Upgrade from D40 and / or getting a good motorsport lens

[andy tims]

I've had my D40 for a while & with the 55-200 f/4-5.6 VR lens have taken some reasonable OK picures at Le Mans ect, but I want a better lems for motorsport stuff so:

1) Should I upgrade the camera body & if so to what? I have been drooling over the D90 as all the write ups seem to rate it very highly. It would certainly give me a bigger choice a lenses & the faster auto-focus wouldn't hurt either.

2) Whether I change the body or not should I go long - Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM or the 150-500mm F5-6.3 version or go for a faster lens with less reach & crop the shots, something like the Nikon 300mm f4 D AF-S IF ED

Thanks in advance

[RobDickinson]

The 300f4 can always take a 1.4 TC.

But unless its a fast prime I would always get a zoom you can frame the subject you want rather than try crop heavily.

[grumpy bear]

andy tims said:

I've had my D40 for a while & with the 55-200 f/4-5.6 VR lens have taken some reasonable OK picures at Le Mans ect, but I want a better lems for motorsport stuff so:

1) Should I upgrade the camera body & if so to what? I have been drooling over the D90 as all the write ups seem to rate it very highly. It would certainly give me a bigger choice a lenses & the faster auto-focus wouldn't hurt either.

2) Whether I change the body or not should I go long - Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM or the 150-500mm F5-6.3 version or go for a faster lens with less reach & crop the shots, something like the Nikon 300mm f4 D AF-S IF ED

Thanks in advance

The 150-500 is OK but little more. It really struggles in low light and the autofocus is quite slow. I also found it to be a bit soft beyond 420mm. I traded it after only three months and lost a shed full of cash.

Jump past the D90 and go for the D300, prices should get a little keener now the 300s has been announced and I would go for the 300mm prime, not used the f4 but the reports are good. I was lucky to be able to purchase the f2.8 300 prime I can say it is awesome. I wouldnt rule out the 70-300 vrII as a fill in zoom although again i replaced this with the 70-200 f2.8 and the TC14 and TC17 converters.

If you are on a budget, go for a secondhand D80 or D200 and the 70-300 VR

[D4VE 3LL]

I've got a Nikkor 70-300mm VR which I find very good on the D80. My friend is potentially selling his 70-300mm as he's decided to concentrate more on landscapes and rarely uses it. I can put you in touch if you like?

Dave

[andy tims]

Yes please Dave

[GetCarter]

D4VE 3LL said:

I've got a Nikkor 70-300mm VR which I find very good on the D80. My friend is potentially selling his 70-300mm as he's decided to concentrate more on landscapes and rarely uses it. I can put you in touch if you like?

Dave

Some of my best landscapes are taken with the 70-300... silly to sell. (IMHO)

ETA... about 16 of these were 70-300

http://www.stevecarter.com/2009/photographs.html

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 9th September 14:00

[D4VE 3LL]

Andy,

YHM