Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

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BrianSmith
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Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by BrianSmith »

Since owning my D3 I find, like some others, that the performance of this lens is a little wanting at FX in the corners both for resolution and vignetting. Not enough to panic over but I would like to ask for suggestions if I wanted to swap out.
Is there a better FX alternative from Tamron or Sigma? Would I be happier going back to the 80-400VR which I sold before getting the D3? :o(
I'm not expecting a change to be zero cost but preferably light on the pocket.
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Stany Buyle
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by Stany Buyle »

Hi Brian,
I sold my 70-200VR and bought a 80-400VR when I went to D3. I did this move basically for reach but I'm more than pleased wth all aspects of this lens with exception of AF speed. Not really slow but uncomparable with 70-200. I tried the Tamron 70-200 F2.8 a couple of weeks ago and I was underwhelmed with the AF speed, that's slow...
An image with my 80-400VR @ 400mm, handhold with VR on, 1/800sec and F7.1, AF-C, matrix.
No postprocessing out of resizing
Image

and a crop
Image
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by aclphoto »

Brian,

I have a good friend that runs a camera shop and he told me a few days ago that Nikon was coming out with a new 70-200 2.8 NON VR lens in the $700 price range... he said he actually held one in his hands shot some images with it and told me the glass was amazing... this may be a good choice for you... keep an eye out for it.
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by BrianSmith »

Thanks, I surely will. Frankly, with the higher iso available on the D3 but without the accompanying noise, I find myself not using VR and having the suspicion that my images are sharper without it. If this nonVR version is that good and at that sort of price then I would make the swap. Particularly if it was lighter or shorter. I find the current one a little unweildy with the TC attached.
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by BrianSmith »

StanyB wrote:Hi Brian,
I sold my 70-200VR and bought a 80-400VR when I went to D3. I did this move basically for reach but I'm more than pleased wth all aspects of this lens with exception of AF speed. Not really slow but uncomparable with 70-200. I tried the Tamron 70-200 F2.8 a couple of weeks ago and I was underwhelmed with the AF speed, that's slow...
An image with my 80-400VR
The main reason I got rid of my 80-400VR was the max aperture which is now less of a problem. On my D2X the focussing speed was acceptable, perhaps slightly better on the D2H. I'm tempted to change back.

Nice cockerel. Is it a Pekin? It looks as though it may be bantam sized.
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by aclphoto »

BrianSmith wrote:Thanks, I surely will. Frankly, with the higher iso available on the D3 but without the accompanying noise, I find myself not using VR and having the suspicion that my images are sharper without it. If this nonVR version is that good and at that sort of price then I would make the swap. Particularly if it was lighter or shorter. I find the current one a little unweildy with the TC attached.

yeah he said it was about the same size as the 70-300 Nikon or the Canon 70-200 f4 lens... lighter and shorter than the 70-200 VR... but I dont know if you can still use you TC on it.
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by aclphoto »

To ALL on this forum...

I’m SO very sorry I have to inform you of this…

I misunderstood my friend, the new 70-200 2.8 NON VR lens is actually a Tamron with a NIKON mount.

Again I’m very sorry about this.
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by pam.meier »

I heard the Tamron is very good optically, but AF is very slow.

Nikon is said to come out with a Nikkor 70-200 VR, but the new version may have a bigger diameter and thus be slightly heavier ...
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by Stany Buyle »

aclphoto wrote:To ALL on this forum... I’m SO very sorry I have to inform you of this… I misunderstood my friend, the new 70-200 2.8 NON VR lens is actually a Tamron with a NIKON mount.
Again I’m very sorry about this.
Absolutely no problem.
Misunderstandings are very normal things that happen in life...
I appreciate your contribution on our forum very much.
BTW: That new tamron I tried out myself @ audiophil last month: Indeed amazing IQ but VERY slow focusing...
kindest regards,

Stany
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by Guy Van Hooveld »

I am a big fan of the 70-200VR even with the vignetting / corner softness issue on FX (in practice it has never been a problem for my kind of photography, and I like the added value of the VR), and I could try a few alternatives.
The ones I would recommend:
The older AF-S version, non VR 80-200 was the best compromise (can still be found used)
The older AF-D version - I could test this one too, and IQ was slightly lower (pictures a little bit softer fully open, but still very good), slow AF
Sigma 70-200 2.8 - I owned that one for more than a year before the 70-200VR - excellent IQ, fast AF (HSM motor) - I missed VR and I am not a big fan of the grey finishing (easily peeling off)

Tamron - no experience
Tokina 80-200 2.8 I still have a copy of that one, a bit soft fully open, but still usable, slow AF (no motor), front element is turning, a good solution for the money
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Re: Nikkor 70-200VR alternatives?

Post by janisbg »

Had Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM before Nikon. Pretty good lens.
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