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01-31-2016, 09:12 PM   #1
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Racking my brain - purchase advice, wwyd

Going to either buy the 55-300 and the 100 WR macro OR the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. Roughly the same cost due to good bargains - $600 for the 2 vs $750 for the one. (Already have a Sigma 17-50 f2.8, F50 f1.7, 35mm f2.4. 18-135, F28 f2.8. and a crappy old Tamron 70-300). Would love to have a macro and have been wanting to upgrade the telephoto end for a long time - but I also take pics of school events in the auditorium that the 70-200 would probably handle nicely. Then again the 100 f2.8 would probably be decent there too - not as versatile, but decent. I've talked myself in circles. WWYD?

01-31-2016, 09:16 PM   #2
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I would get either the 70 200 or the macro now and the other later. The 55-300 might only act as a stop gap meadure.
01-31-2016, 10:05 PM   #3
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The 55-300 is great but slow. The dfa 100 is stunning, but overkill for some types of macro photography, many could get by with much less. The Tamron isnt a lens I have used. However after owning the FA* 80-200 f2.8 Pentax for a while I concluded that it was too heavy for my taste and kept shooting the DA* 60-250 f4 and sold the FA*. I'm not sure how the Tamron compares in size and weight, but if similar that may be a consideration.
01-31-2016, 10:07 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by wowarning Quote
Going to either buy the 55-300 and the 100 WR macro OR the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. Roughly the same cost due to good bargains - $600 for the 2 vs $750 for the one. (Already have a Sigma 17-50 f2.8, F50 f1.7, 35mm f2.4. 18-135, F28 f2.8. and a crappy old Tamron 70-300). Would love to have a macro and have been wanting to upgrade the telephoto end for a long time - but I also take pics of school events in the auditorium that the 70-200 would probably handle nicely. Then again the 100 f2.8 would probably be decent there too - not as versatile, but decent. I've talked myself in circles. WWYD?
What model camera would you be sticking them on? If you have a K-3 the 70-200mm would perform a lot better than if you had a K-30/50 or older cameras. Your profile only lists the *ist DS. Either way, it's hard to beat the price of the 100mm WR macro right now.

01-31-2016, 10:23 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by WaxPhotographic Quote
What model camera would you be sticking them on? If you have a K-3 the 70-200mm would perform a lot better than if you had a K-30/50 or older cameras. Your profile only lists the *ist DS. Either way, it's hard to beat the price of the 100mm WR macro right now.
Lol. Time to update the profile! I'm currently using a K5ii. That darn macro price is what derailed me. I was definitely getting the Tamron until I saw that, and now I'm afraid I'll miss the opportunity.
01-31-2016, 10:39 PM - 1 Like   #6
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The Tamron 70-200 is pretty special. I love mine to pieces. It is a bit much to haul around, though, so it stays home more than it should.

How "macro" do you need? The Tamron gets pretty darn close focus.
01-31-2016, 10:42 PM   #7
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A great buy is not so if you aren't going to use it. Sounds like the school events are a must do so I would address that. I do theatre photo's and for close ups I use 70-210 mm f/2.8~4. Don't know your lighting but I usually use iso 1600, f/5.6, and roughly 1/30 sec--so a slower zoom may work also, and 300 mm may be useful.

Only you know the lighting levels and required f-stops based on your experience with the 70-300 zoom. But I think a fixed focal length is way too limiting unless you have two or three cameras w/ you (I use three--often w/ a 20 mm, a 28~70 mm , and the 70-210 mm).

02-01-2016, 01:09 AM   #8
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Buy the 100 macro, save for a few months more, then buy the 70-200 or the 60-250 as mentioned in another comment.
02-01-2016, 07:05 AM   #9
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WwId? 70-200.
02-01-2016, 07:36 AM   #10
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Lmao, I should have known that every idea I had bouncing around my head would wind up being suggested. I keep leaning towards whatever the last person said. Yeah, I should finally add the 55-300. Yeah, the macro. Yeah, the 70-200.
02-01-2016, 08:00 AM   #11
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I've shot in a school auditorium before with an M135 on a K200d. You'd have to be pretty close to the front to make it, I would think, even with a 70-200, and then the funky angle will limit you. I'd think you could get enough light with the K-50 and f/4, which shouldn't look too bad at ISO 3200 if you couldn't use flash. This means you should go for the 60-250. I know it's a bit more money, but I think you'll be happier in the long run. You'll appreciate a more "straight on" angle you can get by hanging back from the front.
02-01-2016, 08:43 AM - 1 Like   #12
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Get the xyzpdq lens. Lol. Bet that one wasn't one the list!
02-01-2016, 08:44 AM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
I'm not sure how the Tamron compares in size and weight
The Tamron's about a half pound lighter. The Tamron is the lightest of the 70-200 f2.8 lenses.

I'd get the Tamron. It would likely be more useful than the DA 100 macro, which is much more of a specialist lens.
02-01-2016, 08:59 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
Get the xyzpdq lens. Lol. Bet that one wasn't one the list!
Well it wasn't until now!

---------- Post added 02-01-16 at 11:03 AM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by fredralphfred Quote
I've shot in a school auditorium before with an M135 on a K200d. You'd have to be pretty close to the front to make it, I would think, even with a 70-200, and then the funky angle will limit you. I'd think you could get enough light with the K-50 and f/4, which shouldn't look too bad at ISO 3200 if you couldn't use flash. This means you should go for the 60-250. I know it's a bit more money, but I think you'll be happier in the long run. You'll appreciate a more "straight on" angle you can get by hanging back from the front.
I considered this lens early on, but it would require a substantially longer "saving period" which then results in a substantially shorter "shooting period". I'm thinking the Tamron is probably the way to go. I can't imagine I'd be disappointed.

Dammit. I thought the 60-250 was over $1k but it's only $60 more than the Tamron. Dammit. Dammit.

Last edited by wowarning; 02-01-2016 at 09:21 AM.
02-01-2016, 09:33 AM   #15
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Are we there yet?

Deciding on which lens to purchase is definitely a headache. I think I'd lean towards to DA*60-250; that would cover a lot of situations. The Macro is specialized; I have the Sigma 105 Macro, and find I use it very little, compared to my other lenses. I'm very glad I have it, but it's not a priority for me.
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