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  1. #1
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    I have a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR and I am wondering if I should also get the 70-200mm f2.8G? Does anyone have some insight to help me decide, it's a big investment?
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  2. #2
    Sleep is optional Sebastian's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    The difference between the two is night and day. Use the 2.8 for a few days and you'll cringe when you have to go back to the 300.
    -Seb

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  3. #3
    Senior Member AgingEyes's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Quote Originally Posted by shootme
    I have a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR and I am wondering if I should also get the 70-200mm f2.8G? Does anyone have some insight to help me decide, it's a big investment?
    If you need the f2.8, I guess. Buy 70-200 and sell 70-300

    70-300 also has good IQ (stop down to f5.6 at the short end and f8 or f11 at the long end) and is lighter, easier to carry around.

    There's a review saying that 70-200 has major vignetting problem if used with FX camera aka D3.

    Last time I pondered about getting the 70-200 f2.8 VR, I was thinking about getting a faster lens for indoor sport events. After more thinking, I decided just to get a 85 f1.8 since I also have a 70-300 VR, which I can still use to shoot indoor with ISO3200. 85 f1.8 gives me the speed I need, is very sharp, and is much, much cheaper than 70-200. Also that those indoor events that I shoot, I don't need anywhere near 200mm on a DX camera.

    The factors that you need to consider of course could differ.

  4. #4
    has-been... another view's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    What is it that the f2.8 lens will do for you that the one you have now won't? There are some pretty obvious answers to this, of course, but how will it help you? It's bigger, heavier, costs a lot more and doesn't have the zoom range. Just playing devil's advocate...

  5. #5
    project forum co-moderator Frog's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Also the vr will reduce your need for a fast lens......not always but often.
    Keep Shooting!

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  6. #6
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Thanks for the feedback, I'm swayed to buy, but not convinced yet... If I was to say I'd use the lens to take shots of my friend during competitive car racing and also moving wildlife shots would this make it more compelling to have such a lens?
    :thumbsup: Shootme...

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  7. #7
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Quote Originally Posted by Sebastian
    The difference between the two is night and day. Use the 2.8 for a few days and you'll cringe when you have to go back to the 300.
    Thanks for the feedback, I'm swayed to buy, but not convinced yet... If I was to say I'd use the lens to take shots of my friend during competitive car racing and also moving wildlife shots would this make it more compelling to have such a lens?
    :thumbsup: Shootme...

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  8. #8
    Senior Member AgingEyes's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Quote Originally Posted by shootme
    Thanks for the feedback, I'm swayed to buy, but not convinced yet... If I was to say I'd use the lens to take shots of my friend during competitive car racing and also moving wildlife shots would this make it more compelling to have such a lens?
    Just go and buy it. You will convince yourself once you have the lens

    A new one may come out soon, too, given the issue it has with D3.

    Could you do us a favour and come back with photos shooting under the same situations with both 70-300 and 70-200 for comparison?

  9. #9
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Great Idea, I'll do just that. I will get the lens by end May and do some tests then post them. I might come back to you on this if that's OK?
    :thumbsup: Shootme...

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  10. #10
    Senior Member AgingEyes's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Quote Originally Posted by shootme
    Great Idea, I'll do just that. I will get the lens by end May and do some tests then post them. I might come back to you on this if that's OK?
    Sure, I'm interested to see a direct comparison.

  11. #11
    Senior Member freygr's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Why don't you look at the 80-200mm Full Frame 2.8 zoom. It doesn't have VR though. It is listed last time I looked between 800-1000 depending on the vendor.
    GRF

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  12. #12
    The Polariser fx101's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    If you have the D3 don't get the 70-200. If not, it's definitely the choice considering the high speed and large apertures you're going to be shooting for car racing. Plus the bokeh from that lens is incredible.
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  13. #13
    Design Slacker mattbikeboy's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    I was looking at the 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR and went for the 80-200 f2.8. I guess the 900 dollar difference convinced me that I'll get the nicer one once my photo income can cover it. So far I'm not at all disappointed with 80-200 f2.8. It has a really fast focus and a nice creamy boca when opened up. I've only used it once under low light situation with a monopod I picked up at the same time -- and wow I was catching shots that my 70-300 nikkor never could get.

    mbb

  14. #14
    Check out our D300 Pro Review! deckcadet's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Quote Originally Posted by fx101
    If you have the D3 don't get the 70-200.
    The 'issues' the lens has with the D3 are in my opinion way overblown. I've been using the 70-200 with the D3 practically every day for over 4 months and it's really not a big deal for 99% of the shots it'll be used for. If you're doing telephoto landscapes on the D3 with a need for absolute corner to corner sharpness, you probably aren't going to want to use a 70-200 anyways, but in those cases, just don't. For pretty much every other application, the biggest problem I've found is it vignettes wide open more than I'd like.
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  15. #15
    has-been... another view's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Quote Originally Posted by mattbikeboy
    I was looking at the 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR and went for the 80-200 f2.8
    I have shot car racing at a local SCCA track with pretty good results (if I do say so myself...) with that non-VR lens. And, this was on a Fuji S2 which wasn't exactly known for it's AF prowess...

    What camera are you using? AF-S versions of this lens will focus noticeably faster than this non AF-S lens on some cameras. There is a lens that came out after this one and before the current VR lens, which can be found used for quite a bit less money. But if you're going for that one, you might as well go all the way.

    Still, you may not need the focusing speed of the AFS-VR lens but good glass is a pretty good place to put money if your budget allows.

  16. #16
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Thank you all for your input. I made the plunge and bought the 70-200mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR zoom for use on my D300. When I receive it in a few weeks I will do some comparitive shots with my Nikon 70-300mm VR and post them.
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  17. #17
    wannabe
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    con grates . I just bought a80-200 2.8 on ebay for 400 bucks. Plus the person gave me a 2 week trial to make sure I was happy with it. Cant wait also like you.
    D700
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    70-200 2.8 ED VRII
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    Elinchrom Ranger RX 1100watt heads.

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  18. #18
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    OK I finally got the lens and have now posted a thread in the Help forum on "how should I set up a test between 3 lenses, Nikon - 70-200mm; 70-300mm and an old 70-210mm AF, if you have any suggestions please let me know in the new thread. Thanks
    :thumbsup: Shootme...

    Please don't edit and re-post or use my images (not that you'd want to anyway...). without my written permission. Thank you



  19. #19
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Re: Should I get a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom

    Quote Originally Posted by AgingEyes
    Sure, I'm interested to see a direct comparison.
    OK I finally got the lens and have now posted a thread in the Help forum on "how should I set up a test between 3 lenses, Nikon - 70-200mm; 70-300mm and an old 70-210mm AF, if you have any suggestions please let me know in the new thread. Thanks
    :thumbsup: Shootme...

    Please don't edit and re-post or use my images (not that you'd want to anyway...). without my written permission. Thank you



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