Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

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AndreasE
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p.5 #1 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Walked with my wife the dog this morning. While I enjoy doing these walks together - it has some major photographic consequences. No tripod. No slooooow immersion into a scenery (especially today. It was cold and windy, but sunny). Only quick shots. No "review" mode.

D600, 135mm, f5.6, 1/250sec, 2560x1780

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100% crop

If you find the background at f5.6 isn't as smooth as you would like it to be - here is a f4 shot

D600, 200mm, f4, 2560x1780

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We passed by these little birds. The resolution of the D600 and the good optical resolution of the lens at f4.5 seems to be a good base for crops.
D600, 200mm, f4.5, 1/323sec

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crop, 2:1 resized

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D600, 135mm, f5.6, 1/323sec

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crop, resized

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rgds,
Andy

Edited on Dec 09, 2012 at 07:31 PM · View previous versions

Dec 09, 2012 at 07:20 PM

AndreasE
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p.5 #2 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

The question of Bokeh comes up quite often.

Here are 2 examples.
D600, 200mm, f4, 1/1666sec

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Switched to AF-C. D600, 200mm, f4, 1/833sec, 1920x1280

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Crosslight photography with the D600 and this lens is relatively easy. Underexpose a bit and pull shadows via pp.

D600, 185mm, f5.6, 1/833sec, 1920x1280

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200mm was too short for this guy. Unfortunately, I didn't have a TC or longer lens with me

D600, 200mm, f4, 1/500sec

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crop, resized

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regards,
Andy

Edited on Dec 09, 2012 at 07:30 PM · View previous versions

Dec 09, 2012 at 07:26 PM

AndreasE
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p.5 #3 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

For those who are interested in processing the D600 RAWs directly.

This image was shot twice. Once with f4 and once with f8.

The 2 RAWs can be downloaded from here. Each one is 28 MB.

f4: D6H_4342.NEF
f8: D6H_4343.NEF

Users of CNX2 need to have at least version 2.3.5 to open the files.

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That's it from a morning walk with the dog,
Andy

Dec 09, 2012 at 07:29 PM

LXShooter
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p.5 #4 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

AndreasE wrote:
Some photographes focus on resolution others more on the subtle and subjective way how a lens "draws". Based on my initial experience I would consider the AFS 70-200mm/4 VR as capable to serve both camps.

Example 1 on resolution:

Example 2 on mood & plasticity.

This shot was taken in the park.

D800E, 200mm, 1/30 sec (!), handheld, f4, ISO 100, 2560x1700

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regards,
Andy

That's a great shots!

Dec 10, 2012 at 08:58 PM

Peter Burian
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p.5 #5 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

AndreasE wrote:
Some photographes focus on resolution others more on the subtle and subjective way how a lens "draws". Based on my initial experience I would consider the AFS 70-200mm/4 VR as capable to serve both camps.

Hi Andy, Great to see the sample images. One question: I have listed my 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II lens and will be buying the f/4 model. Will I be thrilled, happy, satisfied, mildly disappointed, or what? P.

Dec 11, 2012 at 07:03 PM

AndreasE
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p.5 #6 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Peter Burian wrote:
Hi Andy, Great to see the sample images. One question: I have listed my 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II lens and will be buying the f/4 model. Will I be thrilled, happy, satisfied, mildly disappointed, or what? P.

Peter,
this is a very subjective question (or more correctly, a highly subjective answer).

Let me try it this way: Versus the 70-200mm/2.8 VR I and all 80-200/2.8 lenses the step is a big one and should lead you to a happy face.

The VR II is in my opinion a fantastic lens which is optically at least as good as the f4. If you are going to change lenses on optical improvement expectation, I would be very concious what to expect will improve.

If you are changing lenses mainly for size and weight reasons, then the f4 is imho one of the best lenses "below" the VR II on the market - and you might probably be very happy.

rgds,
Andy

Dec 11, 2012 at 09:37 PM

snapsy
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p.5 #7 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Here are a few full-size 36MP test shots I took today. Shot raw and sharpened in LR4/CS6. Edge-to-edge sharpness is quite impressive.

36MP Image #1 (f/4)
36MP Image #2 (f/4)
36MP Image #3 (f/8)

Dec 15, 2012 at 11:34 PM

jhinkey
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p.5 #8 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

See one result of my first real shots at just about MFD.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1174286

I am pretty happy with it.

John

Dec 15, 2012 at 11:51 PM

mholdef
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p.5 #9 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Just got mine, went out and took some shots with the D800E, nothing special but thought would share some images with this combination at f4. Larger images can be seen here

http://www.pbase.com/mholdef/inbox

Mark

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Dec 16, 2012 at 06:14 PM

glideslope
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p.5 #10 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Than you for the effort Andreas. Been waiting a long time for this glass.

Dec 17, 2012 at 08:44 PM

Ripolini
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p.5 #11 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

AndreasE wrote:
For those who are interested in processing the D600 RAWs directly.

Thank you Andreas.
I've looked at the raw files.
When scrutinizing the files at 100 %, I notice some jpeg-like artifacts (something similar to wavy stripes) at the borderline between the blue sky and the brown vegetation along the horizon. Do you notice it too? Might these be due to raw compression?

Dec 17, 2012 at 09:48 PM

btobey
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p.5 #12 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

I too have been using this lens quite frequently. I find it to share many aspects of the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II.

I have written a brief Nikon 70-200mm f/4 review sharing my experience with it.

One thing I found was when using the lens at its minimum focusing distance, the image quality was soft. Does anyone else experience that? I know its not common to focus so closely with at 200mm.

Dec 19, 2012 at 05:08 AM

jhinkey
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p.5 #13 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

btobey wrote:
I too have been using this lens quite frequently. I find it to share many aspects of the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II.

I have written a brief Nikon 70-200mm f/4 review sharing my experience with it.

One thing I found was when using the lens at its minimum focusing distance, the image quality was soft. Does anyone else experience that? I know its not common to focus so closely with at 200mm.

I too found my images at 200mm and at the MFD to be soft, but they are extremely sharp at 100mm and 130mm. When I say soft, I mean D800 36MP viewed at 100% soft.
Upon closer inspection it appears that the lens tends to back focus just a tad bit - i.e., the point of sharp focus is behind the desired focus point, thus making the image (tight portraits in my case) appear more soft than it is.
I just performed some additional tests at 200mm with a long metal ruler and it does back focus just a hair, but what is at peak focus looks soft. If I zoom out to 130mm or so and re-take the picture and then blow it up it's actually a bit sharper than taking the image zoomed in to 200mm.

So I think this lens, like many of my other 200mm lenses (200/4 AIS, 80-200AFS and 70-200/2.8VRII) tend to go soft at the long end at MFD.

John

Dec 19, 2012 at 05:34 AM

MRM4
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p.5 #14 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Has anyone taken any low light action shots with this lens, particulary outdoor sports at night (with or without a flash) or some indoor sports? Those are my primary applications and would like to see some to help me determine if this is a lens I want to get.

Dec 19, 2012 at 09:35 PM

AndreasE
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p.5 #15 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Ripolini wrote:
AndreasE wrote:
For those who are interested in processing the D600 RAWs directly.

Thank you Andreas.
I've looked at the raw files.
When scrutinizing the files at 100 %, I notice some jpeg-like artifacts (something similar to wavy stripes) at the borderline between the blue sky and the brown vegetation along the horizon. Do you notice it too? Might these be due to raw compression?

I would not over-analyze those images. I did them while I walked with the dog. They are handheld. So it could be everything from what you think it might be, VR artefacts, my shutterness, or something else. Before taking such a conclusion, solid tests are imho necessary.

regards,
Andy

Dec 20, 2012 at 01:32 AM

btobey
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p.5 #16 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Wow! This is exactly what I have determined. Thank you for your post. As far as I am concerned, it does not prove that I am seeing things, or am hallucinating. This is an important attribute of this lens that should be recognized. As Nikon claims it to have a MCD of 3.3 ft. But at 200mm, it is not quite the case.

Dec 20, 2012 at 02:40 AM

dreamplayer
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p.5 #17 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

btobey wrote:
Wow! This is exactly what I have determined. Thank you for your post. As far as I am concerned, it does not prove that I am seeing things, or am hallucinating. This is an important attribute of this lens that should be recognized. As Nikon claims it to have a MCD of 3.3 ft. But at 200mm, it is not quite the case.

I just read your nice review of this lens. Did you find the F2.8 VR II is sharper than this F4 VR at F4 and F5.6,etc.?

Dec 20, 2012 at 05:26 AM

Lance B
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p.5 #18 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Impressive images from the 70-200 f4, Andy!

Dec 20, 2012 at 01:12 PM

AndreasE
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p.5 #19 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

Lance B wrote:
Impressive images from the 70-200 f4, Andy!
Thank you for the kind remarks.

BTW, I got the D5200 earlier this week and even with the very high resolution 24MP DX sensor the lens performs very well. The new VR is supporting the high spatial resolution (for hand held images). I truly like the lens - it's great.

rgds,
Andy

Dec 22, 2012 at 09:41 AM

molson
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p.5 #20 · Nikkor AFS 70-200mm/4 VR - First impressions

For those in Canada that are still on the fence about buying this lens... Aden Camera has it on sale for $1194 with free shipping this week:

http://www.adencamera.com/product-overviewer.asp?ProdID=4204&Category=7

They also have the Nikon RT-1 tripod collar in stock (although the poor fit and quality of the collar is a bit disappointing, considering the $159 price tag...)

Dec 25, 2012 at 02:41 PM

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