Nikon SLR Cameras

What's your oppinion on which Nikon Lens that suit me?

Daniel Ong
Daniel Ong

I'm tyring to decide to get either Nikon 70-200mm/F2.8 VR1 or 70-200mmVR2/F2.8 or 80-200mmF2.8 or 85mm/F1.4. I love to shoot indoor/outdoor potrait, occasionly my wife in action on volleyball court, indoor event (wedding, family gathering) and once a while my kids performing on stage. The price does matter, but I don't mind pay more if it make a synificant different with my purpose above. (Fyi- I'm using D40 with intention to get D7000 soon. I'm using 35mm/F1.8 right now including indoor event).

George Y
George Y

Any of the lenses you named would give you excellent results in low light or with capturing sports action.

BUT, the 80-200mm AF-D f/2.8 and the 85mm AF-D f/1.4 don't have an internal auto-focus motor and require you to manually focus. Trust me, in following sports or the action on a stage, that would be a serious challenge.

The 70-200mm lens are very similar in quality and are both professional caliber optics. I've seen many professionals using by these trusted lenses in the thick of action. That being said, I believe you'd find good values with the first version, as some photographers are selling theirs on Ebay or Craigslist for better prices. You can also check with Keh.com and Adorama.com in their used lens sections.

Personally, I use a Sigma 70-200mm AF HSM f/2.8 and find it excellent. It doesn't have VR, but I shoot with a monopod when covering sports, and have also developed techniques that allow me to hand-hold my camera and lens at 1/60th of a second or slower. That takes practice. The main difference is the Sigma is a fraction of the price of the Nikon lenses. Now, resale value is much less, but that's also helpful because you can find used ones for even better prices.

IF you can wait until you get the D7000, then the 80-200mm AF-D f/2.8 is a very nice value in a quality lens.

By the way, the 35mm f/1.8 that you use is one of my favorite lenses and I never go out without it in my bag. If you look at the sports photos in my links below, you'll find they are all taken with either the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 or the Nikon 35mm f/1.8.

Jeroen Wijnands
Jeroen Wijnands

I'd get a 70-200 vr1 if you could find one gently used. Darn good lens and with your cameras you don't really need the mk2. The 80-200 af-s is also very good but VR may come in handy with the kids on stage.
The 85mm is lovely but, in my opinion, too limited.