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After the anti-climatic play session with a Canon 1D mk2 yesterday (hey, it's a Canon after all), this morning heralded a far more exciting experience - the Nikkor AF-S 200mm f/2 VR.

This thing is surprisingly compact for such fast glass (although not light). Short and stubby, much like the 80-400VR.
The VR in it more audible as well as tactile compared to other VR glass. The low level buzz can be heard while it's active, and it seems to transmit a counter movement; so not only does it counter handholding vibrations at the focus length, it also assists to minimise it in your hands. When panning handheld, the VR initially counters the inertia when you start swinging the lens, so you end up panning with too much effort and go further than intended - I noticed this phenomena in both normal and active VR modes.

Shooting wide open yields very thin depth of field (well duh, it's f/2.0!). Bokeh behind focus point is beautiful, OOF elements in front has a slight brighter edge than centre blur discs which is less than flawless IMO.

Does this thing retail for more than the D2X? Comes with a big hood (though not carbon fibre like the 200-400), a nice carry pack and strap much like the 70-200s and other expensive Nikkors.

I wish I could own one.


Eg. of shallow DoF at f/2 (200mm, 1/160s, ISO800).

Mate, and you get paid for being there as well?

Onyx,

Thanks for quick and short brief about the 200/2.0 VR.

Nope! not interesting in it, and it's not the good focal lenght in the current market. US market decline it due the flooding of 300VR, the 300 VR is useful with TC-1.4/ 1.7, that what consumer is looking for.

The 200/2.0 VR is just in a very small market and not noticeable due to the 70-200VR and the 300VR while the 300VR is big demand elsewhere.
I'm waiting for the 300VR and utilize it with my TC-1.4 or 1.7.

At the worst scenario, I might get the AF-S II 300/2.8, quite cheap now!, less than US$3K, and my tripods will make the AF-S II 300 look good.

I'm seriously looking forward to see my future D2x atm.

Hi Birddog,

the combination of a 300mm VR plus TC-17EII plus 1.5 crop factor is
amazing: 765 mm !
How fast (slow) is that combination going to be ?

Cheers
CD

christiand wrote:Hi Birddog,

the combination of a 300mm VR plus TC-17EII plus 1.5 crop factor is
amazing: 765 mm !
How fast (slow) is that combination going to be ?

Cheers
CD

That's still quite fast, super fast with AF-S II model.

Mostly I want, is to achieve the longest focal lenght in prime. 300VR or non VR is the most popular focal lenght and highly sourced from consumer, suitable to use with TC or Non TC.

The next one is AF-S 400/2.8, don't like the 600mm though.

If it can defy gravity, why is it so heavy?

Any sample pics?

DiZZ wrote:If it can defy gravity, why is it so heavy?

Any sample pics?

 LOL Dizz, I didn't dare to stand the lens on its rear cap to take the pic. So I did the next best thing and took it front down and flipped the image.
Edited first post for sample of shallow DOF. It's from a series I took at f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6 and f/8. Focus was on the red Leica dot. BTW, the Coolpix 8800 that the lens rests on in the pic, comes with ML-L3 remote as standard!

Onyx wrote:

DiZZ wrote:If it can defy gravity, why is it so heavy?

Any sample pics?

 LOL Dizz, I didn't dare to stand the lens on its rear cap to take the pic. So I did the next best thing and took it front down and flipped the image.
Edited first post for sample of shallow DOF. It's from a series I took at f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6 and f/8. Focus was on the red Leica dot. BTW, the Coolpix 8800 that the lens rests on in the pic, comes with ML-L3 remote as standard!

Onyx,
who's going to buy an 8800? it comes with all idiot mode! its price is more dearer than the D70.