| Nikon
80-400mm VR lens Review
In
the Nikkor
lenses forum of this our community someone asked what were
our opinions on the recently announced but yet expected on the
shelves Nikkor 80-400mm AF VR zoom lens. That is how this story
began.
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|
The
80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF VR Zoom Niikkor lens
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Somehow
submerged in my old ways, having never been too impressed with
image stabilization lenses or felt the need for them, I wrote
this answer to a fellow Nikonian:
"The
temptation of a do-it-all zoom lens is high. However,
an 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6, even if VR*, does hold
little appeal to me.
I
intend to buy very soon the 80-200mm f/2.8D ED IF AF-S.
Compare your chances for success
at hand-held shooting even at the lower end, 80mm f/2.8 vs 80mm
f/4.5 even if VR at less than half the shutter speed for the same
film. Instead of using
an ISO 200 film, I would have to be loaded all the time with ISO
800 or faster.
Now,
for 400mm I intend to buy a 300mm f/2.8 AF-S with a 1.4 teleconverter,
that will make it a 420 f/4 as against a 400mm f/5.6 of the VR,
plus I will have a 300mm f/2.8, as luminous and razor sharp as
the 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S. (Plus it will be less expensive than
the 400mm f/2.8 AF-S).
Additionally,
I do not anticipate the cost of the VR to be on the lower end
of things. But then, it must appeal someone or it wouldn't be
built.
P.S.
Converters work great on the 80-200mm AF-S, although they are
seldom recommended for zoom lenses.
Have a great time 
JRP"
Little
I knew then that I soon would have to eat my own words...
*VR
= Vibration Reduction
=> Image Stabilization |
