i need a lens that zooms in really far for my d5600 like right now because my kids soccer tournament is this saturday and i cant see anything from the sidelines. i looked at a 70-300mm thing but then i saw DX and FX and got so lost. my budget is only 200 dollars so which one actually works?
honestly the lens naming conventions are a total headache even for people who have been shooting for years. i would suggest looking for the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR because it is designed specifically for cameras like your d5600. the main thing you gotta be careful about is making sure you get the version with VR which stands for vibration reduction. since youre shooting soccer from the sidelines you are gonna be zoomed all the way in and without that stabilization your photos will likely look blurry from camera shake. it is important to understand the difference between those stickers. basically fx lenses work on your camera too but they are usually way more expensive and heavier than you need for a weekend tournament. the dx version is smaller and easier to carry. just be aware that there are actually two versions of this specific 70-300mm dx lens and one doesnt have the vr tech. i would suggest triple checking the barrel of the lens for those letters before you buy. since your budget is 200 dollars you might want to consider looking at used gear sites instead of buying brand new. you can usually find a mint condition one for around 150 bucks which leaves some room for fast shipping. i have used this lens for my own family sports in the past and it focuses really fast which is exactly what you need when kids are running around the field... just make sure your camera firmware is updated and it should work perfectly.
I remember trying to shoot my nephews baseball game with a cheap lens that didnt have vibration reduction. Basically every shot was a blurry mess because my hands just werent steady enough... it was a total nightmare. Since you are on a tight budget, you really have to watch out for the non-VR versions of these lenses.
- The Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR is the one you want. Its fast and quiet, but seriously, check for that VR label on the barrel. Without it, soccer photos will be tough unless you use a tripod.
- If that stretches the 200 dollar limit, try finding a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II. It wont zoom as far, but its way easier to carry.
- Be careful with the Nikon AF Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4-5.6G. It wont autofocus on your camera. Manual focus on moving kids is basically impossible.
