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Archive 2013New AFS 80-400mm Owners
p.1 #1New AFS 80-400mm Owners
Looking for impressions of the new 80-400. I was probably one of the few who got one right away and put it right to work, once at the zoo and also over a 2.5month period in Africa. I'm going to send in both my D800 and lens to Nikon Canada to ensure that there isn't something wrong with either of them but there might be because my accuracy wasn't as good as I was hoping, and the VR was getting progressively noisier, along with F/0 errors. My impressions so far:
- AF is very fast but accurate really depends on how close the subject is and if you're on the short end or not (I find it better there). Accuracy is my biggest beef with my setup at the moment
- I can't tell if VR is really helping much on the long end. I'm still trying to figure out if a higher shutter speed w/o VR is better than say 1/640 w/ VR on
- On the short end, it's fantastic. The long end when focusing at infinity, I find it soft and inaccurate
- There is dust inside that I can see already. Africa is hard on gear but I thought this lens was weather sealed
Some photos I can tell the accuracy is off when viewing the whole image, while others I notice subtle/big differences at 100%. I would take burst shots of most animals and when scrolling through at 100%, even on a close subject there are differences on subjects that are relatively still. I will completely admit my technique is not perfect but some instances it was definitely something up with the equipment.
Hopefully others have had better luck. What are you impressions so far?
- AF is very fast but accurate really depends on how close the subject is and if you're on the short end or not (I find it better there). Accuracy is my biggest beef with my setup at the moment
- I can't tell if VR is really helping much on the long end. I'm still trying to figure out if a higher shutter speed w/o VR is better than say 1/640 w/ VR on
- On the short end, it's fantastic. The long end when focusing at infinity, I find it soft and inaccurate
- There is dust inside that I can see already. Africa is hard on gear but I thought this lens was weather sealed
Some photos I can tell the accuracy is off when viewing the whole image, while others I notice subtle/big differences at 100%. I would take burst shots of most animals and when scrolling through at 100%, even on a close subject there are differences on subjects that are relatively still. I will completely admit my technique is not perfect but some instances it was definitely something up with the equipment.
Hopefully others have had better luck. What are you impressions so far?
Jul 24, 2013 at 09:51 PM
p.1 #2New AFS 80-400mm Owners
I ran into the F0 error on mine, cleaning the contacts fixed it. Kind of odd, they must be sensitive because I've never had to do that with any other lens.
I have read about the noisy "hunting" also as it acquires focus. I believe it was on the photography life website lens review here: http://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-80-400mm-vr
A Quote from the above review:
"...With all these advantages, the Nikon 80-400mm also has some flaws. First, while its autofocus performance is excellent, autofocus accuracy can be iffy in some situations (I covered this in detail on page 2). In short, the lens sometimes hesitates / chatters when autofocus is continuously engaged, going back and forth in small steps, as if is unsure if focus is properly acquired. This behavior is not very noticeable at short focal lengths, but it does occur at 300mm and longer, similar to what you see on lenses like Nikon 70-300mm VR..."
I have read about the noisy "hunting" also as it acquires focus. I believe it was on the photography life website lens review here: http://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-80-400mm-vr
A Quote from the above review:
"...With all these advantages, the Nikon 80-400mm also has some flaws. First, while its autofocus performance is excellent, autofocus accuracy can be iffy in some situations (I covered this in detail on page 2). In short, the lens sometimes hesitates / chatters when autofocus is continuously engaged, going back and forth in small steps, as if is unsure if focus is properly acquired. This behavior is not very noticeable at short focal lengths, but it does occur at 300mm and longer, similar to what you see on lenses like Nikon 70-300mm VR..."
Jul 24, 2013 at 10:04 PM
p.1 #3New AFS 80-400mm Owners
Autofocus chatter is a perfect description of what I experienced overall, and it's that minute delay that re-enforced that I had to take burst shots - vibration from me and hope the lens would cooperate. When the lens nails it, the sharpness is amazing (I'll post photos when I get a chance). But it's not as reliable as I had hoped.
Given the conditions in Africa, sometimes large animals were right beside the truck and 80mm wasn't wide enough. For strictly birding, I think the 300f/4+TC combo is the way to go. Now that I'm at home, it's hard to say if I'm going to keep the lens or try to work with it more. It certainly served its purpose abroad. If I had two camera bodies, it might be a different story.
Given the conditions in Africa, sometimes large animals were right beside the truck and 80mm wasn't wide enough. For strictly birding, I think the 300f/4+TC combo is the way to go. Now that I'm at home, it's hard to say if I'm going to keep the lens or try to work with it more. It certainly served its purpose abroad. If I had two camera bodies, it might be a different story.
Jul 25, 2013 at 01:23 AM
p.1 #4New AFS 80-400mm Owners
My impressions are exceedingly positive - I picked one up very soon after release, and just spent two weeks in east Africa with it.
I mentioned elsewhere that I have noticed the "chatter" but not so much that I would have commented on it if someone asked me what I thought of the lens. From what I can tell, it's mostly when there is movement - either from the subject or the lens - and my focusing/long lens practices (using AF-ON) don't seem to trigger it much. It's odd when it happens, but fortunately it doesn't seem to happen much on mine.
Additionally, I have found the AF to be very accurate. In all of the shots I took in Africa, I honestly only had a very few that were OOF, and most of those were scenarios like seeing a small bird amidst branches, whipping around and getting a shot off, and then having it fly. Scenarios where you have a very high % of OOF shots with any lens.
I have not experienced any softness that I wouldn't consider normal at infinity - all lenses get softer at infinity, and it's certainly a lot sharper than my 200-400mm at that distance. It's on par, from what I can tell, with my 300mm f/4. The VR takes a tick to kick in, but that's normal with long lenses.
I have a little dust inside the lens from Africa - not much, but it's there. I assumed that was par for the course in the dust of a safari and a lens that extends during zooming.
What is your experience with other long lenses? I only ask because, for instance, if your only other long lens was the 300mm f/4 + TC, getting the hang of when VR is useful or not takes a little bit.
For birding only, barring the need for VR, I agree that the 300mm + TC is probably a good choice. It's half the price, and delivers very good sharpness (though my 300mm + 1.4x is not as sharp as my 80-400mm). It's sure not as flexible, though.
I mentioned elsewhere that I have noticed the "chatter" but not so much that I would have commented on it if someone asked me what I thought of the lens. From what I can tell, it's mostly when there is movement - either from the subject or the lens - and my focusing/long lens practices (using AF-ON) don't seem to trigger it much. It's odd when it happens, but fortunately it doesn't seem to happen much on mine.
Additionally, I have found the AF to be very accurate. In all of the shots I took in Africa, I honestly only had a very few that were OOF, and most of those were scenarios like seeing a small bird amidst branches, whipping around and getting a shot off, and then having it fly. Scenarios where you have a very high % of OOF shots with any lens.
I have not experienced any softness that I wouldn't consider normal at infinity - all lenses get softer at infinity, and it's certainly a lot sharper than my 200-400mm at that distance. It's on par, from what I can tell, with my 300mm f/4. The VR takes a tick to kick in, but that's normal with long lenses.
I have a little dust inside the lens from Africa - not much, but it's there. I assumed that was par for the course in the dust of a safari and a lens that extends during zooming.
What is your experience with other long lenses? I only ask because, for instance, if your only other long lens was the 300mm f/4 + TC, getting the hang of when VR is useful or not takes a little bit.
For birding only, barring the need for VR, I agree that the 300mm + TC is probably a good choice. It's half the price, and delivers very good sharpness (though my 300mm + 1.4x is not as sharp as my 80-400mm). It's sure not as flexible, though.
Jul 25, 2013 at 05:16 AM
p.1 #5New AFS 80-400mm Owners
Great thread. There are reasons why most combat photographers only use primes. One of those reasons was zooms inhale dust a lot more readily. So a trip to Africa in dry season is a strong test of a lens.
Jul 25, 2013 at 05:30 AM
p.1 #6New AFS 80-400mm Owners
My negatives are mostly:
- The tripod collar sucks, again. I wish they'd just do what they did with the 70-200 f/4 - knock a few bucks off the price and make it an option accessory. At least then I'm not paying for something to sit on a shelf.
- The price is just a touch too high. I think around $2300 it'd be better received. Budget wasn't a big concern this time around - we blew the budget out of the water on our trip anyway, so a new lens was hardly the real concern - but when the 300mm f/4 + TC provides image quality within reach of the zoom, and does it for half the price, I think it's hard to argue the value proposition.
If budget is not a big concern, I think they've done an amazing job with this lens - it is precisely what I was hoping it would be. Fast to focus, sharp through the range and especially at 400mm, and it handles well.
- The tripod collar sucks, again. I wish they'd just do what they did with the 70-200 f/4 - knock a few bucks off the price and make it an option accessory. At least then I'm not paying for something to sit on a shelf.
- The price is just a touch too high. I think around $2300 it'd be better received. Budget wasn't a big concern this time around - we blew the budget out of the water on our trip anyway, so a new lens was hardly the real concern - but when the 300mm f/4 + TC provides image quality within reach of the zoom, and does it for half the price, I think it's hard to argue the value proposition.
If budget is not a big concern, I think they've done an amazing job with this lens - it is precisely what I was hoping it would be. Fast to focus, sharp through the range and especially at 400mm, and it handles well.
Jul 25, 2013 at 05:39 AM
p.1 #7New AFS 80-400mm Owners
I'm quite happy with mine on a D800e, though I haven't yet had a chance to use it much. AF seems to be quite accurate, though I can't speak to any chatter possibility since so far I've mostly used it on AF-S rather than AF-C. Good image quality from what I can judge on the LCD and an uncalibrated notebook screen, but I've gotta get home to a better/bigger monitor and make some prints to really develop any opinions.
Jul 26, 2013 at 08:15 PM
p.1 #8New AFS 80-400mm Owners
I'm sorta on the edge about buying the new 80-400 AFS lens---just got back from Laguna Seca MOTOGP race and took my well-traveled (and lightweight) 70-300 VR on my recent D7100 body---everything went very well---this combo produced sharp and accurate pictures and AF was fast---using the new 1.3 crop setting (7 FPS) was also pleasent. I had the older 80-400 and got good results with it despite the slower AF (pre-focusing helps). The lighter weight of the 70-300 VR plus a smaller wide-angle zoom makes the whole thing a nice package to carry---add the surprisingly useful tiny SB-400 flash is another great idea. Just looking for a lighter set-up as I get older...
Jul 27, 2013 at 12:45 AM
p.1 #9New AFS 80-400mm Owners
I have the 70-300mm as well. The 80-400mm is not causing me to get rid of it - for a super portable, lightweight package, the 70-300mm is great. A few comments about the combo with the D7100 (which I'm also using):
- If you can fill the frame with your subject, the 70-300mm is really pretty decent. When you have to start cropping, it starts to fall apart at the long end. The 80-400mm holds up to cropping a lot better.
- The 70-300mm AF is not fast, compared to the 80-400mm. The 70-300mm AF is adequate. The 80-400mm AF is fast.
- The 70-300mm is sure easier to carry. I just got back from climbing Kilimanjaro with it, and then using the 80-400mm on safari. I could spend a day hiking and not notice the 70-300mm. After a day bouncing the 80-400mm on my shoulder, it was much more apparent.
- If you can fill the frame with your subject, the 70-300mm is really pretty decent. When you have to start cropping, it starts to fall apart at the long end. The 80-400mm holds up to cropping a lot better.
- The 70-300mm AF is not fast, compared to the 80-400mm. The 70-300mm AF is adequate. The 80-400mm AF is fast.
- The 70-300mm is sure easier to carry. I just got back from climbing Kilimanjaro with it, and then using the 80-400mm on safari. I could spend a day hiking and not notice the 70-300mm. After a day bouncing the 80-400mm on my shoulder, it was much more apparent.
Jul 27, 2013 at 06:18 AM
p.1 #10New AFS 80-400mm Owners
I'll chime in - my 80-400 does the same type of focus chatter the OP and the linked article describe. It's not the end of the world and I do get sharp images from it with careful AF'ing, but it sure doesn't focus like my 600mm 
Jul 27, 2013 at 07:28 AM
p.1 #11New AFS 80-400mm Owners
I noticed a lot of chatter on the D7100 not so much on the D4. I like to turn off VR for BIF even if I have to crank up the ISO. VR works fine for static shots. I've seen some fantastic shots with it on the D7100 and have had a few myself but it takes impeccable technique (especially if you're pixel peeping). The 500VR on the D4 is a lot more idiot proof.
Jul 27, 2013 at 09:32 AM
p.1 #12New AFS 80-400mm Owners
As I'm going through my photos, I'm noticing a lot of these turned out well. Or at least full size on my 1920x1200 monitor. However when I zoom into 80-100%, the D800 just punishes you if you (or your lens) didn't nail the shot.
Perhaps I was too quick to dismiss this lens. It's pretty good but not amazing. Maybe I need to figure out its capabilities and how to work with it since it seems my focus chatter is a prevalent observation.
Perhaps I was too quick to dismiss this lens. It's pretty good but not amazing. Maybe I need to figure out its capabilities and how to work with it since it seems my focus chatter is a prevalent observation.
Jul 28, 2013 at 12:14 AM
p.1 #13New AFS 80-400mm Owners
No complaints here mine works great on the D4 even better on the D800.
Jul 28, 2013 at 04:10 PM
p.1 #14New AFS 80-400mm Owners
I am loving mine and on a D7100 it even makes a decent macro lens. In each case first pic is modest crop the second is 100%
Jul 29, 2013 at 07:48 PM
p.1 #15New AFS 80-400mm Owners
Nice shooting there Bill...the D7100 seems like a good match for the 80-400VRII.
All I have right now is a D800, which also works well, though the DOF can be limiting...
http://www.pbase.com/garyirwin/image/151580154/original.jpg
Nikon D800 ,Nikon 80-400VR f:4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED 1/1600s f/11.0 at 280.0mm iso800
http://www.pbase.com/garyirwin/image/151561273/original.jpg
Nikon D800 ,Nikon 80-400VR f:4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED 1/1250s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso400
All I have right now is a D800, which also works well, though the DOF can be limiting...
http://www.pbase.com/garyirwin/image/151580154/original.jpg
Nikon D800 ,Nikon 80-400VR f:4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED 1/1600s f/11.0 at 280.0mm iso800
http://www.pbase.com/garyirwin/image/151561273/original.jpg
Nikon D800 ,Nikon 80-400VR f:4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED 1/1250s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso400
Jul 30, 2013 at 11:14 AM
p.1 #17New AFS 80-400mm Owners
Caught this fellow, and several of his friends, on a ferry ride recently. D800E and AF-S 80-400... suffice it to say that I can see the colored streaks in the gull's iris and the individual little hairs next to his eyes. I'm definitely keeping this lens; when I can use the 200-400 or the 500, I will, but this lens is going to go many places with me where those two can't.
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Jul 31, 2013 at 12:49 AM
p.1 #18New AFS 80-400mm Owners
Here's another: D800E, AF-S 80-400 VR2 @ 400mm, 1/100s f/11 iso100 (EV+0.3). Panning works well, and images shot from a good distance seem very sharp.
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Aug 05, 2013 at 12:31 AM
p.1 #19New AFS 80-400mm Owners
The autofocus is better than the old 80-400mm lens but not nearly as good as the 200-400mm or 70-200mm lenses. I see a focus shift when using the VR with the lens and will turn it off when I am using a high enough shutter speed where it is not needed.
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.
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.
Aug 12, 2013 at 04:36 PM
p.1 #20New AFS 80-400mm Owners
The 70-200 with 1.4x TC provides better IQ and faster apertures, but less reach. The 70-200 with 2x TC provides equivalent reach and apertures, but less IQ. The 80-400G is pretty darn sharp at 400mm.
I'll use the 70-200 when I can, with or without the 1.4x TC. I'll use the 200-400 when I need more reach and it is feasible to use that lens. When I need 400mm but must pack light, I'll take the 80-400G.
I'll use the 70-200 when I can, with or without the 1.4x TC. I'll use the 200-400 when I need more reach and it is feasible to use that lens. When I need 400mm but must pack light, I'll take the 80-400G.
Aug 12, 2013 at 04:54 PM