Nikon 80-200ED 2.8 - great lens!

[Werewolf]

Gave my new 80-200 it's first real test today as Wollongong beat Central Coast 3-2 in a thriller at WIN Stadium. Lens performed very well in rainy, poor light conditions, and I'm thrilled with the results.

Here's a few samples.









All with very little PP, but all resized for web of course.

I love this lens!

Steve

[gstark]

Steve,

Great stuff; tack sharp, great colour, and good use of DoF to separate the primary elements from the secondary, especially in #2.

I love the second and third images most.

[Onyx]

Awesome shots!

Are you using a custom tone curve? The images seems a little dark to me... like using the normal tone curve without EV.

[Werewolf]

Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.

No custom curves - I wouldn't have any idea how to use 'em yet (still learning).

The images do appear darkish, but then again it was an evening game and overcast with light rain. They actually came out of the camera a lot darker and I lightened them in Capture.

Any suggestions on how to improve my results? I shot at 1600 with an ISO of 400. Ap 2.8 of course! I've found that if I increase the ISO beyond 800 in such conditions I get a fair bit of noise.

A vast improvement, however, on my Sigma 70-300 APO which was pretty much useless in poor light.

[kipper]

Nice shots, you going to sell the Sigma? I'm thinking about it.

[Werewolf]

Sorry kipper I want to keep the Sigma as it is very good in bright conditions. I like the extra reach too, and it's easy to lug around. Good travel lens for when I hit the road again!

I'm just about to buy a Kenko Pro 1.4 to increase the length on both the 80-200 and the Sigma.

[kipper]

I have both the Sigma 70-300 APO (I not II) and the Nikon 70-300G, tossing up which one I should keep. I'm thinking about getting the Tamron x2 TC today.