Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1      
2
       end
  

Archive 2013 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners

  
 
Doug Maclean
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


My impressions.Autofocus is faster then my 300 f4 with 1.4 tc but still get plenty of chatter on continuous af

Is actually sharper at 400 mm then my 300 f4 plus nikkor 1.4 tc..I was shocked!!! And the contrast is better.

Love having a zoom again and the versatility.

The Canon 100 400 L is a step below..the person who thinks it is sharper and has better contrast then the 300 f4 with 1.4 tc or the new 80-400 g...is wrong.look at any mtf chart.For me the canon 100 400 was the benchmark for a zoom untill the nikon came out
and I hate the push pull thing...awefull. Doug M




Aug 12, 2013 at 08:27 PM
molson
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Doug Maclean wrote:
My impressions.Autofocus is faster then my 300 f4 with 1.4 tc but still get plenty of chatter on continuous af

Is actually sharper at 400 mm then my 300 f4 plus nikkor 1.4 tc..I was shocked!!! And the contrast is better.

Love having a zoom again and the versatility.

The Canon 100 400 L is a step below..the person who thinks it is sharper and has better contrast then the 300 f4 with 1.4 tc or the new 80-400 g...is wrong.look at any mtf chart.For me the canon 100 400 was the benchmark for a zoom untill the nikon came
...Show more

There's really very little difference - if any - in the sharpness between the Canon 100-400L and the new Nikon 80-400 VR.

You need to actually use the lenses to appreciate the subtle differences... you can't go by the theoretical MTF charts the manufacturers publish.



Aug 13, 2013 at 03:09 PM
Doug Maclean
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Not going by theoretical charts, Just used it for comparison. Shot a professional
Surf Contest.(long Beach Pro) Side by side with the Canon 100-400 and Nikon 300 f4 with 1.4 t.c(a lot of shots into sun. Tough conditions).The Nikon shots were sharper with better contrast. My observation. The 80-400g is even a bit sharper then the 300f4 with 1,4tc(not naked) and the contrast is better. I presume from some of the coatings in the glass. Not Definitive of course and wrong to state it as an absolute but my observation.
I thought I would never ever sell the 300 f4 and probably should not have but I swore if Nikon came out with something as sharp as the 300 f4 with vr I would get it in a heartbeat. I shoot out of kayaks and boats quite a bit and a 200-400 is just too large and the 300 f4 with 1.4 tc takes a stupid fast shutter speed
and great technique to get sharp shots in those conditions regardless how good it is.
Heading to Florida in 1 week with the new lens. I will see if I made the right decision Doug M



Aug 13, 2013 at 08:58 PM
m.sommers00
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Well I sent in my D800 and 80-400 because I was getting really sick of the the "focus chatter" on AF-C and the lack of reliable focusing. Well Nikon Canada was soon to get back and tell me it is showing signs of impact damage. Wonderful!.....

The cost of "repair" for the 80-400G was over $900 and for the D800 was ~$650.

I'm absolutely in disgust. That setup, while being used, has never been dropped or even close to. God I'm so f*cking mad right now!



Dec 30, 2013 at 05:43 PM
BenV
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


m.sommers00 wrote:
Well I sent in my D800 and 80-400 because I was getting really sick of the the "focus chatter" on AF-C and the lack of reliable focusing. Well Nikon Canada was soon to get back and tell me it is showing signs of impact damage. Wonderful!.....

The cost of "repair" for the 80-400G was over $900 and for the D800 was ~$650.

I'm absolutely in disgust. That setup, while being used, has never been dropped or even close to. God I'm so f*cking mad right now!


I had the same exact thing with my D800. It makes me sad but it's no wonder they are doing so horrible. It'll be a miracle if they are in business in 10 years.



Dec 30, 2013 at 05:51 PM
Willy Y.
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


That is so f'd up. I can't believe how bad Nikon is with owning up to their quality control.
I have the Chatter, when I first got it I almost sent it back, it is soooo noisey compared the the 70-200. Long distance AF in AF-C isn't accurate IMO. I have tested it and even my older 300 f4 does better at long distance. My lock switch basically just fell out, I haven't sent it in yet, probably impact damage. lol
Sorry that is the response they had for you. Good luck
That all being said, I have had really great images with this lens, most of them I wouldn't have been able to get with out the versatility of that zoom range.



Dec 30, 2013 at 06:15 PM
Frogfish
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


elkhornsun wrote:
For the price the performance is not nearly as good as it should be. The Canon 100-400mm is a much better lens but I am not about to buy a Canon camera to be able to use it. Most people will be happier with the 70-200mm f2.8 and a Teleconverter


No the Canon isn't a better lens. Both of my birding buddies use that lens and although I use the 300/2.8 & TCs most of the time when I do use the 80-400 the difference with the Canon is clear. And I am not a great fan of this lens for the price.

I also suggested the 70-200/2.8 & TCs in another thread. That was mercilessly shot down by owners of both.



Dec 30, 2013 at 06:21 PM
trenchmonkey
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


New AF-S 'borrower' here, testing one for a good friend.
Update:
After further review...I can't recommend the lens. Tested it against my 200 f2
and TC's 17E II/20E III on the D800. The zoom looked like a kit lens
Seems it's better on DX than FX, files fall apart quickly over 50 yds. BG's funky.
The AF might be it's strong point. With wildlife I'm at the long end of a zoom 90%
of the time, so marginal "versatility" for my way of shooting. Nice to try, but buh bye.


Edited on Jan 03, 2014 at 05:58 PM · View previous versions



Dec 30, 2013 at 07:26 PM
trenchmonkey
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


...and one from this morning (slightly stopped down)
Yeah, I do my testing in the field...so YMMV







Dec 30, 2013 at 08:02 PM
Hardcore
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Does anybody have any more 100% crops @ 400mm 5.6 so I can kind of compare to my 70-200mm VRII with 2x?

Thanks!



Dec 30, 2013 at 08:16 PM
Willy Y.
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


A few thoughts on Monkey's post,
1. It does AF fast
2. Mine at least (yes in the field) has a lot of focus (chatter/adjusting) at long distance - Say at distances of 200 + feet - this is less apparent on sunny days, so I attribute it to being a slower lens.
3. In the right conditions it is very sharp and AF is spot on. I do think it is better than the 70-200 with a 2.0 - but, comparing lens to lens with no TC the 70-200 is so much quieter and smooth. I just kind of expected that this 80-400 would be on par being as it costs more.
4. Solid Build? yes and no - the tiny piece of plastic that attaches the outer switches to the inner parts is roughly 4 mm, and it is hollow - so lens solid yes, switches = crap
All in all I like the lens, with the above mentioned complaints. It is VERY useful and you can get shots that you may miss if walking around with a lesser zoom range.



Dec 30, 2013 at 08:19 PM
Willy Y.
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Hardcore wrote:
Does anybody have any more 100% crops @ 400mm 5.6 so I can kind of compare to my 70-200mm VRII with 2x?

Thanks!


There is this thread here - https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1220559
and this test here that is head to head with 70-200+tc
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/03/the-requested-80-400-af-s-vs-70-200-vr-ii-and-2x-comparison
there are others out there too with actual pics, but one of the links I knew of seems to be dead.

This was about a 90% crop.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/9899557983_675814ffea_o.jpg



Dec 30, 2013 at 08:23 PM
Steve Perry
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Hardcore wrote:
Does anybody have any more 100% crops @ 400mm 5.6 so I can kind of compare to my 70-200mm VRII with 2x?

Thanks!



I did a few tests and a review when it first came out:

http://www.backcountrygallery.com/photography_tips/nikon-under-3k-tele-comparison/

(Spoiler alert - it spanks the 70-200 + 2x)



Dec 30, 2013 at 08:33 PM
shmn
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Steve Perry wrote:
I did a few tests and a review when it first came out:

http://www.backcountrygallery.com/photography_tips/nikon-under-3k-tele-comparison/


Nice write-up.



Dec 30, 2013 at 08:43 PM
Willy Y.
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


Steve Perry wrote:
I did a few tests and a review when it first came out:



Ahh.... that's the one I was thinking of, Nice work and thanks.



Dec 30, 2013 at 10:08 PM
lara_ckl
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · New AFS 80-400mm Owners


m.sommers00 wrote:
Well I sent in my D800 and 80-400 because I was getting really sick of the the "focus chatter" on AF-C and the lack of reliable focusing. Well Nikon Canada was soon to get back and tell me it is showing signs of impact damage. Wonderful!.....

The cost of "repair" for the 80-400G was over $900 and for the D800 was ~$650.

I'm absolutely in disgust. That setup, while being used, has never been dropped or even close to. God I'm so f*cking mad right now!


OP should post this piece of info on the "impact damage" thread so that people know.



Dec 31, 2013 at 12:14 PM
1      
2
       end




FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1      
2
       end
    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.