Need a bigger lens, already!

[Kevin2]

Well, I got my set up today. And, while it is very cool, I can see already that I'm way under powered with my 70-300 Tamron. I blew plenty of cash on my set up of Nikon D50, 18-55 Nikon lens, 2GB 150X Card, and the Tamron 70-300 lens, so I figure I may as well just shoot for the stars and get the last lens I really want.

Any and all comments will help.

Thanks all...

Kevin

[poker]

I've asked a similar question and most will ask, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SHOOT?

When you are out there taking photos, what are you usually telling yourself?

Fill in the blank...

"Damn, I wish I had a ____-____mm lens with a minimum f/_._ right now!!!"

Don't forget about primes either. Usually better performers than zoom lenses.

So what are you going to shoot?

[Kevin2]

Well, I know that I love watching the birds in our back yard. I love taking pictures of all sorts of things, but the Tamron just doesn't get me close enough. Do I need it to be faster? I don't know, but I do know that I can't get any closer to the birds that are in my garden and trees. So, for now, that would be my biggest area of need.

Thanks, Kevin

[ekstasis16]

Would you be able to get a 1.4x extender for the Tamron? I don't know about compatibility with Nikon mounts, but that would push it out to 420, and if that's not close enough, something's wrong. I slapped a 1.4x on my Canon 300 f4, and it works great for shooting birds outside my office.

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...sort=1&cat=500
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...sort=1&cat=500

[Kevin2]

Here are some lenses that I'm looking at
Tamron... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true

Sigma... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Opteka 500mm...and this cheaper lens is where I really need to know something about. I'm sure it is not for me because it is to cheap to be true, but I'll ask why anyway! http://cgi.ebay.com/500mm-HD-Mirror-...QQcmdZViewItem

I'm leaving on a month long vacation this Friday, so I'm making up my mind this weekend. Hopefully with good advice!

Thanks, Kevin

[mjs1973]

I have the Sigma 170-500mm APO lens, but not the DG version. It's a pretty OK lens for the money. It's not as sharp as I would like it to be, but with good technique, it is a very capable lens. The AF is VERY slow, and kind of loud on mine. It is a few years old tho, so maybe the newer ones are better. I have found that the AF hunts quite regularly, even in good light so manual focusing with this lens is pretty common.

The Opteka is so cheap because it is a mirror lens. I don't know much about them, but they have been discussed here a few times. Here are a couple of threads that talk about them.

Mirror Lenses?

Mirror Lense

[Kevin2]

Well, I can't have every lens out there, and it appears that of the lenses that I'm looking at in my price range THEY all seem to get pretty good reviews here and elsewhere. I'm picking the Sigma 170-500 because I'll get the extra reach, and it is a bit cheaper than the Tamron 200-500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

So, unless I hear otherwise, I'll be putting a fast shipment request in tomorrow!

Thanks, Kevin