rip18
Senior Member
My 80-200 had been having intermittent focusing problems, so I sent it back to Nikon for repair. They said they don't keep the parts to repair lenses that old. Based on the performance that I've seen from others, I invested in the new 80-400 (the old one was known to focus slowly).
I wanted to try it out on birds in flight in low light, so I headed to an area where I knew I'd have some evening seagulls to photograph. Turns out that I had pelicans to photograph as well.
As far as comparing the 80-200 f/2.8 to the new Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5 - 5.6d Ed VR AF-S, the f/2.8 lens acquires focus faster & is able to track moving objects better in AF mode (no surprise there, since it is f/2.8). But having that extra "reach" on a mid-size zoom and being able to cover 80 to 400 mm with one lens sure is handy. The bottom line for me is that the 80-400 is a great carry lens in good light (though it can produce on moving objects in low light as shown below - but not as reliably and repeatedly as the 80-200 f/2.8). I still want to replace the 80-200 mm f/2.8 for lower light shots - especially for my daughter's night-time soccer games...
Nikon D300s, Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5 - 5.6d Ed VR AF-S at 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/320th second, ISO 200, existing light right at sunset, handheld, slight crop.
I wanted to try it out on birds in flight in low light, so I headed to an area where I knew I'd have some evening seagulls to photograph. Turns out that I had pelicans to photograph as well.
As far as comparing the 80-200 f/2.8 to the new Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5 - 5.6d Ed VR AF-S, the f/2.8 lens acquires focus faster & is able to track moving objects better in AF mode (no surprise there, since it is f/2.8). But having that extra "reach" on a mid-size zoom and being able to cover 80 to 400 mm with one lens sure is handy. The bottom line for me is that the 80-400 is a great carry lens in good light (though it can produce on moving objects in low light as shown below - but not as reliably and repeatedly as the 80-200 f/2.8). I still want to replace the 80-200 mm f/2.8 for lower light shots - especially for my daughter's night-time soccer games...
Nikon D300s, Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5 - 5.6d Ed VR AF-S at 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/320th second, ISO 200, existing light right at sunset, handheld, slight crop.
