Nikon 70-200 f2.8 ED-VR II vs 80-200 f2.8 ED

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Here are a few pictures taken from one of the windows in my 2 channel room with the nikon 18-200 today. They were shot with natural light and you can see the difference in early morning light starting at sunrise over about an hour. This is why I love to take pictures at sunrise and sunset, look at the change in the color of the sky.

David you must be an early bird.

[Bob]

Ivan, I will have the 70-200 VRII tomorrow. I have been holding off for quite a while but finally decided to pull the trigger. I am looking forward to playing with it, I will let you know what I think. I have a D300s and 90% of the time have the 24-70mm on it.

I also have the 18-200mm but I wanted the 2.8!

Bob

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Bob

Ivan, I will have the 70-200 VRII tomorrow. I have been holding off for quite a while but finally decided to pull the trigger. I am looking forward to playing with it, I will let you know what I think. I have a D300s and 90% of the time have the 24-70mm on it.

I also have the 18-200mm but I wanted the 2.8!

Bob

Cool!

Please do Bob

[TommyC]

The 80-200 is 2 generations before the current VRII. I would get the VRII. According to many reviews, the VRII performs quite a bit better on full frame camera that you own compared to the VRI or 80-200.

The best feature on the VRII would be the new VR technology. You gain almost 4 stops handheld!

[1KW]

Why do you guys feel you need the 2.8 with the extra weight ? You can adjust the iso to 800-1600 on a 3.5 and get the same effect. I guess what I am asking is how often to you shoot at 2.8 ?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Why do you guys feel you need the 2.8 with the extra weight ? You can adjust the iso to 800-1600 on a 3.5 and get the same effect. I guess what I am asking is how often to you shoot at 2.8 ?

Noise reduction?

[Masterlu]

I decided to go for the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

[TommyC]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I decided to go for the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

You'll love it. Enjoy.

[howiebrou]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I decided to go for the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Sorry to be so late to the party Ivan. Definitely get the AFS 70-200 VR.

I have the original AFS 70-200 F2.8 DX lens one without VR and the glass is actually better than the subsequent iterations but the newest one is very nice nevertheless. The original one is very hard to find new and commands a big premium.

The 80-200 without AFS is a bit of a dinosaur, noisy, slow and has been around since when I was using a F90-X film Nikon.

The 70-200 is a beautiful lens and one I will take 100% with me on holidays because focal length and big aperture gives you great out of focus backgrounds and flattens the picture as well. The other one I take is the AFS17-35 F 2.8 and a 50mm F1.4 (non-AFS). The 14-24 F2.8 is a also a great lens but less practical because it is domed and it is a G lens.

In general I only buy F2.8 or bigger lenses because I found I was not happy with the quality and brightness of the small apaerture lenses. Nikon uses its best glass in the big aperture lenses. I have a 80-400 VR lens which I never use because it is just too dar, slow and poor quality. A 70-200 with an extender will beat it any day

howie

here's a few photos with a 70-200. I downloaded them to my iphone and then emailed them back to myself so not sure if that will change the resolution.

[1KW]

Nice shots Howie,

You will get better bokeh ie the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image with the 70-200 . The 50 1.4 on a DX body becomes a nice portrait lens ie 75 mm with nice bokeh for same reason . I have read the 70-200 is famous for that effect. Enjoy Ivan, looking forward to your pictures with it.