should i upgrade 80-200

[wendellt]

hi guys

i was just testing the new 70-200 AFS VRII on my d3 at a camera store
im undecided weather i want to spend $3000 on upgrading my 80-200 AFD

the AFS autofocus in my opinion doesnt seem that much faster than the motordrive on the d3 for the AFD lens

my 80-200 ha been recalibrated at nikon several times and i found out it's 'out' again so just wonderign if i shoudl spend an extra couple of hundred recalibrating it or just get a new 70-200

[aim54x]

Wendell this is a question that is difficult to answer. Have you had a good chance to play with the new version of the lens? Is it optically better in your opinion?

Can I ask what causes your AFD to go "out"?

[ljxphotography]

hi guys

i was just testing the new 70-200 AFS VRII on my d3 at a camera store
im undecided weather i want to spend $3000 on upgrading my 80-200 AFD

the AFS autofocus in my opinion doesnt seem that much faster than the motordrive on the d3 for the AFD lens

my 80-200 ha been recalibrated at nikon several times and i found out it's 'out' again so just wonderign if i shoudl spend an extra couple of hundred recalibrating it or just get a new 70-200

I am almost in the same boat as you, I shoot lots of Motorsport and have tried the 70-200 AF-S and on the D3 i dont notice much in AF speed compared to the 80-200 AF-D. My 80-200 is getting a bit ratty , 3 years shooting offroad racing will do that but my mate's 70-200 old Afs lens is in no better condition, same amount of time in the dust and rain. when my 80-200 is beyond repair i will just buy another one, maybe ill get 2. For the price of a 70-200 i can

Mick

[PiroStitch]

If the 80-200 is working fine for you, then I say stick with it. How far is it out by? Can you use the AF tuning function in the D3 to correct it?

[kiwi]

Id think about the VR1. Good value now.

[wendellt]

i guess my ruged use of the lens is what makes it go 'out' from time to time
i think i dropped it once and im sure its had its run in with krocks and bumps on the press circuit

i remember my first 70-200 vr1 which cost me less than $2000 about 4 years ago

how does a literation of that lens cost upwards to $3000 now...just wondering

depending on how much nikon charge me for recalibration im make my decision then

good to hear other peples thoughts though

honestly i dont think the image quality is different probably less chromatic aberation but from my tests
it seemed the same

i read somewhere the 80-200 was sharper on the d3 than the 70-200 vr1 hence why i nevr upgraded

anyway here is an example of what my 80-200 straight out of the camera is producing, this is a static shot with enough light for focus at f4 1/400, iso3200


70-200 VRII on D3 100% crop technically shot right high iso high shutter

[kiwi]

mm, Ive not seen that re sharpness of 80-200 betteringf the 70-200, but, think it's going to be close

Obviously VR is something I find useful in my work, and that alone is worth the upgrade I think

There's millions of trees killed about why VRII over VRI, and, well, generally people say if you have VR1 the upgrade's not worth it.

I dont mind the vigntting that sometimes occurs on the VR1, and corner sharpness isnt something that I lose sleep ver either

I LOVE my VR1, in fact, Im going to sleep with it tonight

[phillipb]

[quote="kiwi"
I LOVE my VR1, in fact, Im going to sleep with it tonight [/quote]

There goes your resale value

[gstark]

I LOVE my VR1, in fact, Im going to sleep with it tonight

There goes your resale value

[Mj]

Wendell, my 2c worth is based on your comment "...rugged use of the lens is what makes it go 'out' from time to time...".

I'm guessing that, given you work your lens hard, once upgraded to the 70-200 vrII or I for that matter you'll find yourself in much the same position after a medium period. Unless it looks like your current 80-200 has actually developed a fault, or you're needing the handheld stops that vr will provide, I'd be sticking with what you have till it's ready to give up or another model provides a more compelling advantage.