Advice needed: Nikon F601 with Tamron AF28-300mm F3.5-6.3XR?

(Thomas) writes:

Hi,

I'm just an amateur photographer. I have a Nikon F601 with fitted with
a Nikon 35-70mm lens. I plan to upgrade it and get a multi-purpose
lens with a longer zoom. I'm looking at the new Nikon AF28-300mm
F/3.5-6.3 XR Aspherical (IF) Ultra Zoom lens
(http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/a06.asp)

My questions a
1. Can this lens fit the Nikon F601?
2. For a multi-purpose lens, is this worth the price/performance?
3. When compare to my current Nikon 35-70mm lens, is the Tamron
28-300mm autofocus speed a lot slower?
4. Any other 28-300mm lens alternatives?

As far as I know, no one makes a really sharp 28-300mm zoom for
35mm. A less ambitious lens, perhaps the 28-200 f:3.5-5.6, might
give better results. The 24-120 is a controversial lens, but at
its best seems very good, and would extend your range on both
ends.

Another approach would be to keep your 35-70 and add a longer zoom
to get the range you want. There are a bunch of 70-X lenses out there,
where X may be 150, 180, 200, 210, or 300.

Take a look at http://www.ferrario.com/ruether/slemn.html for some
idea of where to look next.

--
-Stephen H. Westin
Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not
represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors.

In article ,
(Stephen H. Westin) wrote:

(Thomas) writes:

Hi,

I'm just an amateur photographer. I have a Nikon F601 with fitted with
a Nikon 35-70mm lens. I plan to upgrade it and get a multi-purpose
lens with a longer zoom. I'm looking at the new Nikon AF28-300mm
F/3.5-6.3 XR Aspherical (IF) Ultra Zoom lens
(http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/a06.asp)

My questions a
1. Can this lens fit the Nikon F601?
2. For a multi-purpose lens, is this worth the price/performance?
3. When compare to my current Nikon 35-70mm lens, is the Tamron
28-300mm autofocus speed a lot slower?
4. Any other 28-300mm lens alternatives?

As far as I know, no one makes a really sharp 28-300mm zoom for
35mm. A less ambitious lens, perhaps the 28-200 f:3.5-5.6, might
give better results. The 24-120 is a controversial lens, but at
its best seems very good, and would extend your range on both
ends.

Another approach would be to keep your 35-70 and add a longer zoom
to get the range you want. There are a bunch of 70-X lenses out there,
where X may be 150, 180, 200, 210, or 300.

Take a look at http://www.ferrario.com/ruether/slemn.html for some
idea of where to look next.

One other potential issue: if the 28-300 really goes down to f/6.3 at
the long end autofocus may not work, I think it bottoms out at f/5.6.

Just like you I wanted an alternative to my 35-70 and settled for the
Tokina 24-200, which I got at a good price. For what I want it for
(vacation shots & use during hiking) it seems like the most universal
lens to get. In my case, what settled the deal was that the aperture
ring on the Tokina will go slightly beyond open as required for the
old-style non-AI external coupling. This means I can fit the lens with
the prong to fit my EL and my F2.

Uli