Nikon 70-200mm VR AF-S ED (phew!)
Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 12:14 pmI’d heard a lot about it, and couldn’t wait to try it. Well, I could actually – a Customs delay had me waiting for a week longer than I had anticipated. However, the delay hardly dented my enthusiasm to try the lens on my own Nikon D70.
For my initial look at the 70-200 VR, I wanted to test the VR (for Vibration Reduction) capability of the lens. I also decided to check its famed sharpness, as well as its reputation for contrast and brightness.
The most obvious first impression about the Nikon 70-200 VR F2.8 is that it is a big lens. In fact, it is a very big lens, and I’ll give you some more information on that later. But as I found out, it is also an exceptionally good lens.
Let’s look initially at how the lens does what it was designed for: hand-held pictures at slower shutter speeds than one could normally expect with a telephoto lens. Most of us are familiar with the old photographer’s rule of thumb (or is that Old Photographer’s rule of thumb!) which reminds us to use a shutter speed no slower than the inverse of the focal length of the lens to reduce blur due to camera shake. In other words, if your lens is a 200mm telephoto, then you should shoot at 1/200sec or faster; otherwise the magnification of the lens will make camera shake too obvious. Camera shake isn’t confined to long lenses by the way – but the magnification factor (a 200mm lens gives 4 times the magnification of a standard 50mm lens) makes it more obvious in the resultant picture.
Here is a photo of some flowers taken indoors, with natural light only, using the VR lens. The EXIF for the shot of the yellow flowers reads: shutter speed 1/50 sec; aperture f2.8; focal length 155mm. Hand-held!
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=0.jpg
I think you’d have to agree with me – this lens will surely provide photographers with much more flexibility in difficult shooting conditions.
The purple blooms below were taken at: 1/30 sec; f2.8; 190mm. Hand-held! When you frame your shot and half-squeeze the shutter button, you “feel” the VR technology firm up your shot. You can see evidence of the stillness through the viewfinder, and if you then release the shutter button, there is an audible click as the VR mechanism lets go. It’s truly wonderful!
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=1.jpg
In my tests for sharpness and contrast, I compared shots taken with the new lens to photos made in similar conditions with my Nikon 70-300mm AF ED lens. I have to point out that the tests are completely amateur and very subjective – I have no elaborate measuring equipment, so I have to rely on what my eyes tell me.
My eyes actually told me that the VR lens has amazing clarity and sharpness – better than the 70-300mm ED lens (IMHO). I found colours to be truer, contrast to be much improved, and my images had much more “snap” using the newer lens.
The photo immediately below was taken off my back balcony with the VR lens. At full size, the clarity of this image is stunning. There is complete definition of the people on the front of the CityCat (about 300 meters away), and the colours are true.
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=2.jpg
The next shot, below, was taken with the 70-300mm ED lens. There is a noticeable difference in contrast and sharpness. The image is certainly acceptable, but it lacks some punch, particularly at full size.
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=3.jpg
Now, about the size of this baby. It is not a piece of kit for the faint-hearted, as it weighs in at almost 1.5kg, and sticks out 215mm from the front of the camera. I had looked at these specs prior to seeing the lens, but the lens still had considerable shock value when I picked it up to mount on the camera.
I happen to be a reasonably big guy, (I played rugby in the front-row for about 15 years; that will tell you a lot about my looks!) but this lens takes some handling. I seriously wonder about the ability of those smaller, older or less robust camera nuts to be able to lug it around for long. And yet somehow, the idea of using it only on a tripod or in the studio seems a waste of its considerable capabilities.
The 70-200 VR will certainly be an important part of my gear. In fact, I see it being my most valuable, if not the most used, lens, just because of its stunning output. I wholeheartedly recommend it to you – but there is a qualifier on the portability of the lens for some photographers.
For my initial look at the 70-200 VR, I wanted to test the VR (for Vibration Reduction) capability of the lens. I also decided to check its famed sharpness, as well as its reputation for contrast and brightness.
The most obvious first impression about the Nikon 70-200 VR F2.8 is that it is a big lens. In fact, it is a very big lens, and I’ll give you some more information on that later. But as I found out, it is also an exceptionally good lens.
Let’s look initially at how the lens does what it was designed for: hand-held pictures at slower shutter speeds than one could normally expect with a telephoto lens. Most of us are familiar with the old photographer’s rule of thumb (or is that Old Photographer’s rule of thumb!) which reminds us to use a shutter speed no slower than the inverse of the focal length of the lens to reduce blur due to camera shake. In other words, if your lens is a 200mm telephoto, then you should shoot at 1/200sec or faster; otherwise the magnification of the lens will make camera shake too obvious. Camera shake isn’t confined to long lenses by the way – but the magnification factor (a 200mm lens gives 4 times the magnification of a standard 50mm lens) makes it more obvious in the resultant picture.
Here is a photo of some flowers taken indoors, with natural light only, using the VR lens. The EXIF for the shot of the yellow flowers reads: shutter speed 1/50 sec; aperture f2.8; focal length 155mm. Hand-held!
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=0.jpg
I think you’d have to agree with me – this lens will surely provide photographers with much more flexibility in difficult shooting conditions.
The purple blooms below were taken at: 1/30 sec; f2.8; 190mm. Hand-held! When you frame your shot and half-squeeze the shutter button, you “feel” the VR technology firm up your shot. You can see evidence of the stillness through the viewfinder, and if you then release the shutter button, there is an audible click as the VR mechanism lets go. It’s truly wonderful!
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=1.jpg
In my tests for sharpness and contrast, I compared shots taken with the new lens to photos made in similar conditions with my Nikon 70-300mm AF ED lens. I have to point out that the tests are completely amateur and very subjective – I have no elaborate measuring equipment, so I have to rely on what my eyes tell me.
My eyes actually told me that the VR lens has amazing clarity and sharpness – better than the 70-300mm ED lens (IMHO). I found colours to be truer, contrast to be much improved, and my images had much more “snap” using the newer lens.
The photo immediately below was taken off my back balcony with the VR lens. At full size, the clarity of this image is stunning. There is complete definition of the people on the front of the CityCat (about 300 meters away), and the colours are true.
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=2.jpg
The next shot, below, was taken with the 70-300mm ED lens. There is a noticeable difference in contrast and sharpness. The image is certainly acceptable, but it lacks some punch, particularly at full size.
http://www.pixspot.com./displayimage.ph ... &pos=3.jpg
Now, about the size of this baby. It is not a piece of kit for the faint-hearted, as it weighs in at almost 1.5kg, and sticks out 215mm from the front of the camera. I had looked at these specs prior to seeing the lens, but the lens still had considerable shock value when I picked it up to mount on the camera.
I happen to be a reasonably big guy, (I played rugby in the front-row for about 15 years; that will tell you a lot about my looks!) but this lens takes some handling. I seriously wonder about the ability of those smaller, older or less robust camera nuts to be able to lug it around for long. And yet somehow, the idea of using it only on a tripod or in the studio seems a waste of its considerable capabilities.
The 70-200 VR will certainly be an important part of my gear. In fact, I see it being my most valuable, if not the most used, lens, just because of its stunning output. I wholeheartedly recommend it to you – but there is a qualifier on the portability of the lens for some photographers.
otherwise you'll be missed
Oh well will have to wait for a while yet...
