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new 55-300VR, does it make sense or not?
#11
[quote name='Klaus' timestamp='1282558713' post='2035']

The lens has not even been released ... just announced.

It makes sense, of course. It's cheaper to start with.

According to Nikon it has also much better MTFs so it's probably sharper specifically at 300mm.



Klaus

[/quote]



Yep makes a lot of sense to me as well. Like the Pentax DA55-300mm I own. I have taken pictures folks can't differentiate from much more expensive and large lens. For a wide range zoom its performance is good. Nikon will be (Klaus you tell us <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' /> ) but I am sure, superb for its price!



Please understand its cheaper simply because it was designed for an APS sensor; and it does not have to cover a larger FF format. So it can be made smaller and of course that saves money, not cheaper in less IQ, but just smaller "lens elements" are needed versus a large FF. Now I figure to keep ratios the same an APS lens diameter can be made almost 50% smaller. Guess what, that coincides perfectly with the crop factor!



OK think of this, how big would a FF 5.5X zoom lens with the specs of 83mm-450mm f/4-5.6 with good IQ wide open, even at 300mm, how big. About 50% larger versus the DA55-300mm is or its Nikons variant; and about 50% heavier! To qualify "IQ", not pro IQ, but good consumer lens IQ. In Kluas terms three stars ***. That lens would be large and would cost much more no question. I believe Pentax does capitalize on the APS advantage! And believe Nikon/Canon is as well and thats why the Nikon 55-300mmVR makes a lot of sense to me and combined with the new D7000 would be a nice package for those not making money selling pics <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />



Of course many argue there is no upgrade path. But I say there is. Every year new models come out, better lens or just more lens because you CAN"T HAVE ENOUGH <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Big Grin' /> ... so unless your a well paid pro APS is a very compelling package with few compromises IMO.



Klaus touched on this a bit some time ago speaking of Pentax APS lens line-up. I am not here writing as a fanboy of Pentax as much as a fanboy of the APS sensor system. APS brings affordable high performance dSLRs (D5000, D90, D7000, K-x, K-5, 60D...) to the masses. And have been, such as when I bought my Pentax K10D, or Nikons mighty D300! Manufacturers continue to put out great APS dSLRs such as the D7000. Making lens that match the camera (and therefore less costly) makes a lot of sense to me.
  


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