Right Lens? + Long Term VR Reliability?

[robboh]

Heya All,

Ive come across a 2y/o 70-200 VR and just wondering if anyone had heard of any problems with earlier batches of this lens. Also, are there any tests I should be looking at for making sure that the VR is all working correctly??

If its in good nick, do you think that ~$1600-1700 would be a reasonable price to be paying for an NZ-new lens?? Ive seen grey-imports for $2800 and up here. Also, I seem to recall hearing that the waranty on these lenses was 5 years. Can anyone confirm??

Finally, just a semi-silly question, but just after thoughts. I presently have a 80-200 2-touch and came across this 70-200VR and got lens lust. However, given that I often seem to be using the 80-200 either at 200 or 200+TC, would a 80-400 actually be a better option for me. Mainly at the long end for motor-racing or zoo photography. I think the VR will probably give me a few more keepers with panning shots.

[mudder]

G'day Rob,

I use the 80-400VR and find it a great lens for the money. I haven't used the 70-200VR but expect that the 70-200VR being a constant F2.8 and AFS(?) I assume the focus lock would be very quick. The 80-400VR is body focus and is slower (and fairly noisey) so if you need really quick focus lock the 80-400 might frustrate you. For animals chilling (Zoo stuff) the 80-400 is bloody great (that's my main use for the 80-400 zoom), BBJ uses on for his motorbike panning so it might be OK for that too...

Cheers.

[robboh]

Andrew, thanks for the comments.

Ive often looked rather enviously at the results that BBJ gets with his bikes. Something I cant quite figure out is how people get around the 'handhold' rule when you are panning since that works best with shutter speeds that are quite a bit lower than recommended. I got very few good sharp pics from my last motor racing efforts

Nother quick question for the 70-200 owners. Sounds like this guy has tossed his detachable foot. Is the collar itself also removable and can you screw a plate directly into where the collar attaches to the foot??

[stubbsy]

Andrew, thanks for the comments.

Ive often looked rather enviously at the results that BBJ gets with his bikes. Something I cant quite figure out is how people get around the 'handhold' rule when you are panning since that works best with shutter speeds that are quite a bit lower than recommended. I got very few good sharp pics from my last motor racing efforts

Nother quick question for the 70-200 owners. Sounds like this guy has tossed his detachable foot. Is the collar itself also removable and can you screw a plate directly into where the collar attaches to the foot??

Robboh

I'm at work ATM, but from memory the detachable foot attaches by sliding in & locking and I don't think the collar itself comes off. You can but a replacement foot made by Really Right Stuff that is actually better than the Nikon one, but its costs US$100 (model # is LCF-10)

[birddog114]

Nother quick question for the 70-200 owners. Sounds like this guy has tossed his detachable foot. Is the collar itself also removable and can you screw a plate directly into where the collar attaches to the foot??

The foot of the 70-200VR can be replaced by the RRS LCF-10 as stubbsy mentioned earlier.
Or get the LC-97 foot replacement also from RRS and It's US$50.00
Both of these feet require Arca Swiss style clamp on the ballhead, without it, it'll be useless.
You can take the its foot off for easy handholding but not everyone does that, sometimes its foot helps you to hold the lens steady and easily.

[robboh]

Hmmm. Thanks for that Peter and Birdy. So Im basically going to have to add an extra $75 - $150 on top of the price to get tripod capability back.

And of course upgrade my head to something that is Arca-Swiss plate compatible, which I was going to do at some stage, but this is suddenly becoming an expensive way of being a cheap-ass

As a stop-gap measure, is it possible to screw a normal threaded tripod-mount screw (3/8ths??) directly into the collar?? I saw on some pics on the web that appear to have a screw-thread in the collar mount where the foot normally slides on and off.

[robboh]

Or get the LC-97 foot replacement also from RRS and It's US$50.00

Birdy, just had a quick hunt on the RRS site for this and cant find it? Closest I could find was a B97L for the 80-400??

[birddog114]

Or get the LC-97 foot replacement also from RRS and It's US$50.00

Birdy, just had a quick hunt on the RRS site for this and cant find it? Closest I could find was a B97L for the 80-400??

They call as B97L as well or LC-97 engraved on the foot.

[robboh]

They call as B97L as well or LC-97 engraved on the foot.

Ah, that makes lots of sense Thanks Birdy.

Now, to carry on with that thought, does anyone know if you NEED the removable foot to attach a 3/8th threaded tripod mount?? This lens I have found doesnt have one and ordering a new foot from the states will no doubt take some weeks to arrive.

Ive seen some pics on the web that appear to show a tripod mount screw hole in the collar itself. Does this work and would it be practicle to use the lens on a pod without the extender foot??

Also, has anyone heard of any issues with VR/AFS longevity? Im wondering if VR/AFS lenses are something that you would want to buy 2nd-hand given all the electronics and motors and moving parts in them. Thoughts?

[birddog114]

They call as B97L as well or LC-97 engraved on the foot.

Ah, that makes lots of sense Thanks Birdy.

Now, to carry on with that thought, does anyone know if you NEED the removable foot to attach a 3/8th threaded tripod mount?? This lens I have found doesnt have one and ordering a new foot from the states will no doubt take some weeks to arrive.

Ive seen some pics on the web that appear to show a tripod mount screw hole in the collar itself. Does this work and would it be practicle to use the lens on a pod without the extender foot??

Also, has anyone heard of any issues with VR/AFS longevity? Im wondering if VR/AFS lenses are something that you would want to buy 2nd-hand given all the electronics and motors and moving parts in them. Thoughts?

1/ NO, if you don't need the replacement foot, you can screw the tripod straight into the tripod collar's foot.
2/ The reasons why we need a replacement foot, once you have the system built and can be used in many applications as lens, flash etc..
- versatile and compatible with the set up with the head w/ Arca Swiss (dove tails) clamp.
- Need only one ballhead and can be used on camera & tripod with Quick release in landscape or portrait mode.
3/ VR/ AF-S is no problems with me for number of years in use but don't take my words in second hand lens. Try your luck.

Edit: with the 70-200VR, you have to mount the lens collar on the tripod not the camera body with the lens attached.

[robboh]

Thanks for all the thoughts so far guys. Its a bit of a hard decision this one. A 2nd-hand 70-200VR v's a new 80-400VR for not a lot more $$$.

My current 2x TC is the Tamron (Kenko) MC7 which is AF-D only, so would have to replace that with a AFS version as well, which basically brings the $$$ for the two options to almost dead equal. Hard decision.

Anyone else got any thoughts on the viability of buying VR/AFS lenses 2nd-hand??