I need a relatively small and lightweight tele-zoom for a trip. I would like to get to 300mm, spend less than $300. Should be about f4.0 or 4.5 to maybe 5-6. Weight should be about 23 ounces or less. I would like to get the best build and image quality for the price. I will be using a Nikon F100. I will consider Nikon as well as Tokina, Tamron and Sigma. Don't mind paying for new, but will be leaving in 2 weeks, so I must order it soon. Recommdations and comments would be appreciated. Thanks!! P.S. I know this is a cheapie, but it will have to do for now.

-- Jim Meyer (jim_meyer@compusa.com), June 14, 1999

Answers

Nikon 70-300/4-5.6 sounds like the lens you are looking for, and B&H has them "NEW" for under $300.00. And it should work great with your F-100. Good luck.

-- Jim Bridges (jcbejb@worldnet.att.net), June 14, 1999.

I'm using the Nikon 70-300/f4-5.6 with a F100. Stopped down a stop, or so, with the setup held steady the lens is quite good. There's quite a bit of plastic in the construction, but not the lens mount, and the zoom and focus is very smooth. The lens doesn't seem to go very fast from one end of the focus range to the other, but in a more real world situation, like tracking a moving subject, it does very well. This is probably just the lens you want.

-- Bruce Rubenstein (brubenstein@lucent.com), June 15, 1999.