More "Freaky Sharp" lens like the Nikon 70-200 2.8?

[paul_garland]

<p>The Nikon 16-85mm VR is wonderful, as are the new 35mm 1.8, and the 105mm VR makro.<br>

I like your wording: Freaky Sharp. This is just a wonderful phrase!</p>

[dennis_oconnor4]

<p>The 50mm F1.8 makes a great walking around lens... On my D700 it makes it feel actually light... On my D50 it makes it feel like a feather...</p>

<p>denny-o</p>

[tuyen_tran]

<p>Kane, do you have some samples? I have both the 80-200 AF-D (two-ring) and the 70-200 and I wonder if post like yours are not causing me to have unrealistic expectations. I came to the zooms after years of shooting very nice primes, and I have to say that my impressions of the 70-200 are closer to Shun's; it's sharp, but not at blow-me-away levels.<br /> Here are some of my samples:<br /> http://flickr.com/gp/ttran/23gfE2<br /> <br /> http://flickr.com/gp/ttran/G187p0<br /> /> I wonder if the novelty factor is at play? For example, I consider the 17-35 to be extremely impressive, more so than the 70-200, but then I've never shot at those focal lengths until I went to FX.</p>

[kane_engelbert]

<p><a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=4025373">Tuyen Tran</a> ,</p>

<p>I shoot landscape, so that's what I know. Here's a few images from the past few weeks that hopefully speak to the resolution of the 70-200 lens. I may be setting myself up for a flaming but to me these shots show detail I've never had before with my past zooms. </p>

<p>First, I have never shot the 80-200, so I don't know what that looks like. Second, I upgraded from the 18-200vr to 55-200vr to 70-300vr to 70-200 vr. These lens are what I know and what I can compare to. The following images are all stitch's but will show the 'freaky' detail I'm not used to.<br>

All images are scaled down for internet. Have a look at the trees in these images. #1 shows intricate rock and tree detail. #3 shows black and white, look close at the trees and the tree shadows. #4 shows the brilliant color. <br>

<a href="http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/496927.jpg">http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/496927.jpg</a><br>

<a href="http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/496918.jpg">http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/496918.jpg</a><br>

<a href="http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/504202.jpg">http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/504202.jpg</a><br>

<a href="http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/498182.jpg">http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/498182.jpg</a></p>

<p> </p>

[bruce_margolis]

<blockquote>

<p>I upgraded from the 18-200vr to 55-200vr to 70-300vr to 70-200 vr</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Kane, far be it for me to bust your 'freaky' bubble but of course the 70-200VR will look freaky sharp compared to a handful of consumer zooms. After all, it costs 3-4 times as much. For that kind of money, it sure should be a whole lot better in many areas.</p>

<p>Indeed, there are dozens of lenses out there much sharper than those you mentioned and some are less expensive than your previous zooms. But hey, enjoy your freaky lens. That's what this is all about.</p>

 

[tuyen_tran]

<p>Kane, thank you for the samples. I think you have a freaky sharp lens AND great pano technique. The detail in those shots are quite amazing. (If you click on Kane's samples, be sure to zoom in -- I'm using Safari so YMMV.)</p>

[tom_dwyer]

<p>The sharpest Nikkor I've used is the 135mm f2.8 AIS. Small, light, built-in hood in a great mechanical pkg. I bought it as part of a camera pkg and didn't think much of it nor did I plan on using it that much. After using it.....wow. Color/contrast is wonderful.</p>

[david_ralph1]

<p>Kane, I like your pano landscapes very much. (Having a place to stand is part of that isn't it?) Can you tell us something about the stitches that resulted in the photos? Vertical shots? How much overlap? Camera support?</p>

<p>Dave Ralph</p>

[frank g.]

<p>I do feel the same way about my 70-200 2.8 VR it has been extremly sharp on my D700. I love that lens along with my Sigma 105 macro which is extremely sharp as well.</p>