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A friend of mine has a D40 and she wants to get a telephoto zoom lens to shot some park soccer. She has asked me for some suggestions.

I am thinking that due to her tight budget and because she is new to digital photography I would the Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 DG Macro.

Not knowing a lot about Sigma lenses does anyone use this combination and if so what do they think.

I also notice this lense comes in an APO version as well. What are the advantages of this option over the non APO version.

Are there any other options I should consider that will give her full autofocus capabilties on the D40.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Barry first question is the Sigma AFS or equivalent? If not it wont auto focus on a D40. I thought both of those options are not AFS. Possibly the Nikon 55-200 AFS VR for about $350 may be the lens to suit?



Edit just noticed that the 55-200 is about $100 less in bargains, for AFS and VR seems a bargain, you could almost say the lens was thrown in free on top of those features. I am almost positive that the named Sigma's won't AF on a D40 but I am sure someone will confirm.

Thanks Glen.

Can anyone advise on this??

Yep she will need a lens with HSM..

The 55-200VR Nikon seems like a good option on a tight budget. Check ebay or even a new one..


MATT

MATT wrote:Yep she will need a lens with HSM..

The 55-200VR Nikon seems like a good option on a tight budget


MATT

Doesnt Tamron make a 70-300mm zoom with HSM that works on a D40?

Good question because one of my friends wants a zoom for her D40x & I was going to ask a similar question.

Tamron makes a 18-250 that has a in built micro motor so it is compatible with the Nikon D40/40x/60. The 17-50 also gained this and from what I have heard has also started to ship. Not sure if the 28-300VC also has a micro motor, but I wouldnt be suprised if it did. BUT as far as I know the 70-300 has not been brought out with a micro motor, but then again I would not be suprised if they are working on one, to meet the demands of D40/40x/60 users.

EDIT Tamron USA site says that the 70-300 is available with a micro motor for D40/40x/60

The new sigma 70-300 will auto focus on the D40.

I run this combo and find no problems other than you need good light.

Mine was 70-300 F4-5.6 APO DG Macro. It will say Buit in Motor Drive on the box or have -M in the description.

Link to lens on Sigma site

Thanks for the confirmation Dave.

There is also a non APO version that will do the job even though it does not have the zoom macro feature or the glass coating.

It is also about $120 cheaper?? Are these features worth the extra bucks for a school student with her first camera?

Also for what it is worth I found the following compatibility list on the Sigma web site.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/news/news.asp?nID=3356

Barry i cant compare the two but from my research when i brought mine it was better to go for the apo.

I paid $380 for mine here in Tassie

i shot a local soccer match ....had a tamron 28--200...when shooting i found if shot at about 60 to 80mm i was able to capture more action.

For what is worth my friend went for the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro with inbuilt drive motor. Thanks for input everyone and especially Dave.