200-400 Dilemma

merv

merv

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Mervyn
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Have had a Nikon 200-400 VR2 for a couple of years and only get the odd outing with it to a couple of air shows per hear for which it was great.
However, now that I see the new 80-400 VR available I am tempted to consider this as a much more versatile lens which I would probably get a lot more use out of.
Am I crazy of thinking of ditching the 200-400 for the 80-400? would keep both if I could afford to. From all I read the 80-400 seems an excellent lens. Both are f4 I think.
I am probably not comparing like with like. Any comments would be greatly appreciated
merv
 
I've used the 200-400 extensively in the past, it's a fabulous lens but big, heavy and hard work to lug around, judging by the reviews the new 80-400 is getting I think I would favour that now over the 200-400, seriously considering purchasing one myself at the moment as it's a lot more convenient for travelling.
 
Don't have any experience of the 200-400 but I have just bought an 80-400 and so far all I'm very impressed.
Focus is very quick, on a par with my 70-200 and far out strips the Sigma 150-500 that it is going to replace
 
I have a pal with both, he's almost never using the 200-400 as the 80-400 has such excellent image quality and is so much more portable, and he has both a :D4 and D4s and is extremely fussy.
I used a canon 200-400 f4 for a safari, great but v heavy, hope the rumoured 100-400 replacement in Sept is as good as the Nikon 80-400, I for one will be buying it.
George.
 
Thanks Ed thats a great link you sent me. Very informative.
I've been offered £2900 for the 200-400 by a dealer which doesn't seem too bad so might be tempted to offload it.
I mainly am looking up with this lens at planes. Used to do bikes and cars but the novelty wore off so only used rarely. Definitely the 80-400 would do walkabout also but would like to think with the 80-400 I could still get 1/2000 sec for jets if I needed it without ISO going too high. Mind you I have the D4 and it is very very good at high ISO. Will sleep on it.
Thanks all:nikon:
 
Have taken the plunge and decided to offload the 200-400, sadly, but looking forward to getting the 80-400. When I get it and try it will try to remember to give a little feedback here. Thanks all
merv
 
Thanks Chris hopefully. 200-400 on its way. Screwed another £200 for it.
I see you're from a lovely part of the world, South Devon. Holidayed that coastline in 2012 including Brixham and Dartmouth etc.
merv
 
Very funny Chris, I like that.
Will have new 80-400 lens tomorrow Friday. Hope I don't miss the 200-400 but don't think I will from what people like you say.
Will be trying it on the Red Arrows at local airshows here in N.I in early August and September.
merv
 
merv said:
Very funny Chris, I like that.
Will have new 80-400 lens tomorrow Friday. Hope I don't miss the 200-400 but don't think I will from what people like you say.
Will be trying it on the Red Arrows at local airshows here in N.I in early August and September.
merv
Click to expand...

Presumably the discussion is about the Nikon 80-400mm AF-S Nikkor f4.5-5.6G ED VR and not the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 D AF VR

is the older D lens not anywhere near as good?
 
Joeturner11 said:
The older D lens has really bad reviews about poor slow focus and terrible IQ from what I have seen online...
Click to expand...
I wouldn't quite say that. Yes, the AF is very slow and noisy - it's Nikon's first generation screw-driven AF and there is quite a lot of glass to move. And the VR implementation is... eccentric, shall we say. It was Nikon's first VR lens, I think, and it shows. But optically it isn't too bad at all, so it's quite capable of delivering good results in situations like a safari. (Though of course the new version is much better optically, simply because zoom lens design has advanced hugely in recent years.)
 
The price of the D is just under £1k

The price of the AF-S is twice that
 
How sharp do you want it, quite a large crop too ?

14450453699_6ae9759e03_b.jpg



Not had a lot of time to play but did try this shot, quite impressed as it's not even remotely a macro lens
 
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