Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S user review

About Nikon cameras(Film, coolpix, DSLR and Nikon mirrorless "Z"), lenses, accessories, links and firmware updates and sample pictures.

Moderator: Stany Buyle

Post Reply
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S user review

Post by Stany Buyle »

After my first trial day with this new toy, some early impressions...
  • Very well built to handle...
  • Extremely sharp. When I got my 70-200 F2.8 FL version on my D4/D810/D850 and later with the fantastic FTZ adapter on my Z6& Z7 I thought a final standard in extreme sharpness was achieved, especially wide open.... But... This one is sharper...
  • Very fast focusing on both Z6 & Z7.
  • Very smooth zoom ring
  • I like the new style illuminated info display on top, indicating per mm that you zoom, or aperture, or distance.
  • The Z version seems to be focusing at shorter distance than its F counterpart, but I'm not sure about that, I will compare tomorrow or so...
  • Last but not least, I LOVE the two programmable function buttons.
    I programmed the one in front for AF tracking, great... Now I can use the one on my camera body again for exposure...
Wow...

Will be continued in the coming days, with pictures, if the weather gods allow me to...

Kindest regards,

Stany
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

Re: Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S, early impressions

Post by Stany Buyle »

While the weather is very bad, cloudy, strong wind and sometimes rain, I have not much shooting opportunities...

Underneath a picture taken handheld with Z7 & Z 70-200 f2.8 S with full size crop (as shown) as it came out of Capture NX-D after conversion from NEF. Set to vivid and sharpening 5 , ADL set to normal.

When Nikon released this lens, I had no plans to exchange my 70-200 F2.8 FL for the Z version. After experiencing the native sharpness, colour rendition, VR and focusing speed on my Z bodies though, I might change my mind ...

A screenshot of the scene and the cropped area as you see in CNX-D, and the exif:
Image Image

and a crop (resized to 1000 px longest side), no PP applied with exception of © .
Image

:idea: :arrow: Registered members can download the full picture.
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S, sharpness

Post by Stany Buyle »

From this morning, iamge taken handheld with the Z 70-200 f2.8S on my Z7.

The scene and the crop area as you see in Capture NX-D:
Image Image

And a 100% crop. No additional sharpening or post processing:

Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S: AF acquisition/AF locking

Post by Stany Buyle »

In my garden I have a tree beloved by many birds, and so beloved by me ;) .

That tree might be quite confusing for AF acquisition on certain small details, especially with dim light early in the morning or in the evening...
With the new Z 70-200 F2.8 S, and while I was going back and forth in AF-C on the different branches in front and in between, there was NO HUNTING WHATSOEVER and always dead on and very fast focus acquisition.

The scene and the crop area as you see in Capture NX-D:
Image

and a 100% crop:
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
Roy Kikuta
AFFILIATED MEMBER
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue 13 Oct 2015 08:57
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes

Re: The nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S, early impressions

Post by Roy Kikuta »

Good morning from Hawaii, Stany!
Thank you so much for doing the additional test - I'm very impressed by the Z7's ability to yield 100% crops of such high quality - I'm getting a strong urge to go buy a Z7 body to add to my current Z6 (I hadn't realized how much I missed the extra pixels of my D810). Your last test of your "beloved" tree is most intriguing - because of the fact that it didn't get confused by the background leaves of lighter color and perhaps more contrast. May I ask which AF-Area you were using for that particular shot? I believe you have had great success using the Wide-Area S/L modes in shooting birds in flight? This shot is precisely the kind of situation I would be shooting in with the 70-200S - under less than ideal light below forest canopy with masses of vegetation in the background. Having sold off my 70-200E-FL much too early, I've really missed having a fast f/2.8 70-200 these past few months - I can only hope that Nikon will resolve whatever manufacturing process issues it is having and begin distribution of the lens, soon - I have had one on pre-order since 6 Jan!
Aloha,
Roy
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

More images with nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S on Z7

Post by Stany Buyle »

Some More images with nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S on Z7...

The scene and AF point as you seen in Nikon ViewNX:
Image

and a 100% crop:
Image

The scene and AF point as you seen in Nikon ViewNX:
Image

and a 100% crop:
Image

The scene and AF point as you seen in Nikon ViewNX:
Image

and a crop resized to 1000px longest side:
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S goes closer than its predecess

Post by Stany Buyle »

The nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S goes significanly closer than its predecessor:

Image taken handheld.

The scene and AF point as you seen in Nikon ViewNX:
Image

and a 100% crop (converted from NEF in Capture NX-D, no sharpening or PP):
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S- small bird with 100% crops

Post by Stany Buyle »

From today, captured handheld and wide open (F2.8) a small bird in my gardenfrom approx 10 mtrs  with the (simply incredible!!!) Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S

The scene with AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i:
Image

And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
Image

The scene with AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i:
Image

And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
Image

The scene with AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i:
Image

And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
Image

The scene with AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i:
Image

And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
User avatar
Stany Buyle
moderator
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun 30 Nov 2008 15:05
Active Member?: Yes
Post pictures?: Yes
Contact:

Re: Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S user review

Post by Stany Buyle »

Good afternoon to all of you!

2 pictures SOOC with nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 on Z7.
In-camera settings were vivid, quicksharp+1, saturation+1

The scene and AF point as you see in Nikon ViewNX-i:
Image

and a 100% crop:
Image

Thanks for your attention and kindest regards,
Stany
Post Reply