Third party 70-300 lenses

I am hoping to get another lens to extend my reach from the Sigma 18-200 OS HSM (on Nikon D 5000), and I am thinking about one of the following lenses- primarily as training lenses for the next few years to perfect my techniques for bird photography..
1 Tamron 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro (170$)
2 Sigma 70-300 F/4-5.6 DG Macro (150$)
3 Sigma 70-300 F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro (220$)
Any idea which one would be better?

None of these have Image stabilization, but can't that be compensated by support/technique?
Also no ultrasonic motor... will that lower focus speed "too much"?

Finally is this approach OK, or should I wait few years until I can afford something better eg. Nikon 70-300 ED VR or Sigma 120-400/150-500?

My vote would be to wait till you can get the Nikon 70-300VR.

Lot's of reviews complain it's not sharp at 300, but after seeing your awesome pic of the spoonie in flight at the D300s basics thread I'm not sure if that's an issue... does stopping down to F/7.1 address the issue totally?

Stopping down any lens will help it a bit, but I find it gives me a cushion of DOF in flight shots. I use mine at 300 a lot without any decrease in sharpness. I find with most, it is a matter of technique.

Thanks a lot for the advice! I'll see what I can do... :)

Subhrashis,

In my opinion you'll make greater strides in wildlife photography if you switch to fixed focal length lenses. Zooms, especially lower priced ones tend to have compromises, including sharpness, flare, close focus distance, and autofocus speed. (The Nikon 200-400 is an exception but is very expensive.) Does Nikon make a 300 mm f/4 VR lens? That will get you into the range of the ability to get close, especially of you add a 1.4x teleconverter. You might look for a used lens from someone trading up. Or a 400 mm f/5.6.

Good luck,
Roger

Thanks Roger for your advice!
Nikon does have a 300 F/4 , but it is non VR, the VR version is F/2.8
Yes, the primes are awesome, and I'll surely be looking to see if one is available, maybe used..

(but i don't think this one will come off before I'm out of college and into a job... :) !)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by subhrashis

Thanks Roger for your advice!

(but i don't think this one will come off before I'm out of college and into a job... :) !)

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Subhrashis,

I remember college days. I couldn't afford much in camera lenses either and it was hard to be patient. I bought and old used Exacta.

Good luck,

Roger

Being in college looks like you might have to wait a few years before being able to afford the lens you really want. I wouldn't want to wait that long either, and for those reasons I think the Sigma 70-300 F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro would be a good compromise while you wait (emphasis on the APO). I had it too for a couple of years before being able to afford my 100-400L. It was perfect for honing my skills, and some of my favorite images came from that lens. Yes, it does have limitations, but for the extremely low price it is worth it IMO, especially on a crop body.

The Tamron 70-300 is the best value on the market!

Tamron has announced the pending release of a new 70-300mm IF ED VC AF-S lens.
I'm first on the list to get one.
James

...and if the new Tamron 70-300 is anything close to my beloved Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 XR Di then I'd say yes to that!:cool:

I agree, the tamron sounds as if it is going to be great!
However, I have a question, how would it compare to the nikon (70-300 ED VR)?
Sigma recently made a 70-300 os, (leaving out HSM, APO), but price difference between the nikon was less than 100$, so should the better spec-ed tamron be much cheaper?

Meaning, should i wait for the tamron if i manage to afford the Nikon before the tamron is released?

Never mind, got the Nikon 70-300 ED VR, can't wait to try it out tomorrow morning! Thank you all for your advice and guidance!