Product ReviewsNikon AF-S VR ED 70-200mm F/2.8 G (IF) Black #202

80-200mm bargain

I find this lens to be very sharp. The one I purchased on ebay is the older push pull zoom and focus style. Mine was in bargain condition with a few cosmetic issues, the glass is clean though and the images are crisp. A 70-200 VR is nice but you wont find one cheap. The two ring 80-200 is an improvement on this design and includes a tripod mount, but generally those lenses run about twice as much as this one. To use this lens with the modern digital cameras you can only use manual and aperture priority and must set the lens f stop in the camera menu. Once I did that I have no problems with metering or autofocus. I use the 80-200mm primarily for portraits and most often with the camera on a tripod. If you are looking for a sharp telephoto zoom for your Nikon at a small price, you can't go wrong with one of these older ED zoom lenses.Read full review...

Best value Nikon professional telephoto f/2.8 lens.

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens is a very good quality lens. It's fast (fixed f/2.8), solid (built like a tank), produce great quality image, and priced very reasonably for a professional grade telephoto lens.

Having said that, there are some additional features that would be nice to have for this lens such as image stabilization, more silent autofocus (AF-S), and shorter minimum focus distance but those features will make this lens a lot more expensive (as those feature is included in the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR lens). If budget is not an issue, then I would recommend the 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR (the Vibration Reduction technology and faster and more silent focus are very useful) or the 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S (which has faster and more silent focus). If large aperture (fast lens)is not your main requirement, then you can get the 70-300mm VR (at a lower price)

There are several version of 80-200mm f/2.8 lens, and the latest one (non AF-S model and that Nikon still produce as of 2009) is the two ring model. The one ring push pull model is also good quality lens (solidly built and produce great image quality) but autofocus is much slower. If budget is an issue, the older push pull model would still be a good choice too.

FYI: This lens will not autofocus with Nikon D40, D40x, D60 or D5000.

Pros
1. Great quality lens (very sharp pictures. 3 of the glasses made/coated with ED technology)
2. Very fast (fixed f/2.8 throughout the zoom range)
3. Very reasonably priced (compared to 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR and 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S)
4. Built to last. Very solid
5. Great for sport, action, wedding and low-light photography
6. Uses standard 77mm lens filter
7. Bokeh is very nice at f/2.8
8. Autofocus much faster than the older 80-200mm f/2.8 model (the push pull version)
9. The price is very stable (I bought mine several years ago and I could still sell it at the same price today)
10. With non full frame Nikon DSLR, the focal length becomes 120-300mm equivalent (nice reach). you can get Nikon 80-400mm for more reach but that lens is not fixed f/2.8).

Cons
1. Heavy at 2 lbs 14 oz or 1.3kg. (Good arm exercise :), or using tripod or monopod would be nice)
2. Autofocus not as fast and silence as the AF-S model (70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S and 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S), but the autofocus limiter switch improves autofocus time
3. Tripod collar is too close to the zoom ring (you can remove or adjust the tripod collar though)
4. Thread for the filter can be better (it's made of plastic)
5. Lens hood is sold separately (highly recommended to reduce flare and internal reflection)
6. More expensive than Non-Nikon (sigma, tamron etc) brand alternative (some comparable price but they have faster and silence focus)
7. Lens could jump around a bit during autofocusing if you are not strong enough (due to the glass moving fast as the lens autofocus)
8. No Manual focus override mode on Autofocus mode
9. No Macro mode (can't be use for macro shot). closest focusing distance is quite far
10. No VR (Vibration Reduction), which will help a lot for this type of lens (heavy and telephoto)

In conculsion, if you are looking for a Nikon professional grade telephoto lens that is reasonably prices, you can't really beat this Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor lens. This lens is really good choice for sport, action, wedding, low-light, indoor photography.Read full review...

Sharp, Older Tech, but Solid

I am a Canon guy at heart, but as a Nikon convert I must say this is a great lens -- better optically than the Canon equivalent. Seems a little clunky mounting it on my D750, and sometimes the contacts don't register until I jiggle it a bit. No big deal. Sharp as a tack. No CA.

Heavy? Yeah, but that is because 70-200 2.8 lenses are heavy, period.

Hood is awesome, and locks in nice and tight.

VR is uniformly outstanding.

Bokeh is average. If that matters to you, switch to Canon and buy a 135 f2. (The Nikon 135 f/2 is a slow dinosaur that is only good for portraits.) Great all-around standard pro-issue lens.

Just buy it if you are a pro. If you are not a pro, don't. It's not a pro lens because it produces pro results. It's a pro lens because accomplished pros understand their craft well enough to exploit the lens' strengths and minimize its weaknesses.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: kendoro

Amazing quality at an affordable price

Choosing to purchase a pro lens is a big decision for many photography lovers. Finding a way to move into that level without breaking the bank can be very challenging. The Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED Lens is a way the bridge the gap providing a high quality fast lens at a comparatively reasonable price.

Quality glass and uncompromised construction places this pro quality lens at the top of the list for those wishing to enter the professional level of lens performance. This is just a great lens. A variety of improvements have been made over the last several years, including the introduction of VR technology that have brought other very attractive lenses to the market. Get these too if you can afford it! While all of these improvements do in fact increase usability of the lens, underlying quality of image based on the glass itself is still proudly upheld in images produced by the 80-200mm f/2.8D ED lens. I love mine!

I would imagine that as camera technology improves we will see new lenses that allow armatures and professional photographers alike to improve the quality of the images they produce. Whether those images are for profit or pure enjoyment one thing will remain clear, after impact if you can capture the image in a clear a concisely optically appealing way, you will help shape the photographic world. The Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ED Lens is one of those instruments, that is part of the moment. If you have the opportunity to try this lens at price reasonable to the marketplace and from a reputable source, I would advise you to do so. I did am am very pleased with the images I can produce with it for the price.

This is just my opinion. There are other very informative reviews of this lens on the internet. If you are considering purchasing this lens I recommended seeking as many different opinions as possible. Thanks for listening and happy shooting.Read full review...

Couple this lens with the latest 2014 Nikon D810 - so much fun!

Wow! Excellent lens. She sings in low light! Love! Love! Love!
AF-S and SWM: Silent focusing with a motor built into the lens.

VR: Vibration Reduction, for shooting still subjects without a tripod.

G: Gelded, meaning the aperture ring was omitted to save cost. Won't work on manual focus cameras.

ED: Extra-low Dispersion glass for sharper pictures.

IF: Internal Focusing Nothing moves externally as you zoom or focus.
Focal Length: 70~200mm. Used on a DX camera, it gives angles of view similar to what a 105~300mm lens would give on an FX or 35mm film camera. See also Crop Factor.

Optics: An astounding 21 elements in 15 groups. There are five ED glass elements and multicoating, but no aspherical elements.

Diaphragm: 9-blades. Round at larger apertures, nonagonal at smaller apertures.

Autofocus Lock (hold) Buttons: YES, three!

Close Focus Distance: 5 feet (1.5 meters), marked. It gets a little closer than that. AF stops just short of the manual focus stop, so if you're at the edge, twist the focus ring by hand and you may get what you need.

Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 1:5.6. (only 1:6.1 if you stop where the AF stops.)

Filter Threads: 77 mm, metal with rubber bumper.

Size: 8.465" extension from flange by 3.439" diameter (215.0 x 87.35mm), measured. Nikon specifies 3.4 inches (87mm) around and 8.5" (215mm) long. Nothing changes when focused or when zoomed.

Weight: 51.790 oz. (1,468.15g), measured, with tripod collar. Nikon specifies 50 oz. or 1,430 g, a little lighter than the 80-200mm AF-S or a little heavier than the 80-200mm AF-D.Read full review...

Exceptional lens - a must for every shooters bag.

I previously owned the first version of this lens and have now upgraded to the VR II. This is hands down one of Nikon's greatest lenses of all times. I shoot a lot of low light Marching Band and Color Guard competitions either at night or in a gym situation, so larger aperture and VR II are a must. This is a great portrait lens too. The larger zoom capabilities help compress background and the bokeh from the lens is exceptional. Yes it's pricey - but worth every penny. I have this lens on my camera (for what I shoot) 80% of the time! If you want to take your first step into an professional lens for your NIKON body - this is the place to start.Read full review...

Lens is fantastic. low light & f/2.8 shows it's value

I am very pleased with this lens. I am using with my Nikon D70s and take a variety of pictures. The zoom AF is fast and I love the one button switch to manual. It is a bit heavy but I have gotten used to it. Although this is not a VR lens it takes clear action shots provided you use a mono-pod or tri-pod. I just returned from Puta Cana and have some really good pictures using this lens. The lens mount and quick turn from portrait to landscape is nice. Any soccer mom that can handle the weight of this lens and wants to take great shots will love this lens. I also use a teleconverter which bumps up the zoom to 160-400 and AF works with the teleconverter most of the time. EnjoyRead full review...

great lens, crystal clear pictures

Super lens, really enjoying using it on my Nikon D300. I have used it to take pictures of my company basketball teams and my sons marching band. The focus is fast and the pictures clear as a bell. I plan on many years of photography using this lens. It does feel a little heavy after shooting for more than 30 or 40 minutes so I would suggest picking up a mono-pod to take the load off when shooting long events plus it helps steady the shot.Read full review...

Outstanding performance for the pro and enthusiast alike

Have tossed around the idea of spending the money for a pro-quality lens like this for years. I should have never waited to do it! While kit lenses work for many conditions, this lens opens up a whole new world! For the action/sports photographer shooting with Nikon equipment this lens is a must and worth the money. The F2.8 aperture is fast, fast and will freeze just about anything from a kid's soccer game to an Indy car at 200 mph. Where this lens really excels for me is under stadium lights and indoor gyms. Every photographer knows the bane of shadows, varying light conditions and fast movement at night. This lens makes cueing the right settings easy even for the non-professional. I have paired this lens with a D7000, and while some may feel that an FX lens is too good for an high end consumer/low end pro DX body, I would beg to differ. Have fun tweaking in M, A and S modes and the 2.8 just makes it plain easy and fun. With VR II vibration reduction and a reasonable weight, it is easy to shoot solid action photos on or off a monopod. Also, despite some complaints heard about vignetting from the earlier VR I model, I have found absolutely no problem with the VR II. Also, I find in shooting in A or M modes this lens produces great bokeh.

In short, do your own research (I did and there is a lot of it out there on this lens). But, there is a reason why the pros use the 2.8 when the job is on the line and for the enthusiast it opens up a whole new world! If you have the money, don't walk to buy one...run!Read full review...

Truly Professional Equipment

I have been shooting with Nikon equipment for over 30 years and this is truly one of the finest pieces of equipment that I have seen them produce. The lens is heavy and the glass is big which beings back memories of years gone when the lens was all metal and the glass was big, shiny and very crisp.
Pros:
It is fast, and I mean that it does not spend a lot of time hunting and trying to focus. It focuses and you on on with your business. The glass is excellent and the images are clear, sharp and high contrast. I have owned the manual 180mm and I cried when I sold it but, moving to digital there was no place in the arsenal for the manual lens. This is a very good replacement. Being an f/2.8 I have no worries about getting an indoor shot or shooting in low light situations.

If you are a professional or a serious amateur and you do not have one of these in your bag, I can't imagine what you are waiting for. Do yourself a favor, if you decide to purchase this lens, spend the money and buy yourself really good filters. If you don't it is like buying an Audi A8 and fueling the car with Regular gasoline. Help your lens to capture images that you are proud to hang, buy the Top Shelf filters to match.

The AF-S is a fine replacement but there is too much plastic on the lens for my taste. If I bump it by accident, I don't have to worry about the housing cracking. This lens is a tank and will probably be in my bag until I can't shoot anymore.Read full review...