NikonJin - the 100% free Nikon Forums

AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED

Specifications

Lens construction 21 elements in 15 groups (5 ED glass elements)
Picture angle 34°20' - 12°20' [22°50' - 8° with Nikon digital cameras (Nikon DX format)]
Focal-length scale 70, 80, 105, 135, 200mm
Number of diaphragm blades 9 (rounded)
Minimum f/stop 22
Closest focusing distance 1.5m in AF mode (1.4m in MF mode)
Maximum reproduction ratio 1/6.1 in AF mode (1/5.6m in MF mode)
Zoom control Manual, via separate zoom ring
Macro focusing N/A
Focus-limit switch: N/A
M/A mode Available
Focus lock button Available
Weight (approx.): 1,470g (1,395g without tripod mounting foot)
Dimensions (approx.) (from the camera’s lens mounting flange) 87×215 mm
Lens cap Snap-on
Lens hood HB-29 (supplied)
Lens case CL-M2 (supplied)
Tripod collar Does have (detachable)
External front filter attachment frame Does not rotate
External front filter 77mm
Slip-on filter N/A
Built-in/rear filter N/A
Circular polarizing filter Usable.
Circular polarizing filter II Usable, even with dedicated Lens Hood HB-29.
TC-20E/20E II Usable
TC-17E II Usable
TC-14E/14E II Usable
AF-3 Usable. (0)
AF-4 Usable. (2): ( ) Indicates maximum number of usable hoods (HN-36 for AF-3/HN-37 for AF-4).
Infrared compensation scale N/A
Supplied accessories 77mm snap-on front lens cap, Rear lens cap LF-1, Bayonet Hood HB-29, Soft Pouch CL-M2
Aperture ring N/A
Distance scale Does have
Material of bayonet ring Metal

Discuss and post your samples here

The lens is very well built and very well thought out. The rotating tripod ring is fantastic, it allows you to switch from portrait to landscape or vice versa with just a release of a knob! The engineers at Nikon did a great job. The tripod foot can also be removed to make the package even smaller!

I haven't had time to take it out for a shoot, but here is a sample pic.

Shot from my apartment on the 4th floor. Straight out of cameara JPG, just crop and resize.

Here is one with D700 and 70-200

Very nice!
was VR on or off when you took that shoot?

(07-07-2009 02:11 PM)wrong Wrote: [ -> ]Very nice!
was VR on or off when you took that shoot?

VR on. I have a few more

How do you guys think of the difference between the 70 - 200mm and the 80 - 200mm (considering the price difference too)

The 80-200 doesn't have the mighty VR. But other than that apprently the optics aren't too far apart at all considering the price difference. There are heaps of 80-200 variations from manual focus to auto focus, push pull zooms to rotating zooms. I don't own either, so this is what I've read up.

Optical quality wise, without pixel peeping 80-200 and 70-200VR are very similar.
80-200's autofocus is very fast when use on a pro body..

But compare to the 70-200 VR:
1. While the build quality of the AF 80-200 is very good, the MF/AF switch on the lens breaks very easily.
2. i've read lots of users complaining they are having back focusing problem at some particular focal length. I have not heard similar complains about the 70-200VR
3. Well 80-200 doesn't have VR, which i personally found is quite useful for a long lens like this

That's true.. I guess the VR does make quite a bit of difference when deciding between the two lense....
Oh well, the 70 - 200 is still a bit far fetching for me at the moment.... gotta save up more

the 70-300 VR is a pretty good alternative.
Picture quality is almost as good as the 70-200VR, has a bigger zoom range, has VR, and is lighter and smaller and a lot cheaper too.

The only thing you'll be missing is the large aperture