im honestly so annoyed trying to figure this out. my kids soccer game is next saturday and i need a lens but my budget is strictly under 180 bucks. looking at the nikon 70-300mm af-p dx vs the tamron 70-300mm di ld. my logic was the tamron is cheaper so why not? but then i read it has no stabilization and the focus is loud as hell. then there is the nikon non-vr version which is cheap but people say its a waste of money without vr. i just want something that works for sports without spending a fortune. is the af-p vr worth the extra cash or is there a better budget option i missed?
I went through this exact same headache last year. Honestly, just skip the Tamron and the non-VR Nikon. Youll be so much happier with the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR. I use it for my nephews soccer games and the results are surprisingly solid for the price. The vibration reduction is a total lifesaver when you are zoomed all the way in trying to track a moving kid. A few things tho:
- Check your camera body is compatible with AF-P lenses because some older Nikons wont focus with them at all.
- Look for a refurbished or used one on sites like MPB or KEH to stay well under that 180 limit. It really is the best bang for your buck and the focus is nearly silent which is a nice bonus. Good luck at the game next week!
