Will this lens fit my Nikon D5000?
Discussion
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According to the listing it is Nikon AF mount, but my Nikon D5000 requires Nikon F mount but also states AF-S and AF-L are compatible.
I'm a tad confused.
And if it will fit, would this be the sort of thing for Le Mans?
It'll fit but it will not auto-focus on the D5000.
The closest equivalent that will work is the Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR. I have one of these and it is fantastic but is likely to cost £250-£300 used.
An excellent cheaper alternative would be the Nikon 55-200 VR. These start at about £100 used which is an absolute bargain. 200mm should be enough for a lot of spots at Le Mans though maybe a bit short for other things.
There are also a few Sigma and Tamron offerings that will AF ok on the D5000.
The closest equivalent that will work is the Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR. I have one of these and it is fantastic but is likely to cost £250-£300 used.
An excellent cheaper alternative would be the Nikon 55-200 VR. These start at about £100 used which is an absolute bargain. 200mm should be enough for a lot of spots at Le Mans though maybe a bit short for other things.
There are also a few Sigma and Tamron offerings that will AF ok on the D5000.
It will fit but I'm pretty sure the D5000 doesn't have a focus motor in the body so you wouldn't get autofocus with that lens. The AF-S lenses are the ones that will autofocus on the D5000.
Personally, I'd rather be using autofocus if I was taking motorsport photos.
Ebay link to a random example of the AF-S 70-300: clicky.
Personally, I'd rather be using autofocus if I was taking motorsport photos.
Ebay link to a random example of the AF-S 70-300: clicky.
According to this site here it will not auto focus and you will also lose matrix metering and distance measurement (for TTL flash etc...)
Personally I think you'd be better off with your 55-200. Manual focussing on fast moving objects is going to be pretty tough.
Places like Tetre Rouge, Porsche Curves and Mulsanne straight (if you're naughty) get you pretty close to the action. I think 200mm would be sufficient. If you're worried it may not be, why not look at hiring a 70-300 VR?
Personally I think you'd be better off with your 55-200. Manual focussing on fast moving objects is going to be pretty tough.
Places like Tetre Rouge, Porsche Curves and Mulsanne straight (if you're naughty) get you pretty close to the action. I think 200mm would be sufficient. If you're worried it may not be, why not look at hiring a 70-300 VR?
Gad-Westy said:
According to this site here it will not auto focus and you will also lose matrix metering and distance measurement (for TTL flash etc...)
I stand corrected. That's really odd. I was just going by the fact that it would work on my D40 so it must work on the D5000.I don't quite understand why that's the case though. Looks like that's my afternoon gone looking for the answers!
craig_s said:
I stand corrected. That's really odd. I was just going by the fact that it would work on my D40 so it must work on the D5000.
I don't quite understand why that's the case though. Looks like that's my afternoon gone looking for the answers!
It does seem odd that the D40 would allow full metering but not the D5000. That's progress for you!I don't quite understand why that's the case though. Looks like that's my afternoon gone looking for the answers!
There are three versions of the 70-300:
G: Cheap budget lens, screw-drive focus, no aperture ring.
ED: Better, still screw drive focus, separate aperture ring, discontinued.
VR: Best, AF-S focus
The one in the advert, despite the waffle, is a 'G'. Screw drive lenses have their focus driven by the camera body - such bodies have a little 'screwdriver' thingy in the lens mount to do this.
Cheaper Nikon bodies don't have this so will only autofocus with lenses that have their own built-in focusing motors - these are designated 'AF-S'. Anything else will be manual focus.
Physically, pretty much any Nikon lens will fit any body, but as mentioned above you can lose various functions and the setup becomes increasingly manual-everything. The older the lens and the lower-range the body the more this is likely to be. For Le Mans, stump up and get the VR
G: Cheap budget lens, screw-drive focus, no aperture ring.
ED: Better, still screw drive focus, separate aperture ring, discontinued.
VR: Best, AF-S focus
The one in the advert, despite the waffle, is a 'G'. Screw drive lenses have their focus driven by the camera body - such bodies have a little 'screwdriver' thingy in the lens mount to do this.
Cheaper Nikon bodies don't have this so will only autofocus with lenses that have their own built-in focusing motors - these are designated 'AF-S'. Anything else will be manual focus.
Physically, pretty much any Nikon lens will fit any body, but as mentioned above you can lose various functions and the setup becomes increasingly manual-everything. The older the lens and the lower-range the body the more this is likely to be. For Le Mans, stump up and get the VR
Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 10th May 12:56
Simpo Two said:
The one in the advert, despite the waffle, is a 'G'. Screw drive lenses have their focus driven by the camera body - such bodies have a little 'screwdriver' thingy in the lens mount to do this.
I'm very confused now. I thought AF lenses were the screw driven and AF-S had the motor in the lens?craig_s said:
I was just going by the fact that it would work on my D40 so it must work on the D5000.
What do you mean by 'work'? A screw-drive lens cannot autofocus on a body without the motor/connection, and the D40 doesn't have that. So if if you put a Nikon 70-300 G lens on, focus will be manual because the lens is not AF-S and body can't focus it...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D40
craig_s said:
Sorry I mean the one I linked to. The D5000 can't meter with that one even though the D40 can. Seems a bit backwards.
Just to clear this up. My comment about an inability to matrix meter was based on the AF lens that the Tyre Smoke linked to not the one that you linked to. Maybe I should have quoted for clarity. The 70-300 AF-S VR that you linked to all works very nicely indeed on a D5000 Gad-Westy said:
Just to clear this up. My comment about an inability to matrix meter was based on the AF lens that the Tyre Smoke linked to not the one that you linked to. Maybe I should have quoted for clarity. The 70-300 AF-S VR that you linked to all works very nicely indeed on a D5000
Confusion well and truly over 
.The Nikonians chart does actually show the same compatibility for both the D5000 and D40 but it's written differently. That's what I get for just skimming through!
Tyre Smoke said:
Gentlemen, thank you very much for your help.
I cannot get over the patience and wealth of information for someone with no knowledge and loads of 'daft' questions like myself on here.
Lensforhire.co.uk have the 70-300 AF-S VR available for £34 for a week's hire if it's of any interest. Or if you want to see stuff from space they have the Sigma 50-500 HSM (this will auto focus fine on the D5000) for £52 per week.I cannot get over the patience and wealth of information for someone with no knowledge and loads of 'daft' questions like myself on here.
I'm still of the opinion that 200mm will probably suffice but sometimes it's nice to have options.
I don't know if you've been to LM before so apologies if I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs here but it's well worth being around the track at sunrise and sunset. I love the view from the inside of Tetre Rouge looking back up to the Dunlop bridge when the sun is setting and the cars have their lights on. Also worth having a tripod there for some glorious light trails.
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