Lighter and Faster: The new lens is 25% lighter than the previous version, weighing 998g without the tripod foot, and focuses 3.5 times faster. This weight reduction is attributed to new manufacturing techniques, fewer lens elements, and mechanical adjustments.
Enhanced Build Quality: It features a control ring with a click, a smooth focus ring, and two function buttons. The lens boasts professional-level weather and ingress protection, performing reliably even in heavy rain.
Optical Excellence and Technology : The lens incorporates advanced coatings like mesoamorphous and ano coatings to reduce flaring, and new lens materials to minimize chromatic aberration. It's designed to perform at a prime lens level optically.
Video Optimization: The lens is optimized for video with minimal balance shifts during zooming and virtually no focus breathing, making it suitable for professional videography.
Improved Close-Up Capabilities: The minimum focus distance has been improved to 0.38 meters at 70mm and 0.8 meters at 200mm, enhancing its close-up performance.
Arca-Swiss Compatibility: A notable new feature is the fully detachable tripod collar with Arca-Swiss compliance, a long-requested addition by users.
Image Stabilization: The lens offers up to 6.0 stops of VR stabilization, working in concert with in-body image stabilization (IBIS) for extremely stable images, even at low shutter speeds and long focal lengths.
I want to say it’s not worth upgrading. I want to say it’s only slightly better than version 1. But I’d be fooling myself if I said I didn’t want it. Always chasing the best. However owning version 1 and barely using it I think the difference is have to cough up from selling mine and getting the new one id rather just get the 135mm plena
Outstanding wrote:
Lighter and Faster: The new lens is 25% lighter than the previous version, weighing 998g without the tripod foot, and focuses 3.5 times faster. This weight reduction is attributed to new manufacturing techniques, fewer lens elements, and mechanical adjustments.
Enhanced Build Quality: It features a control ring with a click, a smooth focus ring, and two function buttons. The lens boasts professional-level weather and ingress protection, performing reliably even in heavy rain.
Optical Excellence and Technology : The lens incorporates advanced coatings like mesoamorphous and ano coatings to reduce flaring, and new lens materials to minimize chromatic aberration. It's designed to perform at a prime lens level optically.
Video Optimization: The lens is optimized for video with minimal balance shifts during zooming and virtually no focus breathing, making it suitable for professional videography.
Improved Close-Up Capabilities: The minimum focus distance has been improved to 0.38 meters at 70mm and 0.8 meters at 200mm, enhancing its close-up performance.
Arca-Swiss Compatibility: A notable new feature is the fully detachable tripod collar with Arca-Swiss compliance, a long-requested addition by users.
Image Stabilization: The lens offers up to 6.0 stops of VR stabilization, working in concert with in-body image stabilization (IBIS) for extremely stable images, even at low shutter speeds and long focal lengths.
Pricing: The lens is priced at $3,199 in the US....Show more →
I was fairly ambivalent about this new lens until I saw the specs and Jan Wegener's video and I am now questioning that thought. I am now thinking I may be able to sell both my old Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S I and Z 100-400 f4.5-5.6 VR S and just use the new 70-200 f2.8 VR S II with both teleconverters for a versatile zoom. The weight reduction is more than expected. The two tripod collar idea is great. Arca Swiss is no big deal for me as I never use a tripod. Clickable Control Ring was expected but good. PL window was expected but good. Faster AF is good as is closer focusing and higher magnification. MTF's look almost identical at the long and but sharper at the short end.
Outstanding wrote:
Mark 1 vs 2 comparison including Bokeh
I just can’t get used to seeing people hold and shoot a camera like that, it looks so weird to me. Maybe I’m just getting old.
It does look like a fantastic lens, though. I’m completely used to working with primes now and I genuinely enjoy the intentional shooting they force on me. Still, I have to admit, the speed and convenience of a lazy zoom can be very tempting at times. Sometimes “lazy” shooting is simply efficient shooting, like in sports.
HendrikV wrote:
I just can’t get used to seeing people hold and shoot a camera like that, it looks so weird to me. Maybe I’m just getting old.
It does look like a fantastic lens, though. I’m completely used to working with primes now and I genuinely enjoy the intentional shooting they force on me. Still, I have to admit, the speed and convenience of a lazy zoom can be very tempting at times. Sometimes “lazy” shooting is simply efficient shooting, like in sports.
Often times in paid photography you just cannot pick your position freely and zooms are a big help.
Weight is about 20-25% less:
without tripod collar (998-1360)/1360 x 100 = -27%
w/tripod collar (1180-1440)/1440 x 100 = -18%
Practically the same size as previous version: 9 x 21 cm instead of 9 x 22 cm.
If Nikon had reduced the size, I would have considered buying it. It is still a bulky item.
I just sold my MKI this past weekend, not in anticipation but because of lack of use. Great lens but I almost never use anything longer than 120mm. Most is around 24-50mm. Looks like a great lens though. Is the focus and zoom rings still in the ”wrong” order?
bernardl wrote:
Often times in paid photography you just cannot pick your position freely and zooms are a big help.
Cheers,
Bernard
Yes, absolutely. I mainly shoot portraiture, so I almost never need a zoom.
That said, I still feel the sting of having sold my F-mount 70–200 for a ridiculously low price. At the time it made sense, but sometimes you only realise later what you gave up.
Next month I have a rare sports shoot coming up, so I’ll need to rent two zooms.
This lens really seems a wonderful lens and I feel the temptation.
Outstanding wrote:
Most shocking is Australian price which is $5400 inc tax
3199 USD is 4540 AUD and 4384 CAD
It's officially 4199 Canadian + taxes (which varies from 5-13%).
Then again, Australia is a much nicer country in many ways, and I'd much rather live there I'd much rather take the higher price on gear there in return for living there.
I thought when this version II came out it would be the perfect time to buy the version I but after seeing the specs of the version II I’m questioning wether to buy the new lens.
I’m guessing I’ll see a lot of the version I on the buy and sell, I guess depending on the deal I could get
I'd much rather take the higher price on gear there in return for living there.