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Archive 2017 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?

  
 
Ross Martin
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


Would love to hear from anyone who was shooting the Nikon 70-200mm f/4, especially landscape on a D810, and who switched to either the newest Nikon 70-200 2.8E FL or the Tamron G2 70-200/2.8. I have used the 70-200/4 extensively on a D800 a few years ago for landscape work (so usually at f/8) and am trying to decide if that lens is sharp enough across the frame for the D850 for my landscape work where I often print up to 40" wide, or if I will get significantly better results with one of those two newest 2.8 versions. I prefer the weight of the f/4 but have no problem packing a 2.8 if I'm going to see better optical uniformity across the frame at around f/8.

Thanks in advance if you can share from your experience.

Ross



Sep 21, 2017 at 02:45 PM
nuclearjock
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


I own the 70-200 2.8E FL but came from the VRII version not the F4. I agree with byThom. The FL "trounces" all competitors, hands down. If you spend the $$$$ you won't be sorry! Especially on the D850.


Sep 21, 2017 at 03:03 PM
Ross Martin
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


nuclearjock wrote:
I own the 70-200 2.8E FL but came from the VRII version not the F4. I agree with byThom. The FL "trounces" all competitors, hands down. If you spend the $$$$ you won't be sorry! Especially on the D850.


Thank you! I fully admit that the $2800 price is the only thing making me hesitate on the 2.8E. I picked up the Tamron G2 70-200 and after testing on the D850 today I see it is decentered - the right side is soft unless stopped down to f/10 or so. I have an RMA for it and now trying to decide if I try another copy, or go with f/4 I used to use, or cough up the cash for the lens you are enjoying :-)

Ross



Sep 21, 2017 at 03:09 PM
snapsy
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


The f/4 version is very sharp across the frame. Here's is a full-sized sample on a D800 @ f/4. Focus is in the middle of the rock slope:

70-200mm f/4 @ f/4 on D800, full-sized image

Btw I plan to take it out on my D850 today or tomorrow, weather permitting. I'll post a sample to this thread when I do.



Sep 21, 2017 at 03:13 PM
Ross Martin
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


snapsy wrote:
The f/4 version is very sharp across the frame. Here's is a full-sized sample on a D800 @ f/4. Focus is in the middle of the rock slope:

70-200mm f/4 @ f/4 on D800, full-sized image

Btw I plan to take it out on my D850 today or tomorrow, weather permitting. I'll post a sample to this thread when I do.


Thanks! That seems pretty good considering it's wide open. I sure do love how light that lens is.

Ross



Sep 21, 2017 at 03:23 PM
CanadaMark
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


The 70-200/4 is great for big landscape prints. It outperforms many of the landscape lenses that a lot of people use for that purpose already.

The 70-200/2.8E FL though is in a category of it's own. It is so far ahead of any other 70-200 by any manufacturer that it is the obvious choice if you can afford it. You are also paying for it's performance at F2.8 though, which is likely much less of an issue for your application at F8 where the differences will be smaller.

At F8 I don't think you will see a $1400 difference in sharpness, but it depends how critical you are. If you use the lens for other purposes as well, then it would be a lot easier to make a case for the 70-200/2.8E FL.



Sep 21, 2017 at 03:25 PM
snapsy
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


SeattleDucks wrote:
Thanks! That seems pretty good considering it's wide open. I sure do love how light that lens is.

Ross


Another benefit of the f/4 is that it's light enough to mount on the camera with the camera attached to the tripod rather than having to attach the lens lens/collar to the tripod. With the camera directly mounted to the tripod/head, vibration is conducted through the tripod and dampened, whereas mounting it via the collar means the vibration conducts back into the camera with nowhere to go. This is less of an issue with EFCS on the D810/D850 and zero issue on the D850 when using the silent/electronic shutter.



Sep 21, 2017 at 03:28 PM
Ross Martin
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


Thanks @CanadaMark, I agree with your thinking. The tele range is my most used for the way I see landscapes so it's an important lens for me. The money is there for the 2.8E, it's just been a mental hurdle because of the far less expensive options available and I'm big on value for the dollar.

Ross



Sep 21, 2017 at 03:40 PM
Etherton
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


Got one for sale in the B/S. Save yourself $450. Just don't use it enough to justify keeping it.


Sep 21, 2017 at 04:00 PM
CanadaMark
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


SeattleDucks wrote:
Thanks @CanadaMark@, I agree with your thinking. The tele range is my most used for the way I see landscapes so it's an important lens for me. The money is there for the 2.8E, it's just been a mental hurdle because of the far less expensive options available and I'm big on value for the dollar.

Ross


Strictly for landscape I probably wouldn't upgrade if you do all your shooting at F8. If you're concerned about the money, you may not see enough extra value that corresponds with the extra money you spent (at F8). Most lenses are somewhat 'equalized' when shooting at F8 or above, especially if they are pretty good to begin with. The sharpness sweet spot on any lens is almost always somewhere between wide open and F5.6.

The flip side is that you'd have the best possible lens for both landscape and normal shots, and it will hold it's value very well. It was also recently announced and on a very long refresh cycle, so it will be current for longer. Selling the 70-200/4 is sure to help out a bit too.




Sep 21, 2017 at 04:04 PM
milkod2001
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


Agree with Mark, at f8 you will never see difference between f4 version and Nikon or Tamron f2.8 G2.

Im using Nikon 70-200 f4 for product photography in studio stopped down to f16 and it is super sharp.

The latest Nikon 2.8E only makes sense if you do portraits/street photography and use if between f2.8 and f4. For landscapes maybe consider wide angle lenses. Nikon 20/1.8 or 24/1.8G.



Sep 21, 2017 at 05:54 PM
Blakehfreeman
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


If you can afford it go for the 2.8E, the weight, balance, tripod foot setup is improved, 4 buttons that are programmable, fluorine coated for the field use... decently sharper than the F4. If you have money to spare, YES! But I'd only do it if the rest of your kit is fully put together.

I'd rather spend the $1500 on a really right stuff tripod then this lens if my tripod wasn't the best.. (if this makes any sense) *$1500 includes you using the proceeds from your current F4 towards the 2.8E

*^PS. The Best Buy near me mismarked the 70-200E down to $2199 and honored it, I'd be happy to send you a snipit of the receipt and you can see if they'd honor the price for you. 😬👍🏻



Sep 21, 2017 at 06:27 PM
nuclearjock
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


CanadaMark wrote:
Strictly for landscape I probably wouldn't upgrade if you do all your shooting at F8. If you're concerned about the money, you may not see enough extra value that corresponds with the extra money you spent (at F8). Most lenses are somewhat 'equalized' when shooting at F8 or above, especially if they are pretty good to begin with. The sharpness sweet spot on any lens is almost always somewhere between wide open and F5.6.

The flip side is that you'd have the best possible lens for both landscape and normal shots, and it will hold it's value very well. It was
...Show more

I read somewhere, I think it was byThom, that diffraction starts setting in earlier (~f8) with the D850. Something to consider. I plan on keeping my 70-200 2.8E for a looooong time. I'm trying to imagine what they could improve on.



Sep 21, 2017 at 07:29 PM
snapsy
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


Skies finally opened up today after our first fall snow. Here are two full-sized D850 samples with the 70-200mm f/4, shot with electronic shutter and processed in ACR/PS, including capture and print sharpening:

D850 with 70-200mm f/4 @ f/8, ISO 64
D850 with 70-200mm f/4 @ 200mm f/5.6, ISO 100



Sep 21, 2017 at 08:49 PM
snapsy
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


Here's one with a flatter field. 135mm @ f/8:

D850 with 70-200mm f/4 @ 135mm f/8, ISO 100



Sep 21, 2017 at 08:54 PM
Ross Martin
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


milkod2001 wrote:
For landscapes maybe consider wide angle lenses. Nikon 20/1.8 or 24/1.8G.


I have both of those :-) And I do compose with wides for some scenes, but over the past three decades that I've been shooting landscape I've developed a love for the intimate shots, rather than grands, and the 70-200mm range gets the biggest workout for me because of my personal style. I've been working with the Pentax 645Z the last few years and frequently use the 80-160mm, 200, and 300 lenses, but the D850 brings some significant advantages for me in tele shots, namely much less total weight/size, and most importantly electronic shutter to eliminate the subtle shutter vibrations that can at times degrade images with the 645Z at certain shutter speeds.

---------------------------------------------

Blakehfreeman wrote:
If you can afford it go for the 2.8E, the weight, balance, tripod foot setup is improved, 4 buttons that are programmable, fluorine coated for the field use... decently sharper than the F4. If you have money to spare, YES! But I'd only do it if the rest of your kit is fully put together.

I'd rather spend the $1500 on a really right stuff tripod then this lens if my tripod wasn't the best.. (if this makes any sense)


Yes that does make sense, and thankfully the rest of my system is set. I'm old school enough (and dumb enough lol) to drag around a heavy Gitzo 5-series CF tripod with Arca Z1 head, because I am a stability freak :-)

---------------------------------------------

nuclearjock wrote:
I read somewhere, I think it was byThom, that diffraction starts setting in earlier (~f8) with the D850. Something to consider. I plan on keeping my 70-200 2.8E for a looooong time. I'm trying to imagine what they could improve on.


That's true, but thankfully in my processing/print workflow I've found that using deconvolution sharpening wonderfully combats the effects of diffraction. On the 645Z I have shot f/22 when depth-of-field needs for the composition required it, and with proper deconvolution the 40" x 30" print maintains fantastic detail.

---------------------------------------------

snapsy wrote:
Skies finally opened up today after our first fall snow. Here are two full-sized D850 samples with the 70-200mm f/4, shot with electronic shutter and processed in ACR/PS, including capture and print sharpening:

D850 with 70-200mm f/4 @ f/8, ISO 64
D850 with 70-200mm f/4 @ 200mm f/5.6, ISO 100


Thanks for posting those.



Sep 21, 2017 at 09:21 PM
davewolfs
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


At f/8 it’s that far ahead really.


Sep 21, 2017 at 09:35 PM
molson
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


nuclearjock wrote:
I read somewhere, I think it was byThom, that diffraction starts setting in earlier (~f8) with the D850. Something to consider. I plan on keeping my 70-200 2.8E for a looooong time. I'm trying to imagine what they could improve on.


Thom lists the 70-200mm f4G VR among the lenses he's not sure are good enough for use with the D850, for some reason... I certainly thought mine was sharper than some of the lenses on his "good" list.



Sep 21, 2017 at 10:24 PM
Blakehfreeman
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


Am I the only one who thinks his and kenrockswallows photographs aren't that impressive?... makes it hard for me to buy there "expertise."..

molson wrote:
Thom lists the 70-200mm f4G VR among the lenses he's not sure are good enough for use with the D850, for some reason... I certainly thought mine was sharper than some of the lenses on his "good" list.




Sep 21, 2017 at 11:26 PM
gnjphotography
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · 70-200mm f/4 shooters - did you switch to new Nikon FL or Tamron G2 2.8?


If you read the article, Thom states that the reason for the 70-200 f/4 not being the list is that the new e f/2.8 blows it out of the water.


Sep 22, 2017 at 12:27 AM
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