p.3 #1 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
...I am not sure if my left hand inadvertently moves the focus ring occasionally and activates manual focus at times when moving the zoom ring...
Different lens in the family but I've been having that issue with the 180-600, I'm still relatively new to the Z system and adjusting from older F mount lenses which had the zoom ring to the rear - most modern lenses have the zoom ring at the front which seems backwards for me ergonomically, but I'm sure there is a reason for it and I'll have to get used to it!
I love the images from the 70-200 2.8 and the idea of it, but I don't think I'd have enough use for it personally - I had the old 80-200 2.8 AF-D for while and found that even on a crop sensor it was usually too short for my motorsport and wildlife use.
p.3 #2 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
Mine arrived this afternoon. First impressions are thoroughly positive.
Not much to say that @GeorgeR@ didn't already cover, though. It's a whole lot lighter than my VRII + FTZII combo (just over a pound lighter), and it focuses a whole lot closer. It's a little faster and a bit sharper, but I've never felt like the VRII was a slouch. The real story is mainly weight, balance, and close focusing. Feels like a nice upgrade.
Anyway, obligatory first day critter pics. I'm a Flickr peasant, so forgive these for being tiny.
p.3 #3 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
I like the rendering in your images. The out of focus areas are beautiful... Your friend looks awesome!
OffTrail wrote:
Mine arrived this afternoon. First impressions are thoroughly positive.
Not much to say that @GeorgeR@@ didn't already cover, though. It's a whole lot lighter than my VRII + FTZII combo (just over a pound lighter), and it focuses a whole lot closer. It's a little faster and a bit sharper, but I've never felt like the VRII was a slouch. The real story is mainly weight, balance, and close focusing. Feels like a nice upgrade.
Anyway, obligatory first day critter pics. I'm a Flickr peasant, so forgive these for being tiny.
p.3 #4 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
gpelpel wrote:
I like the rendering in your images. The out of focus areas are beautiful... Your friend looks awesome!
Thanks! I'm really liking the general rendering that I'm seeing so far as well. As someone who mainly uses older glass, I'm shocked at how familiar the output feels.
In fact, check out how similar the rendering is here between the 70-200 and my favorite portrait lens, the 9-bladed 10.5cm f/2.5 (new lens first, 10.5 second).
That's wildly close IMO. And just a few more from yesterday's backyard shooting.
200mm
105mm
145mm
110mm, mild crop
And these are 105mm at f/2.8 and then at f/11, just wanted to see how this business about 11 blades looks.
p.3 #10 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
First weekend with this tube full of primes. Waiting in the airport, taking trite "hey look, an airliner" shots out the dirty windows at MSP, and stopped by a father who was curious. This quick snapshot should convince you of sharpness at 200mm, if nothing else; posted with his knowledge.
Z8, 70-200/2.8Sii, 1/40, f/2.8, ISO 64, 200mm, subject distance 2.66 meters (8 feet, 8 inches) (VR on this is, as you'd expect, excellent.)
p.3 #12 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
so I purchased the 70-200 2.8 II and I love the lens, the only issue that bothers me a little is the placement of the zoom ring, I'm accustomed tom the zoom ring being closer to my left hand like on the 24-70 2.8 S lens, but they placed it on the end of the lens past the manual focus ring(which I never manual focus)
Im hoping a firmware update would allow me to place the zoom to where the focus is? not sure that is possible?
Does this bother anyone else?
p.3 #13 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
I think the zoom ring being at the front end of the lens has been Nikon's standard for the past few iterations of the 70-200 f/2.8 lens going back to DSLR days. I also find it less than optimal but remember once hearing it helped lessen or eliminate focus breathing. I could be mistaken on that. Pretty sure it's a hardware, not a firmware, issue.
p.3 #14 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
The following are not great photographs.
What they are, however, are examples of my neighbor deciding to leave a fire extinguisher where I could see it over the fence. So below is what that looks like on my Z8 through my copy of the 70-200/2.8Sii, first at 200mm, and then with the TC-2.0x attached, so 400mm. VR was off, tripod mounted, etc. etc. I threw in a 100% vs. 200% comparison screenshot taken in MacOS's Preview.app as well, just to save you a click or two.
This is all straight out of the camera, sharpening at +1, and at ISO2000 for the 400mm sample, well, you could likely do better in a more well-controlled scenario.
Focus distance was 37.58 meters, for what it's worth.
It's no 400TC, but it's been doing well in the field so far. Also of note: Foreground bokeh on this lens is quite pleasant.
Z8, 70-200/2.8Sii, 200mm, f/2.8, ISO 500
Z8, 70-200/2.8Sii, TC-2.0x, 400mm, f/5.6, ISO 2000
p.3 #15 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
Thanks for the comparison. Looks like the lens take TC well. What do you think about the AF? Usable for BIF?
Masque wrote:
The following are not great photographs.
What they are, however, are examples of my neighbor deciding to leave a fire extinguisher where I could see it over the fence. So below is what that looks like on my Z8 through my copy of the 70-200/2.8Sii, first at 200mm, and then with the TC-2.0x attached, so 400mm. VR was off, tripod mounted, etc. etc. I threw in a 100% vs. 200% comparison screenshot taken in MacOS's Preview.app as well, just to save you a click or two.
This is all straight out of the camera, sharpening at +1, and at ISO2000 for the 400mm sample, well, you could likely do better in a more well-controlled scenario.
Focus distance was 37.58 meters, for what it's worth.
It's no 400TC, but it's been doing well in the field so far. Also of note: Foreground bokeh on this lens is quite pleasant.
p.3 #19 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
david debalko wrote:
so I purchased the 70-200 2.8 II and I love the lens, the only issue that bothers me a little is the placement of the zoom ring, I'm accustomed tom the zoom ring being closer to my left hand like on the 24-70 2.8 S lens, but they placed it on the end of the lens past the manual focus ring(which I never manual focus)
Im hoping a firmware update would allow me to place the zoom to where the focus is? not sure that is possible?
Does this bother anyone else?
Recently got the new 70-200. I also hate the position of the zoom ring. Thankfully the VR is excellent because holding it steady is tougher with the zoom ring out there.
That and the price is the only negatives I have to say about the new one.
p.3 #20 · Official Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S II Thread
Hello everyone,
This is my first post on this forum. I've used it as a resource for lens information and impressions as well as for photo inspiration in the past and I figured it would be worth posting some images I've taken that might help out others as well.
I've been able to borrow my dad's 70-200 v2 and I bought a Viltrox 2x teleconverter. I noticed that there weren't any posts about this combination and wanted to confirm that the Viltrox TC does work with the new v2 lens. I have not tried updating the lens to the latest firmware - the notes indicate that the update fixes some TC performance and I'm worried it might break compatibility with this third-party TC.
The TC adds a little bulk and length to the lens but it's still manageable and easy to lug around.
In terms of AF performance it works fine - a little slower than the lens without the TC but I assume that's because it narrows down to f5.6.
In terms of image quality it's definitely worse than without the TC attached but I think the results are usable. I'm just an amateur so I can't speak much to technical details but in my opinion the lens is sharp enough that I'm satisfied. The results I've gotten with the lens without the TC definitely look sharper (and lower ISO/noise as well due to being 2 stops wider) but with a 24mp body I don't think a naked lens + crop would match up to the 400mm you can get with the TC.
I've used the lens without TC mostly to take portraits and candids of my family and friends, but I'm not comfortable sharing those photos publicly. I'm very happy with the results though.
I took a few animal images at the zoo, attached here. All images uncropped and shot on my Nikon ZF at 400mm wide open. I lightly edited them all on Lightroom. The first two images were shot through a plane of somewhat dirty glass. Hopefully I got the image embed working correctly!
