While I'd vote for the Zuiko 300/ 4.5 also, (it's one magnificent lens and
really not too difficult to hand hold) (thanks Paul!) if size and price were
the main concern, I'd have to agree with the Tamron 60-300 as the next
choice, and point out that Tokina and Vivitar also make very good lenses (and
they're even smaller) in that range for about $75- $125 on the used market.
Also- the Tokina 50-250 / 5 is a good alternative (price wise) to its
identical twin the Zuiko 50-250. I own the Tokinas, Vivitars, and the Zuiko
300 and they all are good choices in their own right.
George S.
> Roger Key wrote:
>
> > Tamron 60-300/f3.8-5.4 870grams 166mm long 66mm diameter
> macro
> > ratio 1:1.5, min focus 0.34 meters
> > Zuiko 300/f4.5 1020grams 181mm long 80mm diameter no
> macro,
> > min.focus 3.5 meters
> > Zuiko 85-250 890grams 196mm long 70mm diameter no
> macro,
> > min.focus 2.0 meters
> >
> > Typical price for a good used 60-300 Tamron on eBay: $130-$150. And note
> the
> > macro capabilities......
>
> Thanks for the info on the Tamaron. (I'd found the info on the zuikos
> but couldn't compare it to anything) It looks like the smallest of the
> three but also the slowest at the long end and pretty slow at the short
> end too. And I was wondering about those macro capabilities. Better
> start a new thread about that though.
>
> From: Jim Couch
>
> > I would highly recommend the Zuiko 300 f4.5, but it does depend what you
> > want to do as well. The 300 is a wonderful lens, and performs well even
> > wide open and is still compact enough that you might actually use it! :)
> > the problem I would see with the 85-250 is that it really does not have
> all
> > that much reach over the 200 that (it sounds like) you already have.
>
> Jim, This was my thought exactly. The plus side of the 85-250 is that I
> could unload the other lens to help finance this purchase. The 300
> though is brighter and I'm leaning toward it at the moment. Maybe what I
> should do is buy both the 85-250 _and_ the 300 and send my daughter to a
> community college :>)
>
> Mike
>
>
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