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Archive 2014 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge

  
 
Hardcore
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


I own the 300mm f2.8 vrii. It is an amazing lens, but It doesn't get used as much as I would like. I usually shoot portrait with wildlife coming second. Has anyone found any comparisions showing the depth of field and bokeh quality of both lenses when shot with the same framing?

If anyone has both or has a link to some comparisons that would be really helpful. Kind of thinking I might like to try the 200mm f2 but really don't want to give up the reach of the 300mm and I can still use the 300mm for portraits albeit not as easily.



Mar 09, 2014 at 12:11 AM
Matt OHarver
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


Just a quick note the 200MM F2 with a 1.4X TC is 280MM F2.8....


I have had a 300MM, I currently own a 200MM F2 and a 400MM F2.8. Notice the 300 is gone? The 200 doesn't lose a thing adding the 1.4 for AF or sharpness and it's still F2 naked. And when I need reach I have the 400.





Mar 09, 2014 at 12:44 AM
MazeRunner
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


Not too sure if anyone shoots with both the 200/2 and 300/2.8 for portraits... That's TWO heavy lens to lug around instead of one!

Have you looked at the 200/2 thread in the Nikon forum to get an idea of what the 200/2 can do?

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1172604/26#12181165



Mar 09, 2014 at 01:19 AM
cebseb
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


This is about the best I can do.

In my preference, from best to worst bokeh:

200mm f2 VR (By a slim margin)
400mm f2.8 VR
300mm f2.8 VR
200-400 f4 VR

Wild Card:
Canon 300mm f2.8 IS bests them all.

Cheers!
-Sebastian



























Mar 09, 2014 at 02:54 AM
dreamplayer
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


cebseb wrote:
This is about the best I can do.

In my preference, from best to worst bokeh:

200mm f2 VR (By a slim margin)
400mm f2.8 VR
300mm f2.8 VR
200-400 f4 VR

Wild Card:
Canon 300mm f2.8 IS bests them all.

Cheers!
-Sebastian


Thanks for sharing.

Did you find canon 300 2.8 L IS II is more sharper and focus faster than Nikon 300 2.8 VR II



Mar 09, 2014 at 07:16 AM
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


Matt OHarver wrote:
Just a quick note the 200MM F2 with a 1.4X TC is 280MM F2.8....

I have had a 300MM, I currently own a 200MM F2 and a 400MM F2.8. Notice the 300 is gone? The 200 doesn't lose a thing adding the 1.4 for AF or sharpness and it's still F2 naked. And when I need reach I have the 400.



Ya, those are all good points. Do you shoot any portraits with the f2 or do you use it mainly for wildlife? It is going to be tough for me to give up the 300mm due to the reach when paired with any of the 3 teleconverters as I don't have a longer lens than that atm.

MazeRunner wrote:
Not too sure if anyone shoots with both the 200/2 and 300/2.8 for portraits... That's TWO heavy lens to lug around instead of one!

Have you looked at the 200/2 thread in the Nikon forum to get an idea of what the 200/2 can do?

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1172604/26#12181165


Ya, have checked out that thread quite a bit. I have also seen Lisa Holoway uses the canon f2 200mm to get amazing results. Agreed though, not likely to have someone hauling both these lenses around on photoshoots... just wondering if anybody has ever done any comparison before they bought/sold one or the other. Not likely as I'm thinking most people would not use the 300mm f2.8 for portraits very often.




Mar 09, 2014 at 08:50 AM
Hardcore
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


cebseb wrote:
This is about the best I can do.

In my preference, from best to worst bokeh:

200mm f2 VR (By a slim margin)
400mm f2.8 VR
300mm f2.8 VR
200-400 f4 VR

Wild Card:
Canon 300mm f2.8 IS bests them all.

Cheers!
-Sebastian


Wow, thanks a lot Sebastian. All the results you posted look very good, but there is just something about the 200mm F2 compared to the rest imo... The canon is hard to tell because of the background. Thanks for taking the time. Would not hurt my feelings if you posted more examples!



Mar 09, 2014 at 08:54 AM
cebseb
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


Dream player,
I didn't find the Canon 300mm any sharper than the Nikon, but I did notice that the AF was a bit more active and accurate on the Canon (something that can be attributed to the body). The only difference I noticed between the two was the bokeh. Smoother transitions from focus to out of focus areas (not so abrupt) on the Canon versus the Nikon. That bokeh characteristic is something I find quite pleasing.

Hardcover,
If I come across any more samples and comparisons, I'll definitely drop them in here. Cheers!



Mar 09, 2014 at 10:38 AM
rick_reno
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


Would anyone know if the 200 f/2 with the 1.4tc focuses faster than the 300 2.8?


Mar 09, 2014 at 10:53 AM
cebseb
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


No it doesn't focus any faster. The 200 f2 and 300 f2.8 are about on par with each other in terms of focusing speed (racking from focus to infinity). With a tc attached, the speed won't change, the time to attain focus may change though since that would be dependent on the body's capabilities.

rick_reno wrote:
Would anyone know if the 200 f/2 with the 1.4tc focuses faster than the 300 2.8?




Mar 09, 2014 at 11:03 AM
MazeRunner
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 300mm f2.8 vs 200mm F2 - Bokeh challenge


Just a note: Lisa Holloway does do a bit of post-processing, so don't think those are the colors you get SOOC. (I love her photos, but just pointing out that not everything you see is what you'll get SOOC.)

The 200/2 with the 1.4x TC is about as fast as the 200/2. Can do a video of it later, maybe.

If you want better bokeh, the aperture system as well as the distance to the subject + separation between them and BG are all factors. If you think about it, the best aperture system would be from the 400/2.8. The easiest for nice bokeh in terms of actual physical distance would be the 200/2.



Mar 09, 2014 at 12:41 PM





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