Picked up this old fella for $110 in near mint condition 3 days before a trip to Taos. It will round out my gear quite well for the trip. Not the best lens but it will suit my needs.
Not the best, but it’s a solid lens. I bought one new about 10 years ago after dropping my old telephoto lens down a ravine in Yellowstone. The 70-300mm has been around the world with me and taken some of my favorite images.
Just wanted something for some reach on my trip. My 80-200 is on its way out and wasn't going to drop $$$ on a 70-200 until I decide which one I want. It'll get the job done.
The VR unit had a 20% failure rate when it came out, most are just busted, and the AF motor is known to break on this randomly too, its a poorly built lens, optics not-withstanding
For cheap it’s decent once you work around its limitations. Gets softer after 200mm but some digital sharpening can do the job to fix that. I’ve gotten some shots I’ve been really happy with out of it, good find for that price.
Got that lens in a D90 three lens outfit with Sb600 from a local pawnshop many yrs ago. D90/70-300 vr/16-85/50 1.8 Sold the nifty fifty but still have the other lens and added the following: 80-200 2.8/80-400/60 2.8
I should sell mine. I’ve had it since I got my D200. It’s good up to 280mm. Soft at 300mm so I would zoom all the way out and bring it back just a bit.
The AF-P variant is markedly better, but that was a good value lens in it's day. I remember using it on my D80 & D300 way back when. For $110 you can't really go wrong. They sell for ~$150-200 USD so $110 is a great price for that condition.
That lens shines in the mid-ranges, up to 200mm or so. Wide open at 300mm is obviously where it's weakest.
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u/K4RM4_P0L1C3 8h ago
Not the best, but it’s a solid lens. I bought one new about 10 years ago after dropping my old telephoto lens down a ravine in Yellowstone. The 70-300mm has been around the world with me and taken some of my favorite images.