Any word on an updated 200-400 F/4?

Snowleopard

I have been looking at the 200-400 F/4 for a while and I can find used ones at a somewhat reasonable price, but even at the used prices they are expensive, so why not go new?

If I remember correctly, Nikon had 1 or possibly 2 price drops on the current version and it sparked some questions about an updated version? maybe improved VR, FL coatings? etc....

Is there any word on the next generation 200-400 F/4 yet?

WestEndFoto

They are currently refreshing their telephoto line, so if you are patient I would see what they come out with.

heartyfisher

Isnt that 200-400 "pretty darn great"! Cant see them refreshing that for some time ...

Snowleopard

The reason I ask is I stopped by the local camera shop and they had both the 200-500 F/5.6 and the current version 200-400 F/4 there so I tested both of them with the nikon tc-20e iii.

And while Nikon claims the nikon tc-20e iii is compatible with the 200-500, it will not auto focus at 400-1000 F/11. It is a shame, especially on the D810 which should be able to auto focus at F/11.

So then I tried the 200-400 F/4 which becomes a 400-800 F/8.0

It focus locked every time and fast.

Even tried focusing on light blubs so there was a contrast separation and the 200-500 could not do it.

Anyway. I guess the 200-400 F/4 it is. I just want the next gen one since we should be close enough to it coming out.

And the twist and zoom is horrible..... Internal zooming on the 200-400 is much nicer.

WestEndFoto

All the super telephotoes are pretty darn great. Note that this lens is a very specific tool. According to Thom, it is sharp up close but not so great at distances. You should compare it to a prime before you conclude it is awesome.

Nik0n2011

heartyfisher said:

Isnt that 200-400 "pretty darn great"! Cant see them refreshing that for some time ...

all the expensive lenses up there are great enough with no needs of fix-tweaks but they do get refreshed regularly

IF i was the nikon's boss, i'd do

1) 200-400 f4 PF
2) 200-500 f4 (pf?) - looking at the introduction by all companies of those supertelephoto zooms (canon, sigma sigma, tamron, nikon)
or 300-600 (Pf?)


and ofcourse, 2k+ more expensive

Nik0n2011

ps, i'd wait, considering the investment can give you 2 benefits
the older model might cost less, the newer might be amazingly better, with your freedom to choose where to drop the penny

Msmoto

Strange how I was thinking 200-400 yesterday, watching fast cars go by, and when they got off line onto grass (Not good), I was stuck with 800mm.... to have a 400-800 zoom would be very nice.

And, my thought was precisely about when a new version with VRIII or some other innovation...like on the latest 400/2.8.... might be introduced on the 400/4.

From The Verizon Indy Cars at Road America....