NIKKOR AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR > MARCH 2013 !!

[nikon-user]

Thanks for all the sharing and review.
How about 70-200 F2.8 with TC 2x vs 80-400mm AFS G ? Which is better in term with AF, Speed and weight
Thanks in advance.

 

[nikon-user]

i think im going to answer my own question.

The AFS 80-400mm G will be a better lens. correct me if im wrong. thanks guys

 

[boxerfan]

Investigated the 70-200 + TC option (2.8 is attractive), still came back to 80-400G. Am still waiting for price drop...or buy from nearby country...

 

[zoom3]

Yeah, once you try out this lens, there is no turning back. Super fast focus and beautifully sharp image at 400mm.

 

[JacePhoto]

I used to have version I. It was an utter embarrassment.

I just tried the version 2 on my D800 at the showroom last week. It was an utter disappointment.

I rather go for the 300 AFS F4.

Sorry. Just my personal opinion.

 

[boxerfan]

Please share please share ... Curious to know what's disappointing ?

 

[JacePhoto]

AF too slow. It hunts too much. And I am referring to the VII.

You shld go down to Nikon gallery to try for yourself if u r buying.

 

[Luminare]

IMHO, AF speed depends a lot on what you are shooting at and the amount of phase detection if shooting thru the view finder and contrast detection thru live view is available.
Different lighting, different subjects and show different results. Furthermore, comparison benchmarks may vary from user to user as would their expectations.

When in doubt, rent the lens for a test run on the real subjects that one will be photographing and find out if it suits one's purpose. If it does, it does and one can have a peace of mind paying 3,000+ for a lens. If it does not, well, time to look for an alternative.

AF too slow. It hunts too much. And I am referring to the VII.

You shld go down to Nikon gallery to try for yourself if u r buying.

Yeah, once you try out this lens, there is no turning back. Super fast focus and beautifully sharp image at 400mm.

i think im going to answer my own question.

The AFS 80-400mm G will be a better lens. correct me if im wrong. thanks guys

 

[tormont]

Agree with Luminare... to do justice to the lens, here are some shoot taken 2 weeks back:

Go to my flickr for full resolution if you need.

Just my opinion: a lot of time AF depends a lot on the environment (i.e color of your subject vs background/lighting.....and the list go on) So the fact is, every lens can hunt.
If we are comparing the 300mm F4 or any other primes, of course they are a lot more faster. Its like comparing apple and oranges. But if you need the versatility, this is a good lens, if you mount on a 1.4x teleconverter, that's give you 560mm with 5% image quality degradation. Take a look at C.S Ling's photos, she uses the 1st generation 80-400mm for some of her work.

Hence, I don't see why this 2nd generation is a huge disappointment which has a vast improvement over its predecessor.

 

[NikF601]

Nice to heard that . Any close up shot at 400mm to show?

 

[tormont]

Here, 400mm w/o cropping.

 

[syc77]

Yea. I agree on wat u shoot in wat lighting. Condition matters a lot.

Bright sun light shoot ruby at ccab = AF was fast n on the spot.
Bring it indoor to shoot ice skating at jcube, n the AF is hunting..

All I can say it's a great daytime outdoor lens.

 

[Luminare]

How come the lizard is in the tree trunk ...... (@_@!!!)

Here, 400mm w/o cropping.

Zooms and primes + TC to get the same reach operates differently.

Nikon's 300mm f/4 AF-S is a very cost effective wild life lens. After changing the collar and adding a TC-14E II, it becomes a study 420mm lens. Add that with the D7100, it is 630mm f/5.6 (plus about 1 stop DoF due to crop sensor) and it can shot at f/5.6 with minimal degradation at the center frame. How, being a prime lens at 300mm, it is also more of a specialist lens and is not as versatile as the 80-400mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II.

 

[tormont]

Maybe stuck inside lolx.... But this was taken more than a month ago. Every time i walk pass this tree, he'll be there. No idea how he get in or out.

 

[diediealsomustdive]

How come the lizard is in the tree trunk ...... (@_@!!!)

Zooms and primes + TC to get the same reach operates differently.

Nikon's 300mm f/4 AF-S is a very cost effective wild life lens. After changing the collar and adding a TC-14E II, it becomes a study 420mm lens. Add that with the D7100, it is 630mm f/5.6 (plus about 1 stop DoF due to crop sensor) and it can shot at f/5.6 with minimal degradation at the center frame. How, being a prime lens at 300mm, it is also more of a specialist lens and is not as versatile as the 80-400mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II.

I was waiting for the 80-400g but was put off by the price and my perception that I'll mostly use it at 400mm. So I went for 300mm f4 plus TC14EII and put the savings of over a thousand dollars towards a new 70-200. In that way I'll have more useful everyday lens and specific lens for telephoto, and from reading sharper photos too. I will eventually spend almost the same amount if I opt for 700-200mm f4, 1.5k more for the 70-200mm f2.8.

Just my opinion and thought process. YMMV.

 

[Luminare]

I personally think that the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II is a lens in its usage band of that is overlap by the 70-200mm series and 300mm series of lens.

If a photographer does not use a 70-200mm f/2.8 or 70-200mm f/4 on a consistent basis then surely that individual would not buy one. However, if the same individual wants a hand hold-able wildlife lens with a 400mm reach that can sometimes do some sports photography or pets photography at tighter angles between 80-300, then the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II becomes a one size fits all solution without needing 2 + 1 TC lens in the guise of 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, 300mm f/4 AF-S and TC-14E II

I do agree that the price of the new 80-400mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II was pretty steep at launch but it is very much lower now.

Have a look at the photos taken with this lens:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/afs80-400mmvrii/

 

[diediealsomustdive]

I personally think that the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II is a lens in its usage band of that is overlap by the 70-200mm series and 300mm series of lens.

If a photographer does not use a 70-200mm f/2.8 or 70-200mm f/4 on a consistent basis then surely that individual would not buy one. However, if the same individual wants a hand hold-able wildlife lens with a 400mm reach that can sometimes do some sports photography or pets photography at tighter angles between 80-300, then the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II becomes a one size fits all solution without needing 2 + 1 TC lens in the guise of 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, 300mm f/4 AF-S and TC-14E II

I do agree that the price of the new 80-400mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II was pretty steep at launch but it is very much lower now.

Have a look at the photos taken with this lens:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/afs80-400mmvrii/

Agreed, with the position of wildlife photographer wanting to do some "other" photography it is a good solution.

But for more general photography the 2 lens + TC option yields higher utility, sharper photos, at the same cost (f4) or 1.5k or so more, and gain a superbly sharp f2.8 lens. I certainly fall into the more generalist category.

The compromise of one size for convenience vs multi-lens and TC but sharper all round. Take your pick. Granted the g lens is a big improvement over the d lens.

 

[boxerfan]

Thanks for all the sharing. For the 80-400 looks like iQ is good, and AF need to check out.

Any other lens specific niggles that one needs to be mindful of during purchasing ?

 

[Luminare]

Personally, I chosen the path of prime + TC and have not looked back.

As most wild life in Singapore need a reach of between 500mm to 600mm, I thought I take the opportunity to list the various options to get to that focal range based on FX and sorted by price.

1) 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II + TC-14E II Price: < S$4,000 (550mm f/8 Usable at F10 to F11)
2) Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 HSM DG OS Price: S$4,800 < X < S$5,200
3) 300mm f/2.8 VR II + TC-20E III: S$7,000 > X > S$8,400 (600mm f/5.6 usable at F7.1 onwards to F11)
4) 200-400mm f/4 VR II + TC-14E II: S$8,800 > X > S$9,500 (550mm f/5.6 Usable at F8 onwards to F11)
5) 400mm f/2.8 + TC-14E II: S$12,100 > X > S$14,900 (550mm f/4 Usable at F4 with a tad of smoothness but reach equivalent sharpness to a 500 f/4 VR at F5.6)
** Requires investment in a tripod and gimbal head. (Gitzo System 4 series + Jobu HD MK III or Wimberley WH-200 + replacement foot for roughly S$2,550 or Benro Tripod + Gimbal for half the price)
6) 600mm f/4 VR S$12,500 onwards
** Requires investment in a tripod and gimbal head. (Gitzo System 4 series + Jobu HD MK III or Wimberley WH-200 + replacement foot for roughly S$2,550 or Benro Tripod + Gimbal for half the price)

It is not hard to observe that the way to reach between 500mm to 600mm on FX on a tight budget is the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II + TC-14E II that can be hand held to retain its optimum sharpness at F11. Under sunny sunlight conditions, it is possible to shoot at F10 | 1/640 |ISO 1250 or in cases of Safari shoots, shooting at F10 | 1/250 | < ISO 1250

For me, IMHO, if one does not yet own or intend to own a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II is a good option to reach focal lengths between 500mm to 60mm with option to shoot between 80-200mm followed by from 200-400mm and it can also be shot wide open at 400mm f/5.6 and one could be surprised that it is almost if not as sharp as the 200-400mm f/4 VR II at distances less than 80m at 400mm f/6.3 (Yes, it has to be f/6.3 as at f/5.6, the 80-400 f/4.5-5.6G VR II is wide open and will be softer than the 200-400mm f/4 VR II stopped down)

*** It is possible to recover sharpness in PP. That is what make using TC a viable option although there is a limitation to distances as would shooting distance apply to the lens itself.

Agreed, with the position of wildlife photographer wanting to do some "other" photography it is a good solution.

But for more general photography the 2 lens + TC option yields higher utility, sharper photos, at the same cost (f4) or 1.5k or so more, and gain a superbly sharp f2.8 lens. I certainly fall into the more generalist category.

The compromise of one size for convenience vs multi-lens and TC but sharper all round. Take your pick. Granted the g lens is a big improvement over the d lens.

 

[Luminare]

I think it is now possible to get the Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G VR II for between S$2,900 - S$3,400