Do these lens prices sound okay?

[Fredo]

This is a fun read. We all know what yo are going through Fred. At least you're getting some good advice.

. . its only money right Paul?
How good is KIWI (Darren) offering up all this help?

Hey Paul, I'm thinking I'll need a lens to compliment the 70-200.
How is the Sigma 24-70 f2.8? Portraits/family stuff etc?

. . and stop laughing alright!!

[PH005]

I have no complaints about mine Fred. Did you see what Rick can achieve with his. ( recent shot of one of his dogs, awesome ). Is a great walkabout lens, but then I guess the 70-200 is a good WA lens too. Just miss out on the wide side though. Kiwi and ALL the others here are fantastic when it comes to giving. Thats what makes this the Best site on the net.

ps. Have stopped laughing. Am only grinning now.

[Boo53]

Fred

Please keep the thread here, its definitely of interest to others of us.

I tried a cheap 70-300 Tamron for cricket last year & they were soft, partly cheap lens & a bigger part inept photographer. At that time it was pointed out that the min speed for birds is 1/lens length & for sport much much faster than that, so working backwards the f2.8 is definitely indicated.

I've been itching to press the button on a sigma 70-200 2.8 non IS model for a while now (shooting Sony I don't need in lens IS the cameras got it) but haven't had the courage to ask permission yet. Whilst I have been procrastinating they have gone from $650 to $750 on the grey market (gee that finger is getting itchy on the mouse)

[Fredo]

please keep the thread here, its definitely of interest to others of us.

I was concerned it might be regurgitating stuff that was already well and truly covered.

. . . Gone from $650 to $750 on the grey market (gee that finger is getting itchy on the mouse)

dooo it, dooo it, dooo it . . .

[kiwi]

The reason Id like to help is to shortcut my own experience :-)

D40
18-55
55-200
+ 18-200 - 18-55 - 55-200
+ 300 F/4
-18-200 + tamron 28-75
+ tokina 12-24
+ sigma 50-150 2.8
+ nikon 50 1.8
- tokina 12-24
- 300 f/4
+ D2H - D40
+ nikon 85 1.4
- sigma 50-150
+ sigma 120-300 2.8
+ sigma 180 macro
+ d300
- sigma 180 macro
+ nikon 105 micro
- sigma 120-300
+ nikon 70-200
+ nikon 300 2.8
- tamron 28-75
- nikon 85 1.4
+ D3
-nikon 300 2.8
+ nikon 400 2.8
- d300
+d2hs
-dshs
+d300s
+ nikon 20 2.8
+ nikon 24-70
- nikon 50 1.8
+ nikon 50 1.4

Now, see what trouble I am saving you ?

[Fredo]

Don't for a second think I don't appreciate your help Daz . . just don't know how on earth I'll ever repay the favour.

I have a 'dumb-A' question . .

Using this Nikon 70-300 f4-5.6G, I have to manually enter the aperture into the camera body right?
So do I enter the largest (4) or the smallest (5.6)?
What about focal length?

[kiwi]

No, you shouldn't have to, what mode you in (a, s, p ?)

While you're getting to grips put in p for program auto

[Fredo]

P Mode? Autot? No way man . . P mode is gone forever.
I'll be using A or S tomorrow for my daughters game.

[kiwi]

Ok, shoot at maximum aperture plus one stop in aperture priority and increase iso until you get a shutter speed of 1/800s, might be iso800 but that's ok

Choose af-c
Choose 21-Pt dynamic focus
Choose centre weighted metering
Choose cloudy white balance

You should be right to go