p.2 #1 · anybody here ever use the 800mm 5.6 Ai-s?
You can have the lens, I'll take the girl please, gift wrapped, suitable for unwrapping....
---XR--- wrote:
just picked up a 400mm 3.5 for $825 here and already have a 2x tc i got for $80, so i already have 800mm @ f7.0 for $900 shot on crop bodies so it's equiv to 1200mm, was wondering the optical quality of this 800 though, it's a beauty and for a telephoto, really cheap, being that the game now is all about AF-S and high apertures, i can live without both for what i've payed.
p.2 #3 · anybody here ever use the 800mm 5.6 Ai-s?
---XR--- wrote:
i believe the only version of this lens released was Ai-S, i'm pretty sure they weren't any Ai models, though that does not effect the lens's optical qulaity whatsoever,to be honest i really don't know the difference between the 2, i do know there was a cheaper version of the 800mm put out though an 800mm f/8.0.
Hi everyone.
XR is correct-the 800 F5.6 was AIS only. My Nikon Cpmpendium Book shows there were four 800MM F 8 models. The first was an lens head only for the focusing mount Au-1, the second was an ED virsion of this lens head(0nly) for the same AU-1, The next was a complete lens 800 F8 EDIF, the last was a complete lens 800 F8 AIS, the last was the 800 5.6 AIS. Hope this helps.
p.2 #4 · anybody here ever use the 800mm 5.6 Ai-s?
There is a Canon 800mm f/5.6 IS AF lens if you lean that way, but it is quite a bit more than the $3500 I saw mentioned above. B&H has it in stock for ~$11,500 - a little rich for my blood, especially considering that I would need a Canon body to go with it!
I remember looking at the Nikon 800mm AIS a couple of years ago at B&H. They had it in stock new, and it was intriguing to me. I was considering it, but not too hard. Even with my 600 AFS, it is difficult for me to keep the vibration out of the shot, and that is using a sturdy Gitzo tripod and a Wimberley head. I envy those of you who have this down much better than I, which is probably most of you!
p.2 #5 · anybody here ever use the 800mm 5.6 Ai-s?
The recently-released (2008?) Canon 800/5.6 is a sweetheart of a lens. I've seen a ton of pictures from it, and wow! I would guess that the market for this is very small, and that Nikon will probably not find it attractive (from a profitability and return-on-investment perspective) to make one, and that Canon can afford to (and chooses to) suck it up on margins in order to have bragging rights and keep that small number of shooters happy.
Still, just in case Nikon's listening... if they do choose to release a new AF-S 800/4.5 VR lens to compete with this new Canon, I promise to buy one immediately.
p.2 #6 · anybody here ever use the 800mm 5.6 Ai-s?
Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
Still, just in case Nikon's listening... if they do choose to release a new AF-S 800/4.5 VR lens to compete with this new Canon, I promise to buy one immediately.
Me too! I just have to take care of the car and house payments first. Then I'll be right in line to get one!
Come to think of it, that might take a while, so immediately might take a little longer for me.
p.2 #7 · anybody here ever use the 800mm 5.6 Ai-s?
Just stumbled on this old post and thought I'd add my input for those that may be looking for info in the future. I've been using one of these for about a year now. At first it was on my EOS DSLRs but then I picked up a D300 to devote solely to the lens.
My observations, first off it is heavy at around 12 lbs or so. Not something many will hike with but since I've got bad knees and a bad back I don't hike much anymore anyway. I mainly use mine from the window of my F-150. With it's length it can be a problem swinging it around in a car. I mainly shoot using either a beanbag or with a simple Nikon Window mount. But, I do have a heavy duty CF tripod with a Wimberly II head also.
Now for the important part, how well does it work. I'd say when I nail focus it's just fine. I'm not shooting a lot of action with it but for more static work I'm not complaining at all. I keep considering my options to brighten up the viewfinder on the D300 but haven't done anything yet. It is not a quick focusing lens as the focus ring has a good bit of range to it.
With the D300 I've got the lens programmed in using the custom function. So I get accurate exif, metering and it does control the aperture. So if I want f/8 or f/11 I set the lens aperture ring to that but the aperture stays wide open for bright focusing. Then the body steps the lens down as I release the shutter.
I've shot this lens for hours at a time in temps around -20 with no problems. It's also been subjected to light rain a time or too without any problems. It also seems to be well sealed against dust. The day I bought the D300 I mounted it on the lens and have never seperated them. I've had no dust issues on the sensor nor noticed any in the lens.
While it is very sharp wide open I find the contrast a bit weak compared to my other lenses. But then I'm comparing it to some modern Canon telephoto that are known to be contrasty as well as the six Zeiss lenses I have in my kit.
p.2 #10 · anybody here ever use the 800mm 5.6 Ai-s?
rsolti13 wrote:
Those are some ridiculously good shots.....I would imagine nailing focus on this thing must be tough
Thanks, getting focus can sometimes be tough. But I normally rely on the AF indicator which does work with this lens mounted on a D300. Every now and then the situation also allows me to use live view.
Like in this shot where the Eagle was staying in one spot to eat the fish. I just activate liveview, zoom in, and adjust focus. In this case I was using the lens adapted on my Canon 40D but it's pretty much the same with it on the D300.
