’s older f2.8 70-200s. (The newer f2.8 FL E also has less focus breathing.) I’ve taken many photos I like with the 70-200 f4 over the years (which I bought before the other two), but now I find myself taking the 70-300 AF-P when I want a light telephoto — it’s a bit lighter and it’s often nice to have 300 mm. And when I want better optics or want f2.8 and don’t mind the weight, I take the f2.8 FL E.

Again, the f4 is a nice lens and a good compromise. It’s probably also a bit better optically than the 70-300 AF-P FX lens in the overlapping focal length range. While I have not used mine with a TC, I suspect it would also work well with a Nikon 1.4x TC (maybe the II or III model) if you need a bit more reach.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[buddy13]

If you like a 70-300, have you considered the Nikon 70-300 AF-P FX lens? It a very good lens, fast to focus and works well on both DSLRs and Z bodies (with the FTZ). It’s also pretty reasonable in price and on sale now in the US. I currently use mine mostly on a Z6II, D500 or D850, although I have used it on other bodies as well. I don’t have the Tamron, so I can’t directly compare them.

I also have the Nikon 70-200 f4 and f2.8 FL E. The f4 is a nice lens, although the f2.8 FL E is sharper and faster to focus (as well as heavier and more expensive). The f4 has relatively little focus breathing, compared to Nikon’s older f2.8 70-200s. (The newer f2.8 FL E also has less focus breathing.) I’ve taken many photos I like with the 70-200 f4 over the years (which I bought before the other two), but now I find myself taking the 70-300 AF-P when I want a light telephoto — it’s a bit lighter and it’s often nice to have 300 mm. And when I want better optics or want f2.8 and don’t mind the weight, I take the f2.8 FL E.

Again, the f4 is a nice lens and a good compromise. It’s probably also a bit better optically than the 70-300 AF-P FX lens in the overlapping focal length range. While I have not used mine with a TC, I suspect it would also work well with a Nikon 1.4x TC (maybe the II or III model) if you need a bit more reach.

Good luck with your choice.

I could almost relate to everything you have said above.

If I go for the f/2.8, I might as well keep the Tamron 70-300mm for travel etc. as I am sure that the 2.8 will prove too much at certain times. On the other hand, it's ability for portraits, subject isolation cannot be over emphasized.

The f/4 is a great 'compromise' I am just still a bit unsure whether I would still wish for that 2.8 Aperture for better separation & low light.

 

[dabhand16]

I have a Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4 D that works very well with both a 1.4x TC and the 1.7x TC. So does my old AF-S 80-200 f2.8. Both can be got now very cheaply and punch well above their weight. Beauty is that with the TCs I have 6 lenses.......

I used them on my D700, and D810 and now on my D850 and Fuji XT-4.