Nikon 70-200 F4 vs F2.8 , anyone tested ?

haroldp

@Msmoto: Focal length, as we see it engraved on photo lenses, very simplified is the distance from film/sensor surface to the top peak of the front lens when focussed to infinity. .

Focal Length ls the distance from the focal plane to the optical center of the lens (at infinity), which can be anywhere based on the lens design.

In the case of retro focus wide angle lenses (needed to clear SLR mirrors) , the optical center may be behind the rear element.
In the case of true telephotos (which are defined as being physically shorter than the effective focal length) it may be in front of the front element.

While a simple symmetric lens may directly relate physical length or extension with focal length, when dealing with complex zoom lenses it is much more complex.

Regards ... H

heartyfisher

I am not sure if the optical centre can be behind the rear element .. but i am fairly certain that it cant be in front of the front element. I believe why the distance to the front element of tele lenses these days is usually less than the focal length is due to the optical formula. I think the idea goes something like this, for a required focal length of say 200mm the design uses a front element (convex) of say focal length 80mm. The second group of lenses about 40mm in are concave that changes the focal length back to 200mm so you get an effective 200mm focal length with the actual length of 100 + 40 = 140mm . so the optical centre of the lense is still within the front element. and never in front of it.

Vipmediastar_JZ

Day 1 with the 70-200 2.8 for model shoot. All I can say is Wow and my arms are sore.

I may just end up getting rid of the 85mm 1.8g Instead of zooming with my feet I zoomed with lens to prevent getting flash in the corner. I'm at my in-laws so I had to improvised including taping the backdrop to the wall.

Golf007sd

@Vipmediastar_JZ: :-t Do not do that. The 85 1.8 has it own rewards. Hence, the weight and size.

Msmoto

The 85mm f/1.8G Nikkor is a very sharp lens…better than the f/1.4 IMO and on the MTF charts. I would hang on to it.

Vipmediastar_JZ

The wise mods have spoken. I will highly consider not getting rid of it. Lets see how day 2 goes at the basketball game.

Rx4Photo

I know thread is about the 70-200mm f/2.8 vs the f/4 but simply wanted to say, @Vipmediastar_JZ do keep your 85mm prime. I have the 85mm f/1.4G (gift from wifey) and not only is the lens freakishly sharp but I find it more pleasant to work with when doing pure portraiture at 85mm than the 70-200mm. Parties, weddings, sports, yes the 70-200 is great for those - even portraiture - but the 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 do have their place. Plus it's lighter for long term use.

Vipmediastar_JZ

Thanks for the info guys. You guys are right keeping the 85mm is a smart thing to do.
Day 2 with the 70-200 2.8 : it was fantastic at the basketball game. I was 4 rows from the floor and I am beyond tired but determined to lift weights to get more strength.
Where i was sitting i could have used the 85 but 105 was the sweet spot.
It was a slam fast at the MSU game. I got a few dunks but missed two good ones. All were shot at 2.8 and i could have used f4 but shutter speed was not fast enough.

Like most people have said for events and sports the 2.8 would excel.

Photobug

Vipmediasterar_jz...do they allow monopods in the seating area? I have adjusted to using the 70-200 2.8 without a tripod or monopod but have used this lens on a monopod and it's a whole lot easier on the arms.

On a side note, the BT BB season is going to be fun. I am a die hard OSU fan and moved last year to Badger country. I am NOT a WI Badger fan...wife born and raised here. From what has been published in the state journal the Badgers are much better than last year. Look for MSU, OSU, WI, Mich, and IU to beat up each other all season.

Okay back to the subject at hand. The 70-200 is a great sports lens. 105mm is excellent with this lens. How about posting one of those dunks on PAD.

For those non basketball fans: BB = basketball BT = Big Ten Conference OSU = The Ohio State University WI= Badgers, IU = Indiana University

Juergen

Vipmediasterar_jz...do they allow monopods in the seating area? I have adjusted to using the 70-200 2.8 without a tripod or monopod but have used this lens on a monopod and it's a whole lot easier on the arms.

On a side note, the BT BB season is going to be fun. I am a die hard OSU fan and moved last year to Badger country. I am NOT a WI Badger fan...wife born and raised here. From what has been published in the state journal the Badgers are much better than last year. Look for MSU, OSU, WI, Mich, and IU to beat up each other all season.

Okay back to the subject at hand. The 70-200 is a great sports lens. 105mm is excellent with this lens. How about posting one of those dunks on PAD.

For those non basketball fans: BB = basketball BT = Big Ten Conference OSU = The Ohio State University WI= Badgers, IU = Indiana University

Hi Photobug,
MP's are allowed in SA's, just watch out to not hurt the BS in front of you

MP=Monopod, SA=seating area, BS= Bl…y Spectator

:-)

Jürgen

Vipmediastar_JZ

I called and they said no CS are allowed so I didnt take it. CS = camera stands.
I tried to get a media pass but I didnt get it. My FIL knows people there and gets passes to every game. FIL= father in law.
Maybe next game or year I can get a media pass. My FIL asked last minute.

Magic Johnson and Greg Kesler from BTN was there, Greg was greeting people. We arrived 1.5hr before the game started to shoot the practice.

I'll see if i can post a pic soon. Today is nature shots. Im looking for albino and black squirrels.

Msmoto

One can always use a "cane" when walking in. As an aid for the handicapped they cannot refuse admission to someone with a cane. If your "cane" happens to have an ARCA Swiss connection on its head, well…..

However, one would have to be using this in a way which would not obstruct anyones view and this may not be possible.

An old trick I use is to brace my elbows on my body when holding a long lens. This creates a stable platform for the camera/lens and takes little effort.

Photobug

juergen said Hi Photobug,
MP's are allowed in SA's, just watch out to not hurt the BS in front of you

MP=Monopod, SA=seating area, BS= Bl…y Spectator

I got the MP and SA but came up short with the BS. Thanks for the hints.

Got a laugh on the use of FIL.

I have used Msmoto's suggestion use your legs and elbows to form a tripod/brace. This makes a stable platform for long lens.

Golf007sd

Hello guys,

Please, i want to ask you about upgrading my equipment.
I currently have a D5100 and use it with a 70-200mm 4-5.6.
I like to take pictures of airplanes, so i would need a fast lens.
I wanted to know if both lenses would work fine on my camera, or if instead of paying 2400 just on the lens i should by another camera?!
Am I gonna be able to take good pictures ate night as well with these lenses?
Since now, thanks for your guys' attention.

Ironheart

@Giacomep, Faster lenses are better for letting in more light, but at the expense (tradeoff) of weight. As far as I know, Nikon doesn't make a 70-200 f4.5-5.6, so you must have a 70-300 f4-5.6. I use my D5100 and 70-300 to take pictures of airplanes in flight. I usually use auto-ISO set to a max of 1600, S mode with speed set to at least 1/500 and VR on. I do this handheld and I can show you many sharp photos. The 70-200 f2.8 would be better for night work than the 70-300 f4.5-5.6, but what you really want for night photos are three things. Tripod, Flash, or a f1.8 lens or better (or all three!). I use the $200 35mm f1.8 DX lens on a 3100 for night work. You can spend more money for faster lenses, or a better body, but unless you are printing larger than 8x10 or pixel peep, you will never know the difference.

I recommend investing in good lenses, and improving your technique with your D5100 before investing in a better body. People here will argue 1 or more stops better low light can be had by upgrading to a D7100 or a full frame FX, but I would stick with going for the best lenses you can afford and holding off on upgrading your camera.

smukec

Did anyone try autofocus tracking on running dogs with nikkor 70-200 f4?
Like this: http://wildlifeacrossthewater.blogspot.com/2010/11/nikon-d7000-af-speed-test.html

heartyfisher

@Giacomep - I am suspecting that you mean the 55-200 F4-5.6 kit lens instead of a 70-200 F4 - 5.6. further more when you say "fast" you seem to mean autofocus speed and not what the usual meaning of a "fast lens" in photographic terms ie a large aperture lense. can you p0lease clarify if that is what you meant so that we can provide a more accurate reply for you.

NSXTypeR

Just a bump on this thread- I was wondering if anyone has this lens and uses it on DX- say a D7000 or D7100. I was wondering how it handled on those bodies, focusing speed and general thoughts.

This is a bit of an expensive lens for me, so it's more of a maybe purchase if anything for me. It would either be the 300 F4 or this lens if I were to buy another lens. I don't think I like wide angles too much.

heartyfisher

I just got my 70-200 F4 a few days ago.. have not had a chance to try it on my D7000.. its basically glued on to my D610 at the moment ;-) Will be taking it to the "Korea Festival" in the city this weekend and then an open range zoo the next day. Should be a good test of its capabilities for street and wildlife.

So far its an awesome lense! Sharpness is as as expected from the DXO(one of the best!). but more than that.. Its a bit hard to put into words ... the bokeh is very very nice. the colours are "precise". the contrast is superb. I said this before from a sample provided by @donaldejose. there is a cosy competence to the images.

SquamishPhoto

@NSXTypeR I actually find that the feel of the lens is slightly more comfortable mounted to the D7100 rather than the D800. I have yet to shoot with that lens without the grip on the D800, but either way the feel is very nice with it on the D7100. Performance is as you would expect and the other worldly VR function is great considering crop sensors constrain shutter speeds a lot more.

NSXTypeR

Thanks for your replies! I might consider it as a self gift when I graduate.

Speaking of 70-200 F/4 lenses, Tokina just announced theirs.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/05/16/tokina-officially-announces-image-stabilised-70-200mm-f4-telezoom?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=news-list&utm_medium=text&ref=title_0_0

It seems more expensive though. Not sure how it performs, but Tokina lenses on first impression look cheap to me.

heartyfisher

Took a walk yesterday with the 70-200 F4 on my D7000.. its nice .. a bit longer than on the D610 as expected Starting from 105mm FOV however it does remove a lot of "normal" opportunities, as it become an exclusively tele zoom. While on the d610 you can use it as a longish normal at 70mm.

It works great on my d7000..it focuses fast and accurately for still subjects. I love macro and this lense lets you get close enough and with the 1.5 crop factor plus cropping its not a bad "almost macro" lense.

Although this lense would be great for sport, I am not a "sport" photog so I really can't say how well it performs. Its obviously my technique that is limiting the images i get. Did not do well till I dropped down to scene mode(sport). Compared to the super zooms that I have its definitely faster and having the focus limit helps hunting. And of course it's tons sharper. my attempt at BIF pigeons was pitiful but much better than with my 18-140, and 18-200 although the 18-200 was a bit better than the 18-140.

This little bird let me approach to almost 1.5 meters ! .. must be my new lense ;-) .. about 85% crop. sorry FB sure messes with the sharpness of the image.

The D610 does perform better than the D7000. focus seems that little bit more sure and quicker. but really only by a tiny small fraction. The old D7000 sure is great value.

bland

I'm beyond happy with the F4, shot far better than I was expecting and very light weight.
Fast focus and shoots sharp. I've always had problems with focus on black race cars but the F4 shot them without any problems.
Here's a couple of examples mounted on the D7100.

NSXTypeR

Good to hear your inputs on this lens. Seems like the 300 F4 is cheaper by a bit though...

Hmm... decisions.

I can probably afford one, but not both for sure.

Photobug

Just a bump on this thread- I was wondering if anyone has this lens and uses it on DX- say a D7000 or D7100. I was wondering how it handled on those bodies, focusing speed and general thoughts.

This is a bit of an expensive lens for me, so it's more of a maybe purchase if anything for me. It would either be the 300 F4 or this lens if I were to buy another lens. I don't think I like wide angles too much.

Yes sir I have been using my 70-200mm on my D7100 since last September. When you hold the lens at the foot, I like the balance. Note, I replaced the Nikon foot with the RRS foot since it's shorter. I have hand held this lens when shooting BIF and with a Nikon 1.7X teleconverter attached.

The focus speed on the D300 and the D7100 is excellent. Fastest focusing lens in my bag of lens. Highly recommend this combination.