solamnus Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>So i have a Df and a D700 i gave my wife but also a D810 i shoot with. i rarely need a longer lens than my 180 prime. But sometimes lately when shooting events and things for my kids i feel i need a telezoom. I have been considering these 3 lenses. The 70-200 VR the 70-200 VR2 and the older 80-200. I realize the newest VR2 is onviously the best of the lot but its also pretty expensive. So i just want to hear your opinions about what the others would be in comparison on my D810, would it be a waste?<br>Give me some advice:)<br>/Martin.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>Assuming your "180 prime" is the 180mm/f2.8 AF-D or something similar, a 70-200mm/f2.8 AF-S is not going to be much longer. Are you after faster AF from AF-S or you need something longer. I would go to at least 300mm if you want something meaningfully longer than 180mm, but a 300mm/f2.8 is big and expensive. Would you consider a 300mm/f4?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solamnus Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>He Shun and thanks. Well actually i think 200 is enough, but it would rather be the versatility and the speed perhaps that would matter. i reckon the older 80-200 is probably no much faster then my prime, but at least i have the ability to zoom with it.<br> /Martin.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Brennan Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>I's second Shun by saying I find the 300/4 on my D810 is a very 'do-able' and affordable hand held medium tele lens option.</p> <p>However, when I require zoom ability I still use the older 70-200/2.8 on my D810. Yes, it has the obvious softer corners but I use it mainly for landscapes. I do find my exposures are really only let down when If I don't stop down past f/4 and have bright sky in the upper part of the frame which shows up the darker corners which I find require a bit of editing to return them to a natural appearance. Otherwise the older 70-200mm is plenty sharp across the majority of the frame and has brilliant AF performance on the D810. (and I also love the bokeh this lens produces)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solamnus Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>Hey Mathew. Ok thanks for the respons. I kind of like being able to stop down if its needed on events and such. Would you consider the 70-200 a better choice than the older 80-200 though for the D810? Im not after anything super sharp , i would like a little better AF than the 180 primelens and the zoom, that is it. I also read about the softer corners on the FF bodies for the 70-200, still if its a better option than what i have and a better lens over all id consider it anyhow.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>I have had all three of those AF-S lenses at different times. Currently I still own both 70-200. If you shoot indoor events, VR is very useful that lets you use a slower shutter speed such as 1/100 or maybe 1/60 sec. Below that, subject motion becomes a bigger problem.</p> <p>Nikon also has a 70-200mm/f4 AF-S VR which is lighter. If your venues are not that dark, maybe you can get away with f4. Otherwise, there are also some third-party 70-200mm/f2.8 with VR options.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solamnus Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>So Shun would u still recommend the 70-200 VR1 version for a D810? Or is the corner softness bad enough for you to not recommend it an tell me to rather choose one of the others lenses?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>Right, the primary weakness for the 70-200mm/f2.8 VR1 is poor corner quality @ 200mm on the full FX frame, but if you shoot events, typically you don't care about corner sharpness. The barrel for VR1 is also thinner on the rear end (the lens mount side); I find that easier to hold with my left hand.</p> <P> Optically, I prefer the newer 70-200mm/f2.8 AF-S VR II. However, even that "new" version is a bit dated by now. The 70-200mm/f2.8 is now a prime candidate for the conversion to an E lens. </P> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two23 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>I use a 70-200mm VR-1 on D800E, and it's a great lens for weddings. The autofocus is very quick and solid, more so than the older lenses. The lens is one of Nikon's bargains on ebay.</p> <p>Kent in SD</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_ponce Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 <p>I use the 70-200 VRII on my D810 and I like it for some applications. It's a heavy muther, for sure! :-) I do find myself grabbing the 24-70 vr, more often than not, however -- but sometimes bigger is better. :-) With the incredible images that the D810 produces, get the best -- is my suggestion. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heimbrandt Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>Martin, I note that you live in Stockholm. Why not go to either Schoenherrs Foto or Kameradoktorn? Schoenherrs have a good selection of new and used lenses, so they should have the 70-200 VR-1 in stock, as well as new 70-200/2.8 VRII and 70-200/4 VR. Bring your camera, talk to them and try out their demo lenses. They should allow you to take som test photos with the lenses that interest you so you can see for yourself if the VR-1 is good enough for your needs. If it is not, they you know which one you want.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>Why would you buy a 200 instead of just cropping the image from your 180? The D810 certainly provides enough image real estate to do a lot of cropping.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>I have an image showing all three Nikon 70-200mm AF-S VR lenses side by side. The f2.8 VR version 1 is a bit longer than version 2, but see its rear end tapers off to be narrower? I find that easier to hold.</p> <p>The f4 version is naturally smaller and lighter if you can live with that. The tripod collar on the f4 lens is optional. You need to pay extra for it. The tripod collars on the f2.8 versions are not removable. You can only remove the "foot" part from the collars.</p> <P> <IMG SRC="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/16797874-lg.jpg"> </P> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solamnus Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>Thank you for the responses guys, good suggestions and input.<br> @Andreas. Yes you are right:) that is actually what i ddi last time when i was looking for a wide angle.<br> I think this time i am going to buy it second hand, but a very good idea to go there and try them out for sure.<br> So far i had offers for all three lenses. The 80-200 they wanted around 600 EU for, the 70-200 Vr im not sure yet, and the 70-200 VR2 they wanted around 1300 EU for.<br> @EJ, well...as i said to Shun im after a zoom rather then the prime in this case to get some more versatility. I love the 180 prime, it is just a bit too long sometimes and sometimes not in certain situations, also the AF is pretty slow etc on that lens, so hoping for some faster AF on one of the zooms.<br> @Shun Great comparison an nice input about how you experience them. Actually the f4 lens seems very nice...just wish it was 2,8. then again maybe since it has VR it will do ok on events etc anyhow. What do you use it mostly for?<br> Also nice with the smaller size too!<br> Cheers guys, Martin.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>The 70-200mm/f2.8 is mostly for events and parties (e.g. weddings); occasionally night sports.</p> <p>The 70-200mm/f4 is mainly for outdoor hiking, landscape, and sometimes wildlife with plenty of light.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solamnus Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>ok, hmm...im on the fence then still. The reason i started looking for one is it would be quite nice to get something as versatile as possible, i will probably shoot at least a few weddings but also a lot of stuff outside like football but also some karate tournaments inside gyms etc. S i will need to try and decide on the most needed of those lenses but at same time considering price and weight which is also pretty important.<br> Hard! ;)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>If you shoot anything indoors, such as weddings and inside gyms, definitely get a f2.8 version.</p> <p>My problem is that quite often I hike with a 500mm/f4 or something that big, with a matching tripod. Every gram I can save on top of that is a plus. That was why I added the f4 version in 2014 when there was a deal for it.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solamnus Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>Ow yes, then i understand why you would want the F4 a lot. Also i think just being lower weight in general for a lens is a good thing if its still a good quality lens. That means you will get it out more often than not, and that is a major thing to be honest. Have several great lenses that more often gets left at home cause of the added weight.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_arnold Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>70-200/2.8II is the obvious choice here. Yes, it's pricey, but then you only have to buy it once. :) You might also want to look out for a used copy of the 80-200/AF-S. that one will focus faster than the 80-200 AF-D, so better for action shots. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>You only have to buy it once until Nikon introduces the 70-200mm/f2.8 E AF-S VR with fluorite elements .... :-)</p> <p>The 70 or 80-200mm/f2.8 AF is a lens Nikon tends to update fairly frequently, maybe every 5 years or so:</p> <ol> <li>1987: 80-200mm/f2.8 AF, with rotating filter thread</li> <li>1992: 80-200mm/f2.8 AF-D, with covered filter thread and therefore non-rotating</li> <li>1997: 80-200mm/f2.8 AF-D, with built-in tripod collar</li> <li>1998: 80-200mm/f2.8 AF-S</li> <li>2003: 70-200mm/f2.8 AF-S VR</li> <li>2009: 70-200mm/f2.8 AF-S VR II</li> <li>?</li> </ol> <p>The next one seems to be overdue. :-)</p> <p>If you shoot indoor events such as weddings, VR is very helpful. Sports inside a gym, not so much. Either VR version should be fine for events, depending on how much you would like to spend. There is also the Sigma option: http://www.photo.net/equipment/sigma/70-200/review/, among others.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidTriplett Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>If you are shooting for money, buy the best, most expensive, highest performing lens. If this is for family and fun, you can likely get away with less money. On the D810, with its excellent sensor and good performance at higher ISO's, you can ask yourself if 2EV of lens performance is worth the extra $$$, or, alternatively, if you can make it up using the higher ISO's in your excellent camera. I don't want to take anything away from what Shun, Eric, and others have said. However, if a mega-lens is too expensive, you do have the option of excellent, but slower lenses. I personally love my Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR. Best part is its lightning fast focus for sports. Again, I am coming from a hobbyist perspective, and one where cost is always an issue. If money is not an issue, then more power to you.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>David, your point is totally valid. That is why I pointed out the VR version 1 is fine for events, and the Sigma 70-200mm/f2.8 is a lot less expensive. However, indoors under dim light, f2.8 has its advantages, and not every f2.8 version is super expensive.</p> <p>The OP has a Df and D810, plus an older D700. I think we are making suggestions that match the prices for those three bodies.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidTriplett Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>Shun, you'll get no push back from me. Your recommendations, as always, are excellent and spot-on. I'm just sharing some perspective from further down the food chain. If you feel my suggestions are less than helpful, then let's please have an off-line conversation. My only desire is to contribute in a positive way. Kindest regards, David. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Vongries Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>Martin -- there is a lens comparator on the Nikon Web Site that will let you visually compare possible focal length choices to your 180 and your needs before you buy. If that is interesting, and you can't find it, bounce a message back and I'll send a link. Good luck!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgelfand Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 <p>You might look at the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 Di VC USD.</p> <p>It is a very good lens and about $1,000 less than the Nikon VRII.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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