Well, FINALLY we get an updated 80-400

Godless

According to Digicame-info, the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is to be announced on March 14, 2013, at a retail price for $2,999.

Pricey, but, we´ll see from the reviews if it´s worth it or not.

heartyfisher

doesn't sound right .. but hope it does arrive...

Msmoto

My guess...USA price closer to $2,000...... And, this is good for all of us who have an older version....the resale should stay up a little rather than crash.

spraynpray

I'll give you ten bucks for yours Tommie....

Msmoto

@ spraynpray

Sorry, we don't allow buy and sell on NRF.... )

birdman

I have this older lens as well, and seldom -- if ever -- use that FL. It needs a refresh badly though, as the VR is quite antiquated (and uneffective at times). I wished that Nikon would make a 100-400/4.0 VR but the price would be quite high. These variable aperture jobbers are less than ideal. But it keeps prices down.

heartyfisher

My guess...USA price closer to $2,000...... And, this is good for all of us who have an older version....the resale should stay up a little rather than crash.

2000 makes more sense than the 2999 .. i am believing it now ..

TaoTeJared

Well I'll be they have finely got something right for once this year - well maybe. Japan's Vat tax is 5% (which I believe is included in the price) puts it around $2,750 - that seems way too high for it unless it is put at a pro level. Even at $2k it would have to perform better than the 70-200vr with a 2x TC - which that is pushing it.

adamz

finally AF-S and hopefully Nano coatings... I was waiting for this lens for soooooooooooooo long. hopefully the price gonna be more like $2000 than $3000

shawnino

Maybe I'm off base but even $2,000-$2,500 for a variable aperture zoom seems on the high side to me. $3000 is bizarre... esp. with the Sigma 120-300 2.8 seemingly getting refreshed every 12-24 mo., and everything but the latest version being under $3K.

scoobysmak

I must say I am not looking to get this but after seeing it posted on the blog was like...man I know some people are happy campers now. The price might be a different story but until its listed on Nikons site its a guess, but the reviews might make the price a non factor if its good enough.

BabaGanoush

For those of you who own the current version of the 80-400mm, how does the image quality of this lens stack up against the 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII coupled with the TC-20EIII teleconverter? At first glance, I thought I might be interested in the new 80-400mm (thinking of it as a sort of Swiss army knife of telephoto lenses), but then I realized that between my FX and DX bodies plus the 70-200mm + the TC-20EIII, both of which I already own, I already have the same reach in focal length with virtually the same maximum aperture. And if the long-wished for D400 is ever released (maybe this summer), I probably could upgrade my D7000 for less than the cost of the new 80-400mm. If some of you expect to buy this lens when it's released, I'd be interested to know your rationale.

adamz

I had the old N80-400 and I loved it apart from the lack of AF-S. It was lighter than N70-200/2.8 and also a little bit shorter than N70-200/2.8+TC20. As for the IQ. I would say it was a tack sharp wide open up to 400mm, was it similar to N70+200+TC20... only after the N70-200/2.8 was stopped down to around 6.3 (had the v2 of TC20 and v1 of N70-200/2.8). not to mention that You will be able to put a TC14 on the new 80-400 and get 112-560/f8 lens (168-840/f8 on DX), that's gonna be pretty much a killer lens for it's price.

Godless

If some of you expect to buy this lens when it's released, I'd be interested to know your rationale.

I´ll know if I´ll buy after seeing the reviews.. I will be especially interested in the lens sharpness @ 400mm, AF speed compared to the Nikon 70-200 G offerings and the Sony 70-400 G SSM II. And I´ll be comparing it against the Sigma 120-300 (which is an excellent performer) as well. And I´ll be interested in whether this zoom is a sensible construction (which does not get physically longer when zooming) or not. If there is anything I´ll be disappointed in, I´ll pass.

Msmoto

@ adamz

Yes, my copy works well....I have never understood the issues folks raise about this lens.

adamz

@msmoto - for me the only 2 drawbacks were the lack of AF ovveride and poor colar. apart from that exceptional lens.
@godless - please don't compare it with s120-300 as their are in a 2 different weight categories.

Godless

As long as the weight is under 3 kilograms, it's mostly irrelevant for me. Although I would not mind if it was a bit lighter.

What matters to me is the image quality and AF speed. The Sigma is a bit on the slow side in the AF department, but the resolution is excellent. I would like to see an optically similar performance from the new 80-400 with a faster AF motor.

shawnino

@AdamZ: I think it's fair game to compare any two lenses with similar focal lengths at similar price points. Sigma obviously heavier, but I guess that can be written up completely to f/2.8?

SquamishPhoto

$2700! Ouch! :]

starralazn

it looks cool... but because i do not shoot birds or sports... i'm finding it hard to find value in it... i'm sure there are plenty of people who can justify the price

adamz

seriously Nikon? are You sooo stupid that You think ppl will buy this lens for $2700??? w/o tripod collar (another $299.00 or maybe more). This lens could be a best seller if You'll keep around $2k. why do You always have to make the same mistake Nikon and overprice Your products so much at the beginning and only later confront the price with reality.

adamz

OMT, why VR2 if we have VR3 already?

Elvishefer

seriously Nikon? are You sooo stupid that You think ppl will buy this lens for $2700??? w/o tripod collar (anotger $299.00 or maybe more). This lens could be a best seller if You'll keep around $2k. why do You always have to make the same mistake Nikon and overprice Your products so much at the beginning and only later confront the price with reality.

Sucker those with the cash and immediate 'need' with a high price first.

Lower price and sell to the rest of us later.

Coastalconn

According to DPR it comes with a Tripod Foot. I was a little shocked by the price also. Either way it is way out of my budget... So glad I just ordered my old school 300 F4 for 340 from KEH

PB_PM

People waiting for this lens must be crying right now. $2700??? Nikon's marketing team must be drunk.

adamz

as Coastalconn wrote, DPR writes that the collar is included, though why Nikon shows it w/o collar on most snaps (just like (n70-200/4)?