Which lens...Sigma 30mm F1.4 or Nikkor 70-300mm?????

[iluvwdw4ever]

Hello!!!

I just purchased the Nikon D80 in December and now want to purchase a new lens for our trip in a couple of weeks. I have it narrowed down, but need your help!!!!! Which would you choose???? Any info would be great!!!!!!!!

THANKS!!!!
Angela

 

[AndrewWG]

I would have to say that it all depends on what you want to shoot. Will you spend alot of time in Animal Kingdom? If so, go with the 70-300. Otherwise I would certainly go with the Sigma. I have it and it is GREAT. I can't wait until I take it to WDW on my next trip (whenever that will be). I had the 50mm f1.8 (Canon) on my last trip and found that I would have liked the slightly faster lens, but more importantly, a wider angle fast lens for low light parades, night shots, low light indoor shots, etc.

I never put on my 70-200mm in any place other than AK. I don't think you need that reach so much in the other parks.

 

[Gdad]

Both are great lenses-

What do you like to shoot?

What lenses do you already have?

 

[cdfl30]

I also have the D80 and I purchased the 70-300 VR about a month ago. I love the lens and highly recommend it. The photos below were taken hand held on my D80 with this lens zoomed out to the full 300mm with VR on. You should know that I don't have a steady hand so I attribute the clarity to the quality of the lens. I have never used a sigma so I can't comment on that. I can just tell you that I love this lens and don't regret the purchase!

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

I love to shoot anything and everything at Disney. I also love to take pictures of my 3 kids!!! So far, I only have the Nikkor 18-135mm.

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

cdfl30...gorgeous pictures!!!!! Thanks so much for your help!!!!!!

 

[cdfl30]

cdfl30...gorgeous pictures!!!!! Thanks so much for your help!!!!!!

Thank you iluvwdw4ever! Being a beginner photographer, it was hard for me to pay almost $600 for a lens but I don't regret it. Hopefully you can get more opinions on the sigma to help you make the best decision for you. Happy shopping

Candis

 

[YEKCIM]

I love to shoot anything and everything at Disney. I also love to take pictures of my 3 kids!!! So far, I only have the Nikkor 18-135mm.

I have the 18-135 and 70-300VR and can attest that it is a very versatile combination, with some overlap, which cuts down considerably on the lens changes. I probably use the 70-300VR 75% of the time and most of my better shots have come from it. Very good portrait lens, IMO, as long as you have sufficient light.

As Andrew said, it is a very useful range at AK, but is also a good "show" lens for DHS, as well. Lots of interesting detail at the other two parks, too, that this lens is good at isolating.

Good luck with your decision.

~Y

 

[Gdad]

I will add a few as well- 6 with each.

70-300vr

30/1.4

 

[Gdad]

I love to shoot anything and everything at Disney. I also love to take pictures of my 3 kids!!! So far, I only have the Nikkor 18-135mm.

That is a tuff call in my opinion. If I had your kit right now those two would definately be my next two lenses. Which I got first would be a toss up.

 

[cdfl30]

Jeff, you photos are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Candis

 

[Gdad]

Jeff, you photos are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Candis

Thanks Candis- I was just looking at your Flickr site- you have some very nice pictures on there. I liked the Longwood Gardens ones particularly.

 

[Groucho]

The lenses are obviously apples and oranges, but if you're taking pictures at a Disney park, I'd have to go for the 30mm. There is just so much at WDW/DL that is dimly lit, anything less than an F2.8 zoom is going to struggle as soon as you're out of the sunlight, and of course F1.4 is two stops better so it gives you that much more flexibility.

It will also give you more control over depth of field, which would be difficult to achieve with the basic slow long zooms you're considering. (OK, you can get shallow DoF with the 70-300 if you're zooming on things way far away, but not so much with anything nearby.) 30mm is also much more flexible, you can leave it on for a variety of circumstances and crop later, but 70mm on a 1.5 crop DSLR like the D80 will just be too close for most circumstances IMHO.

FWIW, I never shot above 135mm on my last trip, and it was fairly rare that I really felt like I needed more zoom (mostly at AK, as you would expect.) However, I'd be a wreck at this point without a very fast prime.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I'd have to say the Sigma for WDW. A fast lens for low light is really useful there. On my first trip to WDW with a DSLR, I had the 18-135 and 50mm 1.8 and found that to be adequate for most anything. I now have the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and really like the wider prime for parades, etc.

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

Thanks soooo much for all of the suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!