Well, it arrived and it fits on the camera (D50) and lens (Nikon AF-S
70-300 f4.5), which still appear to work as designed. It seems reasonably
well made.

The VR seems to be a little frantic, but it still works. The AF is a bit
hit-or-miss, but it always was with this lens - I usually end up using it
in manual mode.

That's it for the moment.

"Huge" <Huge> wrote in message
news:j2u1
> Well, it arrived and it fits on the camera (D50) and lens (Nikon AF-S
> 70-300 f4.5), which still appear to work as designed. It seems reasonably
> well made.
>
> The VR seems to be a little frantic, but it still works. The AF is a bit
> hit-or-miss, but it always was with this lens - I usually end up using it
> in manual mode.
>
I've got the same 70-300 lens and AF has always been spot on (with a D70s).
If yours is still under guarantee I'd be inclined to return to supplier and
complain.

Cheers,

Geoff.

On 2009-07-10, Geoff. Hayward <me> wrote:
>
> "Huge" <Huge> wrote in message
> news:j2u1
>> Well, it arrived and it fits on the camera (D50) and lens (Nikon AF-S
>> 70-300 f4.5), which still appear to work as designed. It seems reasonably
>> well made.
>>
>> The VR seems to be a little frantic, but it still works. The AF is a bit
>> hit-or-miss, but it always was with this lens - I usually end up using it
>> in manual mode.
>>
> I've got the same 70-300 lens and AF has always been spot on (with a D70s).
> If yours is still under guarantee I'd be inclined to return to supplier and
> complain.

It's no longer under guarantee and has already been back to Nikon once. (VR
lenses can only be repaired by Nikon.)

What do you mean by "spot on"? Only, it's fine once it decides it wants to
focus on something, but frequently winds from one end of the focus range
to the other and back before making its mind up. OTOH, it works just fine with
the camera in "Sport" (follow focus) mode, which is most of what I bought
it for (motorsport - See this month's "Sprint" magazine!)

I'm not that bothered. This is the first AF camera I've ever owned, so doing
it for myself is no big deal.

"Huge" <Huge> wrote in message
news:eju2
> On 2009-07-10, Geoff. Hayward <me> wrote:
>
> It's no longer under guarantee and has already been back to Nikon once.
> (VR
> lenses can only be repaired by Nikon.)
>
> What do you mean by "spot on"? Only, it's fine once it decides it wants to
> focus on something, but frequently winds from one end of the focus range
> to the other and back before making its mind up. OTOH, it works just fine
> with
> the camera in "Sport" (follow focus) mode, which is most of what I bought
> it for (motorsport - See this month's "Sprint" magazine!)
>
> I'm not that bothered. This is the first AF camera I've ever owned, so
> doing
> it for myself is no big deal.

Hi,

I mostly use the lens for taking pictures of grandchildren playing rugby,
football and at sports days etc. In this instance "spot on" means focusing
quicker and more accurately than I could do in those circumstances.

Cheers,

Geoff.

On 10 Jul 2009 11:19:56 GMT, Huge <Huge> wrote:

>Well, it arrived and it fits on the camera (D50) and lens (Nikon AF-S
>70-300 f4.5), which still appear to work as designed. It seems reasonably
>well made.
>
>The VR seems to be a little frantic, but it still works. The AF is a bit
>hit-or-miss, but it always was with this lens - I usually end up using it
>in manual mode.
>
>That's it for the moment.

JOOI.... what did you pay for it and where - if it's OK to ask? Can
you upload some example shots somewhere. I'm really interested in the
combo you now have (I have a D60 though).

In message <ek4f55dmb0srtruoskpbetkvs2du3hnrk7>, Mark
<markincambs> writes
>On 10 Jul 2009 11:19:56 GMT, Huge <Huge> wrote:
>
>>Well, it arrived and it fits on the camera (D50) and lens (Nikon AF-S
>>70-300 f4.5), which still appear to work as designed. It seems reasonably
>>well made.
>>
>>The VR seems to be a little frantic, but it still works. The AF is a bit
>>hit-or-miss, but it always was with this lens - I usually end up using it
>>in manual mode.
>>
>>That's it for the moment.
>
>JOOI.... what did you pay for it and where - if it's OK to ask?

I hope so as I was about to start searching for a good price in the UK

On 2009-07-10, Mark <markincambs> wrote:
> On 10 Jul 2009 11:19:56 GMT, Huge <Huge> wrote:
>
>>Well, it arrived and it fits on the camera (D50) and lens (Nikon AF-S
>>70-300 f4.5), which still appear to work as designed. It seems reasonably
>>well made.
>>
>>The VR seems to be a little frantic, but it still works. The AF is a bit
>>hit-or-miss, but it always was with this lens - I usually end up using it
>>in manual mode.
>>
>>That's it for the moment.
>
> JOOI.... what did you pay for it and where - if it's OK to ask?

Sure. £129 + VAT & P&P (which they amusingly refer to as "frieght") totalling
£137. From Microglobe Photoequipments. www.microglobe.co.uk

> Can
> you upload some example shots somewhere. I'm really interested in the
> combo you now have (I have a D60 though).

I will as soon as I've taken some! I just took some shots of a green
woodpecker in the garden, but first, breakfast.

On 2009-07-11, Huge <Huge> wrote:
> On 2009-07-10, Mark <markincambs> wrote:
>
> Sure. £129 + VAT & P&P (which they amusingly refer to as "frieght") totalling
> £137.

That's wrong. Oh, I misread the invoice. It's £129 inc VAT + "frieght", total
£137.