DSLR buffs, what is your favorite zoom lens and why?

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

There are so many choices .... for Nikon there is a 55-300mm 4.5-5.6 zoom, nice range but it is really pretty slow. The nice thing is, it is compact.

A nice fast 2.8 would be great, but they are $$$$ and huge! :mad: It's a tough choice really! :YinYang

Tokina has a cool little constant 2.8 that is 50mm to 135mm ..... and the price isn't too bad. ... but it's only 135mm

[Larry Esposito]

Nikon has an 18-200, pictures are good enough for me. Not fast..not cheap either. I think I paid $800.

[ACfixer]

The only one I own I guess... A cheapo Nikon VR 70-300, I think it was like $399 or something.

[Bradders]

Canon guy here - I love my 70-200 2.8 L - awesome lens for sports especially. I have the non-stabilizing model and am totally happy with it. Throw it on my 7D and shoot my kids' sports on a mono-pod.

Wonderful glass......

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

The only one I own I guess... A cheapo Nikon VR 70-300, I think it was like $399 or something.


Yeah, the 18-200 is crazy money and the 70-300 is up around $500 now :cry: ... and 70mm is a bit too zoomed ... I would really like to start around 50 or 55mm. :YinYang I may look into some older lenses to see what they have autofocus wise.

[neastguy]

I use the nikon 55-200 vr .... I shot these this weekend with it....

http://neastguy.smugmug.com/Family/Family-2011/i-Xt4qkMB/0/L/0076-L.jpg
http://neastguy.smugmug.com/Family/Family-2011/i-sWd4jRg/0/L/DSC0136-L.jpg
http://neastguy.smugmug.com/Family/Family-2011/i-4dwGPgL/0/L/0089-L.jpg

[nitehawk55]

The Sigma 70-300 is a reasonable price and a great outdoors lens . I think they sell for around $230ish new . Check the reviews , they get a pretty good score .

[xroads]

Sigma 50-150 2.8 on Canon
Great fast and light, small lens, on a crop camera it's practically a 200mm.

My favorite.

[photoguy]

Personally, I would trade maximum focal length for speed any day. You can always get closer, but you can't do the things with a slower lens that you can with a faster one.

[tele_phil]

It's a tough choice between my Canon 17-35mm f/2.8L and my 70-200mm f/2.8L. Both are awesome lenses.

17-35mm
http://www.pmimage.com/wpro/f4.jpg

70-200mm
http://www.pmimage.com/wpro/f14.jpg

[GAD]

I'm a canon guy, and I've had 'em all. The 70-200 IS f/2.8L was fantastic, but heavy. Same for the 100-400. Between the two, if you're looking for range, it sounds like you'd be happier with the 100-400.

For me, I sold all but one of my zooms, kept a few killer primes. The only zoom I kept was the 24-70 f/2.8L, and honestly, I would likely trade it for the 24-105 f/4L. I find that the zoom isn't fast enough for most indoor shots without a flash, so I'd rather have the better range and IS.

Fast zooms are fun and all, but once you taste quality primes, the zooms never seem fast enough.