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Archive 2013 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!

  
 
m_appeal
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p.7 #1 · p.7 #1 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


I know there's been very few, but the samples so far haven't wowed me in terms of sharpness yet... For 2700 I expect this lens to be as good or better than the new Sony 70-400 G... which looks to have stellar sharpness (samples + 100 % crops in this link):

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/51019487



Mar 17, 2013 at 05:33 PM
lorac
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p.7 #2 · p.7 #2 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


MarcG19 wrote:
Indeed, that's my problem with this lens. I expect wide open sharpness to be pretty good, but I'd never expect bokeh to be very good. It has its place, but not for US $2700............


Curious, bokeh with the older 80-400mm can be very good and I have one lens under $500, not a macro, that has excellent bokeh, so I'm not really understanding the low expections relative to price. We'll find out soon.



Mar 17, 2013 at 05:40 PM
m.sommers00
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p.7 #3 · p.7 #3 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


m_appeal wrote:
I know there's been very few, but the samples so far haven't wowed me in terms of sharpness yet... For 2700 I expect this lens to be as good or better than the new Sony 70-400 G... which looks to have stellar sharpness (samples + 100 % crops in this link):

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/51019487


Wow those look great! His original link:

http://www.dyxum.com/DFORUM/today-try-the-new-sal70400-ssm-g-ii_topic96363_page1.html



Mar 17, 2013 at 05:54 PM
binary visions
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p.7 #4 · p.7 #4 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


m.sommers00 wrote:
No problem, Binary, no offense taken.

The two lens combos I was thinking were 300 f/4 +1.4 or the Sigma 120-300 f/2.8, $1870 and $2,800 respectively. I was also thinking of the Bigma ($1500) which at 400mm isn't terrible. Additionally, is the new AFS version much better than it's predecessor?

The samples so far have just reminded me a lot of my 70-300 + D300s combo I used to have. I likely have jumped the gun to determine it's validity so far given the smaller sample size of pictures available (and I'm buying it anyways so I guess I don't hold much
...Show more

I gotcha. If the new AFS version is at all sharp at 400mm, which the rough samples so far seem to indicate it is, then for me it'll be much better than its predecessor - the old one was just too slow to focus, and not very good at 400mm, and the VR wasn't great enough to offset these factors.

The Sigma 120-300 is a good point. As you pointed out earlier, big tradeoff in weight/size, but reportedly excellent IQ and you do have the flexibility of having a f/2.8 lens when not using a TC.

I'm waiting for a few more samples, myself. That link for the Sony 70-400 looks absolutely spectacular, but we haven't quite seen that level of testing posted for the Nikkor yet, either. I mean, the samples in question clearly have total subject isolation, so the bokeh will be good, they are absolutely full frame and at low ISO (david's bird posts were heavily cropped and at higher ISO) so they have maximum detail, and the lighting is very nice. I have no doubt the Sony is an exceptionally sharp lens, but I'm not quite ready to put those shots side by side with ISO 1600 and/or cropped samples elsewhere.



Mar 17, 2013 at 06:32 PM
rd4tile
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p.7 #5 · p.7 #5 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


binary visions wrote:
I gotcha. If the new AFS version is at all sharp at 400mm, which the rough samples so far seem to indicate it is, then for me it'll be much better than its predecessor - the old one was just too slow to focus, and not very good at 400mm, and the VR wasn't great enough to offset these factors.

The Sigma 120-300 is a good point. As you pointed out earlier, big tradeoff in weight/size, but reportedly excellent IQ and you do have the flexibility of having a f/2.8 lens when not using a TC.

I'm waiting for a few
...Show more

I have a Sigma 120-300 OS and while it gives great IQ I've seen no better images (on an 800E & 600) then those zoo samples from the new 80-400. Add to that marginal AF with the TCs and the fact that it's as heavy as the 200-400, I don't see it as competition for the new 80-400. The new 120-300 OS may clean up the AF issues but will it sell for $2800?

The Sony samples are nice but, as you point out, nothing spectacular given the conditions the images were shot under. I have no interest in switching to a Sony body to save $500 anyway.

I will barely be able to get enough for the Sigma and the 2 Sigma TCs to cover the cost of the 80-400 but I'll trade that loss for the portability.



Mar 17, 2013 at 07:54 PM
iammikie
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p.7 #6 · p.7 #6 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


I received my D7100 and 80-400 lens on Saturday. By the time the battery charged and I micro adjusted the lens it was night. Got out Sunday morning very early. It was windy, cold, with a light snow & freezing rain in Chicago's suburbs.

I was VERY happy with the initial results. AF was fast and accurate in a lightweight package with great range. I only shoot raw, and I will try to post some pics when I figure it out. Raw files are able to be viewed in Breezebrowser or Photo Mechanic, but not converted. I will probably download a trial version of the Nikon software for converting in the interim.

I did own the Sig 120-300 OS, AF is MUCH better in the Nikon 80-400, but perhaps Sig will figure it out in their next update. I would say that IQ is comparable with the Sig. but the Nikon lens is half the weight.



Mar 18, 2013 at 08:20 AM
binary visions
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p.7 #7 · p.7 #7 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


You can download a trial of CaptureNX if you want, but ViewNX is free and will convert the files to 16-bit TIFFs.

Looking forward to the samples. I'm still trying to get a handle on the sharpness @ 400mm.



Mar 18, 2013 at 08:46 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.7 #8 · p.7 #8 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


Kelby seems to have takin' a shine to the lens...





Mar 18, 2013 at 08:48 AM
ckcarr
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p.7 #9 · p.7 #9 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


trenchmonkey wrote:
Kelby seems to have takin' a shine to the lens...




Thanks!
That's good to see. I like Scott Kelby, he taught me a lot.
I think he's pretty credible.



Mar 18, 2013 at 09:18 AM
m.sommers00
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p.7 #10 · p.7 #10 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


Thanks for the video! Sounds like I might be eating my words, which in this case, isn't a bad thing!


Mar 18, 2013 at 10:48 AM
rd4tile
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p.7 #11 · p.7 #11 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


trenchmonkey wrote:
Kelby seems to have takin' a shine to the lens...




Hey, the 7100/80-400 balances on the tripod foot! (that's worth the price of admission alone)

thanks for posting the link Will!



Mar 18, 2013 at 01:06 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.7 #12 · p.7 #12 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


Credit for the original find goes to leighton w and posted on a D7100 thread.
I put it on here for his (Scott Kelby) review of this new 80-400 in action.



Mar 18, 2013 at 01:12 PM
Justin Stone
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p.7 #13 · p.7 #13 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


Interesting that he thinks it's heavy. I guess anything bigger for him lives on a monopod at a sporting event. For me the D800e a 1.7XII and 70-200 2.8 VR II are eminently doable all day.

I'm also wondering if the lesser ergonomics of the D7100 vs the D800 contribute to the heavy feeling of the lens (i.e. imbalance).



Mar 18, 2013 at 02:58 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.7 #14 · p.7 #14 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


Interesting that he thinks it's heavy.
the guy's got no guns, so I'd disregard that opinion.



Mar 18, 2013 at 03:03 PM
Justin Stone
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p.7 #15 · p.7 #15 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


trenchmonkey wrote:
the guy's got no guns, so I'd disregard that opinion.


Ha! Well I'd consider trading my guns for his if it got me rink side like that



Mar 18, 2013 at 03:25 PM
binary visions
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p.7 #16 · p.7 #16 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


trenchmonkey wrote:
the guy's got no guns, so I'd disregard that opinion.




Guy's not that tiny, either. I don't understand it - I'm not a big guy, and am disgruntled at the lighter weight and smaller size of the new D7100 compared to the D300. To me, my 300mm f/4 is light and manageable. I'm looking at the 80-400 because I consider it to be compact.

A guy who works with me, who was a D2 football player and in the military - a big dude - picked up the new D7100 and was raving about how much nicer that would be to shoot with for a day because it was light and small. He thought my 70-300 was "sizable."

Wimps.



Mar 18, 2013 at 03:31 PM
rd4tile
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p.7 #17 · p.7 #17 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


I got my 80-400 this morning. Here are some random shots from the backyard on the D600. I wanted to see how it renders the BG at 400 f5.6. These are default RAW conversions via Aperture. So far the lens feels solid, AF is definitely fast and the VR seems on par with the 200-400, 70-200 VR2.






















Mar 19, 2013 at 01:47 PM
binary visions
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p.7 #18 · p.7 #18 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


Huh... Backgrounds there seem much smoother than on the samples earlier in the thread.

Would appreciate any comparisons you can draw to your 200-400 as you use it a bit.



Mar 19, 2013 at 01:57 PM
rd4tile
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p.7 #19 · p.7 #19 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


Mine seems very sharp wide open across the zoom range so far. This is the 70-200 f4 with 1.4X II (first shot) and the 80-400 at 280.












Mar 19, 2013 at 01:58 PM
rd4tile
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p.7 #20 · p.7 #20 · Official: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR released!


These are from the D7100 with no PPing at all, converted with the bundled Nikon SW with whatever the std picture settings are that are default to the camera. Pardon where I don't have the horizons straight, not willing to take the time to find that command

there are a few with the 1.4X onboard as well. given my unfamiliarity with both the D7100 and this lens I felt it could have been a lot worse.

I've never seen a Sea lion climb a ladder before, that was pretty cool.



























Mar 19, 2013 at 02:33 PM
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