Any Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR II owners out there yet?

Naboo32

Naboo32

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After a fruitless trawl, using the search function in the Equipment forum, I've come to the conclusion that nobody has yet posted anything about the latest version of Nikon's (iconic) 70-200mm f2.8 VR II lens!? Is this correct? Surely somebody here has one by now :shrug:?

I'm just looking for some more opinions on the benefits (if any) over the previous (VR) model, before stumping up the extra cash for the newer one - even Ken Rockwell says he hasn't used one yet :eek:!?

So, if you have one, I'd really appreciate an honest appraisal of it's performance and handling :|.

Thanks in advance :).
 
OK, it didn't take much to push me over the edge ;).

Purchase has been made - 70-200 VRII lens turning up late next week.

Merry Christmas to me :banana: !!!
 
Hehe, It's on my to acquire list, but will be sometime before i can take the plunge.

Looking forward to seeing some of your shots.

Rob.
 
Naboo32 said:
OK, it didn't take much to push me over the edge ;).

Purchase has been made - 70-200 VRII lens turning up late next week.

Merry Christmas to me :banana: !!!
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Oh my, excuse me for saying this, but .... you're easy :razz:; it sure didn't take much to push you to buy that!

Now how about you give us your opinion on this lens, with both your D40 and D700.

Congratulations, and have a Merry Christmas.
 
Wail said:
Oh my, excuse me for saying this, but .... you're easy :razz:; it sure didn't take much to push you to buy that!

Now how about you give us your opinion on this lens, with both your D40 and D700.

Congratulations, and have a Merry Christmas.
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:D I know, I'm a push-over, aren't I!?

It was really just a 'sanity check' before pushing the button. There is so little information out there about this lens from 'amateur' users (like me), even though all of the pro and commercial reviews rate it even more highly than the previous incarnation.

Also, I've never regretted buying quality equipment before, although I have rather a lot of 'budget' items that I wish I hadn't bought. So, I've made myself skint now, but in a few months (after I've sold some other stuff), I'll be back in the race and will have another great piece of Nikon glass (the 17-35mm f/2.8 is another jewel in my crown :naughty:) to cherish :love:.

Of course, if I have anything to show off, I'll post some pics on the appropriate part of the forum. As far as a 'review' is concerned, it would have little value coming from me, as I don't have the experience with other lenses to compare it to :|. Perhaps I'll string together a few words though ;).

Anyway, thanks for the input and Merry Xmas, yourself.
 
Phiggys said:
This thread may be of interest ?

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=184011
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The man has already bought the lens; besides, that thread comes to a dead-end as has been clarified by many. Post No. 39 and No. 41.

That doesn't mean it's not a valid point, but its' not something we should have blown out of proportions; once its' understood, it has to be accepted "as is" :shrug:. Personally, am putting it down as one more thing learnt.
 
Wail said:
The man has already bought the lens; besides, that thread comes to a dead-end as has been clarified by many. Post No. 39 and No. 41.

That doesn't mean it's not a valid point, but its' not something we should have blown out of proportions; once its' understood, it has to be accepted "as is" :shrug:. Personally, am putting it down as one more thing learnt.
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Cheers Wail ;)!

Seems that I'm defintiely going to need that TC-17E, instead of the TC-14E, now :lol:.
 
Focal length change is nothing new in zoom or Fixed focal length primes the closer it focuses the shorter the length becomes.
What you do get is a higher quality image in the right hands with this new 70-200 VR II lens.
 
Phiggys said:
Focal length change is nothing new in zoom or Fixed focal length primes the closer it focuses the shorter the length becomes.
What you do get is a higher quality image in the right hands with this new 70-200 VR II lens.
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In all my years, it's not something I've got to know, hence "something new learnt", until when the issue with the 70-200 VR II was posted a short while back.

:thumbs:
 
The VRII is probably the best option for you due to your D700's full frame sensor.

If I was shooting an FX body, I'd probably have waited a little while and gone the same route myself. As all my cameras are DX bodies (and I have no inclination to put it on the N90s, even if that body did support VR), I decided to go with the original VR and picked it up two weeks or so before the VRII's official release date hit.

No regrets here. :)
 
Wail said:
In all my years, it's not something I've got to know, hence "something new learnt", until when the issue with the 70-200 VR II was posted a short while back.

:thumbs:
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It's good to share our thoughts and knowledge :)

Life is one long learning curve and we never stop learning!

I have yet to meet someone who knows everything.
But have met many who think they know it all !:lol:

Merry xmas Wail and everyone here at Talk Tog
 
Waiting for mine to arrive. Been told in the New Year...
Keep me informed on how you get on with it. ;)


Kev.
 
pablob said:
So did you get this yet? How you finding it??
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Oh yes :naughty: ....

D700TC17EII70-200mmf28VRII_1000.jpg


It's a really luxurious piece of kit, that's for sure! It's not really that much of a monster to hold (even with the TC on) and the VR is noticeably more effective and much more unobtrusive than the VR on my 70-300mm lens. The focus is very sure, even in low light and trounces the f4.5-5.6 lens which it replaces. But, for the price, I'd expect that.

As for image quality (the important part), I have only been out with it twice so far, in dismal weather (snowing all day) and tried to do some wildlife photography with it. I don't really have anything to show, which will do it justice, as I was shooting with high ISO at tiny birds and finished up cropping the images to about 15-20% of their original size :(. Here are a couple of others, which are 'only' cropped to about 50% (both at 340mm with the TC fitted and f/4.8, IIRC) ...

Freezing_Squirrel_01_1000.jpg


Female_Blackbird_02_1000.jpg



When I get some clear air and a bit of sunlight, I expect to be able to come up with a lot better images than those above. I know that this is not really meant to be a 'birding' lens (except for chickens, perhaps) and that the TC isn't helping with sharpness. But, from a few indoor test shots I've made, I think that this is going to be an excellent portrait and 'event' lens :).

The bottom line is that, for me, this lens is very similar to the Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 (which I also own) - it just feels really solid and works really well! I even believe that it will turn out to be a good investment, as plenty of people managed to sell their 70-200 VR Is for more than they paid 'new' and I don't see this new version disappointing the critics either, somehow. Time will tell!
 
That does look impressive; would love to see you do a real torture test of this lens.

Second picture, red squirrel; he's shaking to bits, looks like he is scared out of his skin from your camera & lens pointing at him.
 
Wail said:
That does look impressive; would love to see you do a real torture test of this lens.

Second picture, red squirrel; he's shaking to bits, looks like he is scared out of his skin from your camera & lens pointing at him.
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Hi Wail :)!

It was -9 degrees. I don't know who was shivering most; me or him :D!

The trouble with the winter (here) is that it's always bloody dark, apart from when I'm stuck at my desk at work :razz:. Weekends are the only chance to get out and do anything, so I'll try again this Saturday.
 
I picked mine up today. Happy so far! My old lens cover from wildlife supplies even sort of fits! :D


Kev.
 
So, if you have one, I'd really appreciate an honest appraisal of it's performance and handling
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I see you've got one, congrats!

I have also got one, just before the New Year, and I am blown away by the colour contrast, lack of flare, speed of focusing, and the improved VR. I have the 70-300 VR which is a great performer, but the 70-200 VRII is a huge step up (albeit a lot more expensive).

I have only managed two outdoor sessions with this lens, but on both occasions I have been very impressed by the results, both subjectively and technically.

Ed
 
kevshore said:
I picked mine up today. Happy so far! My old lens cover from wildlife supplies even sort of fits! :D


Kev.
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Congrats Kev :thumbs:, I'm shure that you'll be putting it to good use in the very near future :naughty:.

Edward Bancroft said:
I see you've got one, congrats!

I have also got one, just before the New Year, and I am blown away by the colour contrast, lack of flare, speed of focusing, and the improved VR. I have the 70-300 VR which is a great performer, but the 70-200 VRII is a huge step up (albeit a lot more expensive).

I have only managed two outdoor sessions with this lens, but on both occasions I have been very impressed by the results, both subjectively and technically.

Ed
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:agree: (with all of the above).
 
Naboo32 said:
Hi Wail :)!

It was -9 degrees. I don't know who was shivering most; me or him :D!

The trouble with the winter (here) is that it's always bloody dark, apart from when I'm stuck at my desk at work :razz:. Weekends are the only chance to get out and do anything, so I'll try again this Saturday.
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Well, if it's any help, it's 30C here. This is our winter!

My health wasn't so good the past few weeks, which limited my ability to go out and shoot; and tomorrow, for the first time in 3 weeks I am going out on a long weekend to shoot some sand dunes.

Seeing how cold it is there, send that baby here and I will put it to good use :thumbs:



kevshore said:
I picked mine up today......


Kev.
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I don't know if I am to congratulate you on this; or tell you off for selling the 200-400VR :eek:

Would love to hear your input too. Putting it though the paces.



Edward Bancroft said:
I see you've got one, congrats!

I have also got one, .....
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It's threads like this, and posts like these that fuel the fire of lens-lust in most; but seriously, all this talk is no good without photos.

So far we've got three confirmed VRII owners here and no thread to show-off them photos. You folks have got to read the rules :rules:. No gear-bragging without photos! !!
 
Wail said:
Well, if it's any help, it's 30C here. This is our winter!

My health wasn't so good the past few weeks, which limited my ability to go out and shoot; and tomorrow, for the first time in 3 weeks I am going out on a long weekend to shoot some sand dunes.

Seeing how cold it is there, send that baby here and I will put it to good use :thumbs:
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Actually, that's no help at all - I'm very jealous :p!

Please forgive me if I decline the invitation to send you my news lens for testing. If anyone wants this lens, the will have to pry it from my cold, dead hands ;)!

Wail said:
It's threads like this, and posts like these that fuel the fire of lens-lust in most; but seriously, all this talk is no good without photos.

So far we've got three confirmed VRII owners here and no thread to show-off them photos. You folks have got to read the rules :rules:. No gear-bragging without photos! !!
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Guilty :(!!!!

Sorry, point taken (even though I suspect that you were only joking)! I will try to find something worth posting soon. In my defence though, I was only replying to a specific post, which asked if I had actually received it yet and what my initial impressions were ;).
 
I would like to see a thread started on "Post pictures taken with your new 70-200 VR II" ... it's not a lens on my buying list; but I'd like to see how much better Nikon has managed to make this, vs. the VR I!
 
What I'd actually like to see, once somebody gets around to taking pics, is VR vs. VRII comparisons shot on a DX body.

From images I've seen so far shot by people from various corners of the globe have pretty much proven that the VRII is much better, sharper edge-to-edge, etc. on a full size sensor or 35mm body. If I were shooting a D700 or some flavour of D3, I'd have no issues going for the VRII.

I've yet to see direct VR vs. VRII comparisons using a body with a DX sensor body to compare sharpness, contrast, etc.
 
Kaouthia said:
What I'd actually like to see, once somebody gets around to taking pics, is VR vs. VRII comparisons shot on a DX body.

From images I've seen so far shot by people from various corners of the globe have pretty much proven that the VRII is much better, sharper edge-to-edge, etc. on a full size sensor or 35mm body. If I were shooting a D700 or some flavour of D3, I'd have no issues going for the VRII.

I've yet to see direct VR vs. VRII comparisons using a body with a DX sensor body to compare sharpness, contrast, etc.
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:| I'm afraid that I can't help you there, Kaouthia. My only DX body is a D40 (6MP), so an image from that would be pretty much the same as setting my D700 to DX crop mode and just cutting the middle out of the picture :(.

Still, there are a few posts in the thread linked below, which might be of interest to those who want to see some images from both the VR I and the VR II (starting around page 18) ...

http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=252352&page=18

:)
 
Oh I forgot the FX bodies did a crop mode. Do you still have the original VR to compare?
 
Kaouthia said:
Oh I forgot the FX bodies did a crop mode. Do you still have the original VR to compare?
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No, I'm afraid that I've never owned the 70-200mm VR I. I was busy saving up for it when they announced the new one, so I just saved a bit longer ;).

As I said earlier in the thread, my views on this lens should be taken with a large pinch of salt, as I'm not a pro or even vastly experienced - I just like to own quality gear :). Buy right, buy once :D!
 
rdh said:
On the fence about updating also, 70-200 VRI is already damn sharp...

Lens announcements? I had better pray to the God of equipment that they've developed an awesome 24/1.4 :¬)
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I'm expecting at least 1 wide AF-S prime.
 
So far we've got three confirmed VRII owners here and no thread to show-off them photos.
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No time or opportunity yet to get out and do anything other than get some shots to familiarise and to assess basic lens functions, e.g. focus speed, VR, flare, colour contrast, bokeh. But, no doubt these will come.

Ed
 
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