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Archive 2012 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

NathanHamler
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

Thinking about picking up a 70-210 f/4 as a backup to my 70-200 2.8...anyone have any experience with this lens?? For around $200 or less, it's prob not a bad deal...i'm not expecting miracles, just hoping it's decently sharp wide open....i'm thinking either this lens, or like a bargain condition 80-200 2.8 push pull, NON D version...prob around $400 (used to own a 2 ring version).....although, i'm always up for saving money...

Jun 05, 2012 at 07:50 PM

Sean Hoffman
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

I used to have this lens back in the film days before it was stolen. I liked it a lot but I can't really comment on sharpness with today's cameras. It's well built and if it's just a backup, it's probably a great option.

Side note- when this lens was stolen, the insurance company tried to stick me with a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 or some such crap. I pointed out that they needed to replace with a brand new lens of equal or better quality and that the constant f/4 aperture was only matched in that range by the 80-200mm f/2.8D. My adjuster grudgingly obliged and I ended up with a $1200 lens from a $140 eBay purchase! It was a huge foot in the door for my career, as a broke 19 year old, needing for quality gear.

Jun 06, 2012 at 02:24 AM

Kittyk
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

it is fine lens, but if size is not a concern, get any 80-200 AF, they are all awesome.
But i think that better backup would be 85 1.8 AF-S, it will not duplicate what you have, give you some more flexibility and is much smaller then either lens.

Jun 06, 2012 at 03:31 AM

drumlin
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

It's okay. I have one and I mostly use it with film bodies, where it's nice and small-ish. Sharp enough, but it's not anywhere close to one of the 2.8's (70-200 or 80-200). But you win with size and weight. Oh, and especially cost.

I'd love to have mine stolen so that an insurance company would buy me a 70-200/2.8.

Jun 06, 2012 at 11:35 AM

Jan Brittenson
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

I have the AF-D 70-210/4-5.6 as a compact lens for landscape use, and it's a good performer at f/11-f/16. Wide open it's a bit soft, but probably fine for many less exacting applications. Events, people, newsprint, magazine work, marketing collateral, web of course - should be fine for all of these uses. Flare prone, so demands a shade. Oddball 62mm thread (I step it up to 67 and a Lee holder and shade). Forget what I paid, but it wasn't much.

Jun 06, 2012 at 11:49 AM

---XR---
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

It is nikons first AF lens, back in 1986, it's all plastic. Mine was never very sharp, and the colors were dull, but there were ways to capitalize on it faults, and on occasion it was alright. For the size you did get the constant f4, but don't expect anything great. AF hunts and front focuses alot as I would have expected.

Jun 06, 2012 at 01:59 PM

Neddie Seagoon
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

Pretty much agree with all the above. I like Kittyk's idea.

One other thing to add when comparing to a 70-200 2.8 (not really fair - of course) it's much slower to focus as it's the old screw drive mechanism. It'd be pretty useless at sports. Also, besides being softer than what I'm now used to, it shows some CA. Not a big deal on newer bodies as they compensate, but something to be aware of.

I'll trade you mine for a 50mm 1.4 AF-D. I never use it anymore.

Jun 06, 2012 at 02:30 PM

jcw1982
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

As you probably know the 70-210 came out in several versions. The "D" version was , I believe, the latest before the lens was discontinued. This lens, and its' non-D predecessor, were very similar however the D version had improved autofocusing. These two versions were pretty nice lenses, metal bodies (?), and today are a pretty good bargain. (I also had one of the early 70-210's--the plastic version. I feel the later models were a nice upgrade).

Jun 06, 2012 at 04:40 PM

Kent_Photo
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

I have a 70-210 f4. They are pretty hard to find used. The 4/5.6 is much easier to find and they are usually about the same price.

I like my lens for travel or when I want to go light. It is not too good for shooting anything moving. It is certainly sharp enough and feels very solid to me.

Jun 06, 2012 at 08:14 PM

NathanHamler
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

jcw1982 wrote:
As you probably know the 70-210 came out in several versions. The "D" version was , I believe, the latest before the lens was discontinued. This lens, and its' non-D predecessor, were very similar however the D version had improved autofocusing. These two versions were pretty nice lenses, metal bodies (?), and today are a pretty good bargain. (I also had one of the early 70-210's--the plastic version. I feel the later models were a nice upgrade).

You're thinking of the f/4-5.6, i'm talking about the fixed f/4...

Jun 06, 2012 at 09:12 PM

NathanHamler
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

Neddie Seagoon wrote:
Pretty much agree with all the above. I like Kittyk's idea.

One other thing to add when comparing to a 70-200 2.8 (not really fair - of course) it's much slower to focus as it's the old screw drive mechanism. It'd be pretty useless at sports. Also, besides being softer than what I'm now used to, it shows some CA. Not a big deal on newer bodies as they compensate, but something to be aware of.

I'll trade you mine for a 50mm 1.4 AF-D. I never use it anymore.

If i had a 50 1.4 i'd prob just sell it and buy a 70-210...you'd prob get the better deal in that trade :-)

Jun 06, 2012 at 09:14 PM

dartheyeball
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Anyone with a 70-210 f/4??

I own the Nikon 70-210 F4 and the Nikon 80-200 2.8 AF-S. I keep the 70-210 as a backup. Plus it is a nice lens when I want to travel light. It's not a bad lens if you use it within its limitations. I have used it to shoot sports and it worked great for me. I paid $150 for mine and it was worth it. Of course the 80-200 is in a different league but the two lenses compliment one another.

Jun 07, 2012 at 09:18 AM


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