Nikon AF-S VR Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED: Review

Posted to Lenses 2009-05-31

Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED Review:

The AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens offered by Nikon is one truly powerful camera companion. With a silent wave motor, and vibration reduction and a plethora of other features it's a top of the line lens for action packed picture taking. If you've ever seen pictures of moving cars and wonder "Whoa! How did they get that shot?" this is one of the few lenses that could be used. While not necessary for the novice photographer it's a must have for professionals.

With both manual and auto focusing features available it provides photographers with the ability to take quick auto shots or manually focus to capture the perfect picture. The heavy frame and ED glass lens just screams quality and its ability to use several different filters only makes it more versatile. Although this could be used as a close-up lens; when shooting from a distance, the razor sharp images it captures in telephoto, is where it shines.

Rating:

4.6 out of 5

Value

Hovering dangerously close to the 2k mark most people would write this lens off as too expensive to consider, and it is maybe for the novice photographer. As this is a professional level lens that captures hard to grab shots in low light situations, the F2.8 aperture will do wonders for your photography. To capture a blurred background with a great in-focus subject is easy to achieve with this lens. Professionals will fawn all over this AF-S NIKKOR lens but for the casual photographer, you will have to put in some serious thinking to be able to justify its cost. As a side note, it is worth every penny for the feature set and incredibly sharp images. Overall this is a great lens for the advanced amateur and the seasoned professional.

Features

The Nikon lens has 5 extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements to reduce chromatic aberrations which shine especially during maximum aperture usage. It is fully compatible with three Nikon tele-converters. The Nikon TC-14E II, TC-17E II and TC-20E II. It also uses internal focusing which make using polarized filters extremely easy and it has a detachable tripod mounting collar. In addition the VR feature allows you to be up to 3 stops faster and when shooting in a quiet environment, Nikon uses there exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM). At 3.4 x 8.5 inches, this is quite a large lens and can be a bit heavy to carry around. In spite of the weight, the balance and ease to shoot is superb. At 51.9oz (3.2 lbs.) it is not light but fits nicely with a body when mounted on the tripod. The lens uses the Nikon F-Bayonet mount and the accepted filter makes it worth the extra weight and size.

Summary

Price not withstanding this might be one of the better lenses Nikon has to offer. It can take regular snapshots and make them incredible The zoom is fast and the stabilization that the lens offers to the photographer all but offers a great picture. It's worth it for those who are avid photographers and professionals but completely unnecessary for the novice or casual photographer.

Pros

F2.8 plus VR is perfect for action shots
Bokeh quality is the best around
Quality styling and features make it a worthwhile lens for pros

Cons

Size makes it difficult to carry around
May be too expensive for a beginner photographers