Product Description

This lens offers fast aperture, f/2.8 zoom features VR II image stabilization, ED glass and Nano Crystal Coat. It excels at low-light sports, fashion, portraits and more.

Product Details

• Brand: Nikon
• Model: 70-200 VR II
• Dimensions: 5.35 pounds

Features

• Fast f/2.8 Zoom-Nikkor lens
• Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization
• 7 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements;
• Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC); exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
• Focuses to 4.6 feet

From the Manufacturer

This fast f/2.8 Zoom-Nikkor lens is perfect for sports, photojournalism and wildlife photography.

Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization
Vibration Reduction, engineered specifically for each VR Nikkor lens, enables handheld shooting at up to 4 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper images.

7 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements
Offers superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture settings.

Nano Crystal Coat
Further reduces ghosting and flare for even greater image clarity.

Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC)
Enhances light transmission and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.

Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
Enables fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus.

Rounded 9-blade diaphragm
Renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image elements.

Internal Focus (IF)
Provides fast and quiet autofocus without changing the length of the lens, retaining subjectworking distance through the focus range.

Focuses to 4.6 feet
Close focusing provided throughout the entire zoom range for extended versatility.

M/A focus mode switch
Enables quick response to changing situations between manual and autofocus operation.

Flower-shaped lens hood
Included HB-48 lens hood--shades the objective from unwanted, image-degrading light.

Customer Reviews

Great zoom lens for full frame/FX and cropped/DX Nikon camera bodies
I am writing this review from the perspective of someone who also owns the earlier version of the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. This new lens will be referred to as "VR2" in this review while the earlier version of this lens will be referred to as the "VR1".

Here are my initial impressions after using this lens and comparing it with the earlier version of this lens, the VR1.

This professional-grade telephotos zoom lens is very well-made. Its focus is lightning fast and it produces very sharp photos with very good contrast and dynamic colors even when shot wide-open at f/2.8. The increased sharpness at the corner is easily noticeable even at f/2.8 and now makes this lens suitable for landscape shots. I find this increased sharpness at the corner beneficial even for portrait shots when I shoot off-center rule-of-thirds portrait shots. The improved color and contrast is easily noticeable in certain shots in back-to-back comparison against the VR1.

The VR mechanism is very effective and helpful in keeping the photos sharp even when shooting at low shutter speeds in low-light conditions. The 1-stop improvement over the earlier version, the VR1, makes a very big difference, specially when shooting at this lens from extended to maximum focal length with no monopod or tripod support. Being able to shoot handheld at 1/10th at 200mm is no easy task but it is possible with this new version.

The tripod leg support is nothing less than excellent ... slim yet very sturdy, with provision for two-screws mounting support. The tripod support can easily be rotated for shooting in vertical portrait position or downside up for easy hand carry. The tripod leg can easily be detached if needed for a less-obtrusive hold when shooting handheld.

Though this lens is heavier than the VR1, the added weight is not immediately noticeable. The shorter length and larger diameter makes for a more balanced hold when shooting handheld.


How does this lens compare with the earlier version, the VR1? Here is a quick and easy to read summary:

First, a definition of terms. The term "FX" refers to full frame Nikon camera bodies (D3x, D3s, D3 and D700). The term "DX" refers to cropped/APS-C Nikon camera bodies (D300s, D300, D200, D100, D2, D1, D90, D80, D70, D60, D40, D5000, D3000).


THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS LENS OVER THE VR1

1. Sharp corners on FX and DX, even when shooting wide-open at f/2.8
2. Less vignetting on FX and DX when shooting wide-open at f/2.8 (vignetting on DX at f/2.8 now irrelevant)
3. 1-stop improvement in VR (1-stop improvement really makes a big difference when shooting at 135-200mm).
4. Improvement in the bokeh compared to the VR1
5. Improvement in color and contrast, specially when shooting backlit subjects against the sun
6. More resistant to lens flaring (due to nano-coating)
7. Shorter more compact length makes it easier to pack, carry and use in crowded spaces
(both the lens and the hood of the VR2 are both shorter than the VR1)


THE DISADVANTAGES OF THIS LENS OVER THE VR1

1. More expensive than VR1
2. Slightly heavier than VR1
3. Not as good as the VR1 when used with teleconverters in DX bodies for long reach
4. Shorter reach/effective field of view than the VR1 when shooting at close range
(e.g., shooting at 200mm focal length is equivalent to 164mm when shooting from 10 feet away)


For FX users who still do not have a 70-200mm f/2.8G zoom lens, go ahead and acquire this lens. The corner sharpness of this newer version is remarkable, specially when stepped down for landscape shots. Even for portrait shots, the increased sharpness at the corner is beneficial when shooting rule of thirds portrait shots.

For FX users who already have the VR1, you will need to gauge whether the advantages will be worth the cost of getting this lens. If you need to shoot at this lens maximum focal length of 200mm, the shorter effective focal lens when shooting at near range may be a major concern for you. Note however that the slightly wider end when shooting at short range is not necessarily a disadvantage and may even be desirable in some instances.

For DX only users who already have a VR1, I currently see no advantages to upgrading to this new version unless you need the one-stop advantage of the VR2, and/or if you want even less vignetting (easily corrected in post-processing), and/or if you want a lens that is more resistant to flare ... and/or more importantly, planning to upgrade or to add an FX body.

For DX users who still do not own the VR1, I recommend that you seriously consider getting this lens. Not only do you get the benefits of the newer version as listed above, getting this lens means that you will be well-positioned when you upgrade or add an FX body. Once you acquire or add an FX body, it will not surprise me that you will be doing a lot more shooting with the FX than with the DX. Since this lens is optimized for the FX, then getting this lens over the VR1 may prove to be a good decision. With regard to the issue of a shorter effective reach when shooting at near ranges, this should not be an issue with DX due to the 1.5X field of view of the APS-C sensor. If anything, it may even be a benefit.

Ultimately, both versions of the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G have their strengths and their weaknesses and it is up to the user to decide which version best fits his/her requirements.

As an FX and DX user, I have bought this new version knowing full well its strengths and limitations. But since I also shoot at long ranges and prefer a lighter more compact setup made possible by using a DX with the 70-200mm plus teleconverters, I decided to reacquire the VR1 as well (an FX with a Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 VR is considerably more expensive and too heavy for most usages).


EDIT: This may be a concern for some photographers (whether FX or DX) who need to shoot their subjects up-close at 200mm focal length for maximum reach. So I thought I'd post this info here:

Distance of subject / Effective field of view of the Nikon VR2 at 200mm
(Nikon 70-200mm VR2 at 200mm compared against a Nikon 200mm prime/fixed focal length lens)

1.27m ............... 128mm
1.40m ............... 132mm
2.00m ............... 147mm
3.00m ............... 164mm
5.00m ............... 176mm
10.0m ............... 186mm

Credits: Marianne Oelund

Best zoom lens ever made
Simply the best lens I've had the chance to use.
1/ Great VR and ability to capture light means better low light shots: I managed to take night shots at ISO 160, 200mm and 1/10th of a second, handheld. I have simply never seen anything like this before.
2/ Improved optics mean cleaner shots: distortion is pretty much inexistent, lines remain almost perfectly straight even on the edges. I use a DX body so can't speak for FX bodies, but on my camera there is no vignetting nor soft corner issues at F/2.8. Tests have seen mention that it's greatly improved on FX lenses compared to the previous model.
finally, the sharpness of this lens is mind blowing: it is probably one of the sharpest lenses ever made.
3/ It works superbly with the TC 1.7 converter if you're looking for a great 340mm lens (not so much with the 2.0 one, be warned).

The only downsides are that it is HEAVY, so you have to be ready to carry something like that around, and that it'll probably make you want to purchase a new body soon just to see if you can push the quality even further :-)

Wow..What a lens
There are a lot of improvements for this new version.
1) very sharp...even at f/2.8, better than any 70-200mm zooms in the market now
2) VRII works better as claimed. Shooting 1/10s at 200mm is so easy.
3) focuses to 4.6 ft throughout the entire zoom range
4) very compact design. Now you can easily put it in your camera bag.
5) Small and slim hood design, easy to keep on the lens (reverse the hood)


However, all buyers should beware of some exceptional design.
The VRII has 1/8.3 maximum magnification ratio compared to the VRI (1/6.1).
So, it might be not a good idea if you want to take pictures very close to subjects, and expect good macro ability.

For me, maximum magnification ration at 1/8.3 is more than enough. I am talking about taking headshot of human.

Thanks