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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Nikon 80-400 f4.8 VS 80-200 f2.8

richard peterson

richard peterson

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Hi All,

Any thoughts on this lens for use with Red for wildlife stuff? I guess the VR wont work without power from the camera body. I'm trying to stay light as possible so weight is an issue, and focus ring precision (build quality) is tops also

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-N...AF-VR-Zoom-NIKKOR-80-400mm-f/4.5-5.6D-ED.html

or would I be better going with the 80-200 f2.8, its faster and a tad lighter but I loose 200 mm in reach.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-N...AF-VR-Zoom-NIKKOR-80-400mm-f/4.5-5.6D-ED.html

any ideas or thoughts would be awesome
 
The 80-400 is a slower lens but pretty good optically. The AF motors will not be useable by the upcoming Birger mount. And the telescoping design may mean some image shift during zooming, not to mention the variable aperture, so try to use it as a variable prime. Still, it may serve you well, at least in daylight. The 80-200 is a very sharp lens and is well regarded.
 
Evin Grant said:
The AF motors will not be useable by the upcoming Birger mount. .
Click to expand...

Which nikon AF systems will work with the Birger mount ? the new AF-s or the older versions? I'm new to nikor glass.

Also Evin, many thanks for all your knowledge!
 
so its the Nikon AF-S auto focus system that is needed for the Birger mount.

Dose anybody know which lens that have both the (AF-S) focus system and also have the physical aperture ring (D). I would rather buy lenses that work with both the Red Nikon mount and the Birger mount.

here are the only two I can find that both have AFS and a aperture ring.

Nikkor 17-35mm
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-N...60/AF-S-Zoom-NIKKOR-17-35mm-f/2.8D-IF-ED.html

AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-N...61/AF-S-Zoom-NIKKOR-28-70mm-f/2.8D-IF-ED.html
 
Take a look at the 80-200 AF-D. Cheaper, not as much plastic as the AF-S version. The AF-S had some manufacturing issues supposedly where you would see some hazing on elements, but if you get one that is in great shape, the AF-S is supposedly one of the sharpest lenses Nikon makes. The 80-200, along with the other 2 lenses you mentioned is a pretty good zoom kit for your RED.
 
Tico, you are probably correct about that. I know you have the AF-S version, so I won't question that at all. But don't take the plastic comment as a knock either way. Nikon's plastic is actually pretty tough, and doesn't seem to scratch easily. I haven't purchased either version yet, just done some research on them and still contemplating which one to go with. Yours is still for sale, correct?

I try not to offer suggestions unless I have first hand experience with the product, so I should wait until I have one in my hands to comment any further. Apologize if this was misleading. :-)
 
Tico said:
Steve, with all due respect, the AF-S is built like a tank. Focuses faster, too. The AF-D is the cheaper, plasticky one.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

I would love to go with the AF-S 70-200 F2.8 but its a G series lens without a aperture ring, right ?
 
I'll be happy to loan you mine for testing, Steve. I go up to Maine all the time, so I can always stop by to drop it off on my way up and pick it up on my way down. Maybe you can test both head-to-head and settle the differences for everyone once and for all.

BTW... I owned the AF-D before I switched to the AF-S. No regrets on that.

I'm sure you'd agree if you tried it out yourself.

;-)
 
When are you heading to Maine? We go up there during the summer, usually sometime in August. Will you have your RED by then? Could be fun to do some shooting up there.
 
Absolutely. I should be getting my RED in this coming batch (originally mid-April, now June). And I do intend to go up to Maine to shoot soon thereafter, albeit not with Nikkors, though. I'll be using my old Canon FD (and/or renting PL mount) lenses initially and keep doing so until the whole new lens offering thing settles down a bit. Right now, there's nothing but uncertainty on that front. Lots of promises and loose availability dates, but little being delivered to this day (guess established lens makers didn't have enough foresight to account for RED, or else they were, or still are, in denial). Until then, I'll stick to my old Canon FD guns. Thanks to Kevin (AKA khmuse) for that, too, as RED itself 86'd their initial Canon FD mount offering, which I had originally ordered.

Let's hook up at some point up the road, Steve. I'm sure there's lots to shoot up your neck of the woods, too.
 
I have a D3 and by far my first choice would be the AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 with all the crazy VR stuff, I've heard nothing but great things about this lens.

But the Nikon version of the Birger mount may still be many moons away and my Red is here now and I'm trying to buy glass that I can share with the D3 and Red. I would go all fast AF-S G lenses if the Birger mount was shipping.

So I guess for now I'm leaning towards the AFS 17-35 f/2.8 and riding Zeiss primes up to a 100 mil and then picking up the 70-200 when the Berger mount ships. If I was just buying for the D3 I would rather get the 14-24 f/2.8 then the 17-35 but again Nikon 'G'-ed me.

I wish Nikon wouldn't have started phasing out the aperture ring on all the new lenses :(
 
Sure, besides my own, you may find others for sale on eBay, KEH.com, Adorama.com, etc...

They may be hard to come by, but they're still out there.

Cheers!
 
Tico, give me a shout when you get your camera. I'll be interested to see some footage from the Canons and the FD mount. I'm considering myself lens agnostic at this point. I'll use whatever works for a particular situation. That is what is really great about these cameras, the ability to build them any way you want.
 
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