Nikkor 80-200 vs 70-200

[wchampion]

Which is better?
Is VR that important on the 70-200, or is the better quality glass on the 80-200 more important. I am not against the VR but i do believe that its something that can go wrong. I think the build quality on the 80-200 is superior to that of the 70-200.

[Geurt]

You have to be more specific, there are 3 different 80-200 versions. There is a push pull version which is sadly not up to scratch, then there is a AF-D version which are good to very good and then the AF-S version which is very good and comparable to the VR version in general AF speed and image quality.

[wchampion]

The two that i am talking about are:

AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm F/2.8 ED

and

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

sorry i wasn't aware of the 3rd version.

[Jola]

And the 70-200VR will compete with anything out there on a DX camera.

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/..._n15/page7.asp

It is only with FX that some vignetting and less sharp corners creep in.

Personally, the VR is important to me, I mostly use a lens like the 70-200 handheld.

[Fanie]

The AFS 80-200 is great optically, and if you are not going to photograph still standing subjects at low shutter speeds, the 80-200 is great. That being said there will soon probably be some 70-200 VR coming onto the second hand market as people upgrade to the newer version.

On DX sensor cameras the 70-200 VR works very very well, but costs a lot more than the 80-200, its you're choice if you want to pay the premium for the VR function.

[wchampion]

....

It is only with FX that some vignetting and less sharp corners creep in.

Personally, the VR is important to me, I mostly use a lens like the 70-200 handheld.

This is the thing, i currently use the D100 and D200, but am planing on getting the D700. With the D700 and the high ISO, is VR even necessary?

and do these lens's perform well with the AF Teleconverters, although you will loose some IQ of the lens when the AF Teleconverter is attached.

[Jola]

It works well with the TC1.4X, and some people say with the TC1.7X as well, but I don't use it with that TC.

BTW, if you use a TC then the vignetting and soft corners get cut off, so that the 70-200VR can compete with anything out there, even on FX, if you use a TC. Remembering, of course, the disadvantages of TC's (slower AF, some softness, etc).

Of course, you can wait for the new 70-200VR II, but if you look at the exorbitant D300s pricing by Nikon SA, the new lens will probably cost R28667 (straight extrapolation of D300s pricing).

[wchampion]

I will do some more research before i commit. But i think its going to be the 80-200mm, and the D700.

[mikeH]

i have the 80-200 non vr i will not even swop it for a d3x you can get a 3x anywere but my 80-200 is not made anymore it is faster and sharper than the new 80-200 vr.heavy as hell it is the price you pay for metal and glass.

[Geurt]

.... new 80-200 vr....

Possibly you mean 70-200 VR

I've researched this topic to near death. I'll grab a good 80-200 AF-S at a drop of the hat if in very good nic and well priced (aka less than R12k) else I'll wait for the new 70-200 VR II. The 80-200 AF-D is noisy in focusing (using internal camera motor) and AF is a lot slower in comparison to VR models and hunts in low light, the reason why you'd like to have f2.8, is it not. However, you should get very good 80-200 AF-D for less than R7.5K imported via KEH in the US.

[Jola]

it is faster and sharper than the new 80-200 vr.

A bit of a bold statement to make considering that nobody has even tested the new lens

The new lenses have nano-coatings and other new technology, as well as being optimised for digital, so you can't realistically expect the old 80-200 to be competitive with a new 70-200VR II.

[mikeH]

ok of the current lens,when it is here i will test it and see if mine is no longer the best in the 80-200 range.

[wchampion]

Possibly you mean 70-200 VR

I've researched this topic to near death. I'll grab a good 80-200 AF-S at a drop of the hat if in very good nic and well priced (aka less than R12k) else I'll wait for the new 70-200 VR II. The 80-200 AF-D is noisy in focusing (using internal camera motor) and AF is a lot slower in comparison to VR models and hunts in low light, the reason why you'd like to have f2.8, is it not. However, you should get very good 80-200 AF-D for less than R7.5K imported via KEH in the US.

so you would get the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S over the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8 IF-ED, seems like the 80-200 AF-S is hard to come by.

[Geurt]

so you would get the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S over the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8 IF-ED, seems like the 80-200 AF-S is hard to come by.

Let me qualify, I'll take an AF-S on full frame camera above the current VR model.

As to availability, there are some AF-S lenses available in the US but at prices very close to a new VR ie US$1550 to US$1750 (new VR mark I is going for US$1899). So, prices indicate that the AF-S lenses are still highly sought after in the US anyway and then I have yet to see an AF-S offered for sale in the RSA.

[wchampion]

Ok, ic. so i need to hunt down a 80-200 AF-S
Why does nikon still sell the 80-200 AF-D and not the AF-S, guess its to try and sell the more expensive 70-200 VR.

[mikeH]

that is why i have the s can use it on full frame or not.

[BrandonH]

I have the 80-200 afs and I can tell you it is a fantastic lens. On my D700 it produces superb results and I won't be in the queue for the new 70-200 vrII.

[Irene McCullagh]

I have the 80-200 D and while I love the glass, I do find it very heavy.

[Peter Betts]

That being said there will soon probably be some 70-200 VR coming onto the second hand market as people upgrade to the newer version.

My 70-200 VR I has already come and gone on the market in advance of the announcement of the VRII for FX so as to maximise sale price... Made R 6000 over what I paid originally in the end...Now the price on the VRI will have fallen a lot because of the coming VRII

[Jola]

Now the price on the VRI will have fallen a lot because of the coming VRII

Don't think so, the 70-200VR II may end up costing over R28 000, so the VR I prices may remain high.