Ask Jason
Ask Jason...
Another month, another load of Nikon questions answered by the one, the only Nikon-know-it-all, Jason…
Our resident Nikon expert Jason Parnell-brookes answers your questions and solves your problems. If you’d like Jason to come to the rescue regarding your Nikon-related question, email it to mail@nphotomag.com. Please note that we reserve the right to edit queries for clarity or brevity.
I’ve bought a secondhand Tamron 90mm Macro lens but it won’t autofocus on my D5000. Is it supposed to work with this camera? Jean Backshaw
Jason says... With enduring popularity, the Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro was launched back in 1997 and is still on sale today – more than 20 years later! That’s despite Tamron launching newer, optically stabilized 90mm macro lenses in the meantime.
The important question is when the lens you’ve bought was actually manufactured. The original edition was
labelled 272E, and the Nikon-fit version lacked an internal autofocus motor. As with the Nikon ‘secondhand superstar’ (opposite page), autofocus is only possible when using the lens on a fullframe DSLR, or a high-end DX body like the D200, D300, D500 and D7xxx series cameras, which have AF drive motors. In 2008, Tamron revised some of its existing lenses including the 90mm Macro, adding an in-lens autofocus motor. The updated A272NII edition will autofocus on any Nikon DSLR.
I’ve upgraded my standard zoom lens and want to follow suit with a 70-200mm f/2.8. The latest Nikon is much pricier than the Sigma. Is it really worth the extra? Simon Peters
Jason says… The latest Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8e FL ED VR isn’t just the best edition that Nikon has ever made. It’s the best 70-200mm lens on the planet! The only downside is that its £2400/$2800 asking price is too rich for most of us. The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS is much more affordable at around £890/$1200. It’s optical stabilized but is lacking in advanced features, has no weather-seals and its image quality isn’t as great.
I’d go for the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (see page 110). This ‘Generation 2’ lens has amazing build quality and performance, with superfast autofocus and classleading 5-stop stabilization. It has a full set of weatherseals, impeccable handling and delivers spectacular image quality. The Nikon is only marginally better, and the Tamron costs a fraction of the price at £1350/$1200.
I need a dual flashgun setup, preferably with the extended operating range of RF wireless connectivity, but can’t afford a pair of SB-5000S. Can you suggest a cheaper alternative? Jon Carey
Jason says... Nikon’s Speedlight SB-5000 flashgun is a fantastic piece of kit, and includes an RF (Radio Frequency) receiver which can work over a range of 30m. However, a pair of these flashguns plus the WR-R10 Wireless Remote Controller to trigger them would set you back about £1170/$1400. We’d instead go for a Nikondedicated Hähnel Modus 600RT Pro Kit instead.
The Hähnel kit features two powerful, high-spec flashguns that have excellent stamina, powered by rechargeable Li-ion battery packs. Each flashgun has a built-in RF transceiver, enabling it to work in master or slave mode over a distance of up to 100m working range. The kit also contains a hotshoe-mounting Hähnel Viper RF trigger, enabling you to use both flashguns off-camera. It’s a steal at £450/$625.
I’m interested in the Prograde UHS-II memory cards mentioned in issue 86’s New Gear pages. Would they be compatible my D800, which only has a UHS-I SD slot? Roy Agar
Jason says... They certainly should be. SDHC and SDXC memory cards are now available with three editions of the UHS (Ultra High Speed) bus, classified as UHS-I, II and III. Increased speed is available from type II and III cards, when using a similarly classified host device, mainly because they have two data channels rather than one. This enables data to flow upstream and downstream simultaneously in dedicated channels, rather than having to share the same channel.
However, all three editions of UHS memory cards are backwards-compatible. You can therefore use type II and III cards in your D800, as well as using any edition of UHS card in an older camera or card reader that doesn’t feature a UHS bus at all.