Nikon 200mm f/2

[anuar ahmad]

I have the AI version which i acquired during the hey days of F2AS & F3HP at the time when fast zoom lenses are limited and not as good.

Since acquiring AF & AFS 80-200 f2.8, i've kept it in my dri-cab but still take it out once in a while.

- typical use for nature and model shoot when KPAN (Kodak Photo Action Network) was active back then when we had guest like John Ker who emphasised the beauty of no flash photography outdoor especially for model shoots with film like K25 and K64.

- I give it a miss for wedding, especially malay weddings and prefer to use either the 80-200 2.8 or 180 2.8 or the fast shorter mid teles which will give similar portraiture effect for outdoor shoot due to the weight.

- strong point for model and wedding shoot is that it makes your model/couple more relax as you're further away. Makes them easier to pose naturally. Some people get tensed up with a camera/lens pointed very close at them.

- lugging and holding close to 4kg of camera/lens combo is no joke and a good monopod helps

- image quality not compromised when TC-16A is used together on DSLR.

Overall, it's an exceptional lens worth acquiring.

I've yet to try the AFS version.

 

[asdfg]

If you shoot casually and unless you have lots of cash, it's quite hard to justify the cost of the lens. No lens compares this this, plus the versatility of using the new 2x tele and a 1.4x for 400mm and 280mm respectively (with drops in IQ, but not too significant). I think the next lens in line is the 70-200mm f2.8 VRII on paper it comes quite close, but shooting the isolation and bokeh are quite different. Rendering style is quite unique. I've always wanted this lens but i rarely shoot at 105mm and above so its hard to justify, plus i don't do paid work.

 

[Dream Merchant]

Thanks DreamMerchant.

Right now, for shooting concerts, I'm quite happy w/ the 70-200 VRII, w/ the D700 high ISO capabilities, during low lit concerts,I can shoot w/ high ISO and maintain acceptable sharpness.

But after seeing results from 200mm f/2 at flickr and other nikon forums, I'm just stunned w/ the sharpness shot wide open, plus the color tone & bokeh are also stunning. Dont get me wrong, 70-200 VRII is a stellar lens, no doubt about it, but 200mm f/2' results are on a different league.
(I shot John Legend at his concert recently using 70-200 VRII at 200mm for both pics).
my concern about the 200mm f/2 lens is the weight, because shooting gigs, especially at music festivals that run for 3 days, carrying major weight could cause some major strains on your back & shoulders. hence, the monopod option, and reducing the number of lens to be brought during the concert.

I would expect the difference in resolution and contrast to be visibly noticeable, and not just at peeping mags. The 200 2 is in a different league.

Thing about larger and heavier lenses in a kit, and mobility over extended days is largely a matter of location/shooting area security (equipment concerns and actual pit/shooting area arrangements), and load management (especially when using two or three bodies).

Remember a few years back, in a Nat Day thread, someone posted a pix of a normal-sized female PJ, and it looked like she was shooting two 1 ser bods, a 300 or 400 large aperture prime on one with another monopodded bod with a 70200 2.8 slung in the crook of her elbow?

The point isn't who can carry what, but how comfortable would you be, with what sort of load management in YOUR shooting situations and conditions.

The weight of the 200 2 isn't what I would call prohibitive, but if combine with two other bods, three or four other large and heavy lenses, and a host of accessories ... :think: anyways, most shooters would place heavy set-ups lens down on the floor or table when shooting with other bods or in between waits and so on. Personally I wouldn't pod a 200 2 on a gig or wedding. It gets cumbersome.

 

[openwave]

Thanks all for the reply.

@Dream Merchant: appreciate the input, load management is key for me, and carrying heavy equipment at the end shouldnt be an issue for me today. Why I said today, because I've spoken w/ some senior photo journalists who both reminded me to watch out for my load management, or else I will pay the price when I get old (these senior PJs did pay the price, their backs are hurting them now). Shot a 3 day jazz festival early march than ran from 4PM to midnight for 3 consecutive days w/ approx.7kg of equipment that I had to carry. (1424,70200,85,etc,etc, no pods though). If we add up the 200 f/2, then it goes up to approx.10kg
Your input gives me the perspective how smart we should do our load management. I feel that not only when we shoot that we should be worry about the strain of the equipment to our body, but also during the wait, during the travelling/walking between shows,etc.
I've almost reached my savings to get the 200mm lens, once I get it, need to prioritize what to bring to concerts, and pack smartly.

Cheers

 

[Jed]

- your typical use for this lens (ie.wedding? models?birding?concerts? low lights?etc)
- results (sharpness,DOF,bokeh,color,etc)

Sport, under low light conditions.

- handling (handheld mostly? or using a monopod?) --> btw, it's a known issue about the tripod collar, what's your experience?

Handheld. The 200/2 is usually though not always a short lens in tandem with a longer one, so the monopod goes on the longer one. Obviously this is different for different types of photography where the 200/2 could be the main lens. Size, weight is very similar to a 300/2.8, although the lens is stubbier at the camera end than the non-VR 300/2.8s (no experience with the newest VRII), making it slightly more awkward to handhold.

- have u used it w/ TC? if yes, which TC model, and what's your experience.

TC17E, the two were released together. Only used briefly as I was using a 200-400 in tandem.

- price bought & where (the price for this lens was updated in 2005 in the Nikon price list thread, so I'm curious on the latest price for this lens)

Not currently owned. I first borrowed the lens from NPS at the Open Championships shortly after the lens was released. I know I wrote a review which I've managed to find at http://www.essence-of-light.com/reviews/200mm1.html.

Note I haven't visited that in over a year or two, so I can't even really remember what I wrote there!

- would using the 70-200 at 200mm focal length would yield the same results at f/2.8?

Nope.

- your overall experience/comment/recommendation

Can't speak authoritatively for concerts as I don't do enough. My gut is if you're covering bigger events the light coverage is pretty decent in conjunction with a D700. You'd certainly benefit from a stop extra quality, but you probably have enough to get by.

Weddings, I wouldn't intend using one because of the extra weight and bulk. I just did one over the weekend and I hardly touched by 1.4 primes. Of course, YMMV. I also hardly touched 200mm although again, YMMV.

I would get one primarily for portraits. The fact is these days cameras are so good that the extra stop tends to really only matter for the better bokeh, and even that tends to be more a luxury rather than a make or break at any point. I'd get just as much joy shooting with a 300 or a 400 wide open as well, I suspect.

 

[openwave]

Thanks Jed for your input. And read your review, nice hands one review.
Stunned that you covered the Open Championship at Troon (being a golfer myself), what a dream come true mate Todd Hamilton won that one if I'm not mistaken.

so,what's your lens setup for weddings?

Cheers.

 

[Jed]

Thanks Jed for your input. And read your review, nice hands one review.
Stunned that you covered the Open Championship at Troon (being a golfer myself), what a dream come true mate Todd Hamilton won that one if I'm not mistaken.

so,what's your lens setup for weddings?

Cheers.

Yes he did. Personally I was gutted Ernie didn't win it at the end cause I'd rather have had pics of him with the Claret Jug but hey there you go.

I had some sample images with the review originally but I've since lost the web structure, so...

Lens wise I use the 28/50/85 1.4s and mainly, the 14-24/24-70/70-200 2.8 zooms. And the 10.5 fisheye. I really do find less and less reasons to reach for the 1.4 primes; as stated the D3 is good enough in most wedding situations with 2.8 lenses, and I find that having the right focal length is more important than having the additional DoF restriction. That's my style of shooting and if someone said, you can only shoot the three primes, I could see myself happy with that too. Other photographers will have other styles and opinions.

 

[george671]

The only lens that can perhaps match that is the 105 f/2 DC lens.

The nik 105 f1.8 tops both of them but only at 1/2 the focal length...I own the manual focus one and its great! My Nik 300 f2.8 af edif will have to do for anything longer...

Cheers www.snakephoto.blogspot.com

 

[openwave]

Yes he did. Personally I was gutted Ernie didn't win it at the end cause I'd rather have had pics of him with the Claret Jug but hey there you go.

I had some sample images with the review originally but I've since lost the web structure, so...

Lens wise I use the 28/50/85 1.4s and mainly, the 14-24/24-70/70-200 2.8 zooms. And the 10.5 fisheye. I really do find less and less reasons to reach for the 1.4 primes; as stated the D3 is good enough in most wedding situations with 2.8 lenses, and I find that having the right focal length is more important than having the additional DoF restriction. That's my style of shooting and if someone said, you can only shoot the three primes, I could see myself happy with that too. Other photographers will have other styles and opinions.

hahaha...everybody were gutted that he won (myself included), Ernie was the favorite, and what a smooth swing that he has, what a sight to see.

thanks for the lens combo info, mine for wedding is quite similar w/ yours 14-24 (or 20 if i'm lazy to bring the big 14-24), 24-70,70-200, 85 1.4

for concerts: same combo + 16mm fisheye

cheers.

 

[Blur Shadow]

the 200 f2 lens is meant to be handheld, and it is NOT that heavy. If 1 is complaining this is heavy, then you should feel the weight of the bigger tools. For my events i even USE a 2.9kg lens, with 2 bodies (1 with grip) and 1 flash. It is not at all heavy. The only cons to me is that carrying a big lens during an event, sometimes it will slam on your own hips/ slam on the other camera, and hinder your movement by abit. Sometimes u got to sacrifice something for an output.

cheers

I just think it is really bulky and may just get in the way of others. Ha. But I am impressed that you can handle it!

 

[garbled]

better make sure that there are numbered seats in the concerts...can't anyhow people tripping on your mono or banging at your lens while shooting unless theres a designated cubes for photographers. Goodluck!

 

[anuar ahmad]

The point isn't who can carry what, but how comfortable would you be, with what sort of load management in YOUR shooting situations and conditions.

the 200 f2 lens is meant to be handheld, and it is NOT that heavy. If 1 is complaining this is heavy, then you should feel the weight of the bigger tools. For my events i even USE a 2.9kg lens, with 2 bodies (1 with grip) and 1 flash. It is not at all heavy. The only cons to me is that carrying a big lens during an event, sometimes it will slam on your own hips/ slam on the other camera, and hinder your movement by abit. Sometimes u got to sacrifice something for an output.

cheers

I concur Dream Merchant's statement.

For that same excuse, i acquired 180 2.8 AIS ED back then because the background is not the center of focus but the subject is when i see a picture.
Good or excellent bokeh is secondary, it just complements a good photograph.

Not wise to run about with huge load but it's a different story if your're static or in a small stand-off point.

But i still treasure my 200/2 AIS. Excellent combo with K25 & K64.

 

[knpan]

The nik 105 f1.8 tops both of them but only at 1/2 the focal length...I own the manual focus one and its great! My Nik 300 f2.8 af edif will have to do for anything longer...

Cheers www.snakephoto.blogspot.com

I just think it is really bulky and may just get in the way of others. Ha. But I am impressed that you can handle it!

I actually feel more pressure/ discomfort when the equipments are in the bag. It seems lighter when the straps are loaded on your shoulders as the weight is distributed evenly.
Guess i am young and used to carrying other bigger lenses, the event lenses become feather weight, seriously.