The 70-200mm range has been a staple telephoto lens for decades, starting with manual focus 80-200mm f/2.8 zooms in the 1980s. The latest lens in Nikon’s stable is the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, the successor to the popular Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR I that was introduced in 2003.
Thanks to the good folks at B&H Photo in NYC, I’ve been shooting with the new VR II model for the last six weeks. As many of you know, I already own the first generation VR I model of the lens – so the big question is, how does the new 70-200mm stack up? Let’s take a look. 
The new zoom isn’t just an update of the old 70-200mm, but rather a new optical design along with a few new features as well.
Nano Coating
Just like all it’s new heavy-hitters, the new 70-200mm f/28 features Nikon’s Nano Crystal Coating, a new-generation multi-coating that reduces ghosting and flare. In my experience with the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 and Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, Nano coating, together with the new optical designs Nikon has been pumping out, produces an image with a clarity that other lenses can’t seem to match.The new 70-200mm is no exception.
More than anything, the feeling I get with these lenses with Nano coating is that the images are more like looking at reality than a photographic image. The contrast of the images is rich and natural, with beautiful blacks. When I’m going gray, I’m going to ask Nikon to send me a batch of Nano coating to put in my hair.
VR II Technology
With the new 70-200mm, Nikon has implemented its latest generation of Vibration Reduction techonology, VR II. Nikon states 4-stops of stability with the new VR, over 3-stops with the previous generation.
In my use of VR II and VR I models of the 70-200mm, I never really push the limits of VR for my music photography. Where I think the 4-stops of extra handhold-ability of VR II would be really excellent to try out would be for my personal work in travel photography. With travel photography, I often shooting without a tripod in the fading light of the day – exactly the kind of conditions I think VR II would be beautiful in for stopping down and delivering sharp scenes.
Improved Full-Frame Performance
The first generation of Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) 70-200mm was rumored to be optimized for Nikon’s line of, at the time, exclusively APS line of DSLRs. With the introduction of the Nikon D3, Nikon’s breakout full-frame DSLR, there were grumblings of that suddenly the 70-200mm VR I was a less-than-stellar performer.
The new VR II lens addresses these concerns with a new optical design with lower vignetting and improved corner sharpness at wide apertures than its predecessor. Personally, I never minding or considered vignetting with the VR I model an issue. If anything, for portrait work, you might consider it a feature.
Vignetting Comparison – VR II vs VR I
Here’s a comparison of the vignetting performance between the new VR II model (left) and the VR I model (right):
To my eye, there’s something like a 1-stop difference between the VR II over the VR I at wide apertures – that is, the VR II’s corner shading at f/2.8 is about on-par with the VR I at f/4.
Improved Ergonomics & Design
One of the first things you notice about the new 70-200mm f/2.8 is the updated form factor compared to the old telephoto. The new design is a little more squat than the old VR I, which features a slightly longer and more tapered barrel. For me, these changes translate into a more balanced and comfortable grip. While one might think that the more slender barrel of the VR I would produce better ergonomics, the more compact feeling of the new lens just feels right.
In the hand, the new lens balances nicely with a Nikon D3 or gripped D700, thanks to the shorter barrel design and heavier weight.
Switches
Functionally, the controls of the new lens are nearly identical to those of the old 70-200mm. The only real change to the main set of switches is that there is now an A/M choice in addition to M/A and M modes. The new A/M gives priority to Autofocus, even if the focus ring is being toggled while shooting.
Just like the old 70-200mm, the controls include a focus-limiter, VR activation, and a switch for the specific VR mode. Unless you’re shooting from a car, helicopter, or other wildly moving position, the normal VR mode is going to yield the best results.
AF & Focus Rings
The new 70-200mm also features a slightly wider zoom ring and a more narrow focusing ring. The latter is an especially nice point, since the focus ring’s lower profile decreases the chance of changing the point of focus accidentally while shooting.
The only other real change on the barrel is that Nikon has done away with the AF-lock buttons. Since I have AF toggled by the AF-ON button on the back of the camera (rather than the shutter release), I never had a need for AF lock.
The new telephoto features the build quality you’d expect from a $2k lens. While it’s shorter than the previous model, the new VR II is actually a fraction heavier, which gives the lens an even denser feel in the hand. To quote Boris the Blade from Snatch, “Heavy is good. Heavy is reliable. If it does not work, you can always hit him with it.”
Maybe it’s just my own 70-200 showing its age, but the new lens just feels a touch smoother in use and better in action.
One of the very welcome improvements with the new VR II is the locking mechanism of the lens hood. Nikon has finally implemented the much more secure hood lock that we’ve seen in the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 and Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8.
Weather Sealing
Just like the lens it replaces, the new 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II features weather sealing throughout the lens body, including a rubber seal at the lens mount. I’ve shot in very light rain with the VR I and never had a problem with water or moisture interfering with operation.
For most shooters, the weather sealing is something you’ll never really “use,” but it’s nice to know it’s there.
Detachable Tripod-Mounting Foot
One nice feature about the new 70-200mm is that Nikon kept the mount and locking mechanism for the detachable tripod mount the same as its predecessor. While this doesn’t matter for many shooters, if you have an accessory foot like the above Really Right Stuff after-market foot, it means that you don’t have to buy new RSS foot if you upgrade. The bodylines of the new lens and old foot don’t exactly line up, but they lock securely in place.
Fresh from a delivery of the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, I had an assignment come up from a client that was the perfect test for the new telephoto. The job? Photographing stylists at half a dozen salons. I grabbed a bunch of lenses, including the venerable Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-D and new Nikon 50mm f/1.4 G, but it was the new 70-200mm that was the hero of the two-day shoot.
Contrast
One thing that impressed me right away with the lens was the contrast response of the lens. Whether it’s the new optical design of the lens, the Nano coating, or both, the images the new VRII delivers possess a very naturalistic quality to them – snappy contrast without artifice. As I mentioned about Nikon’s Nano coating, if anything, it’s more like looking at reality than a still image.
Defocusing Quality
Shooting on-location with the new lens was a great opportunity to see how the lens handled it’s defocusing characteristics.
With mostly neutral walls and the art direction to introduce as much color as possible into the images, including products in the backgrounds was a nice test to see how the 70-200mm would deal with rendering the clutter.
Overall, I’d say the lens did a great job. And while it might not beat the cult classic the Tokina 90mm f/2.5 for completely buttery smoothness, I’d say that the new telephoto does as well as any modern zoom we’ve seen (possibly excluding the beastly Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR).
For my concert work, where defocused points of light are commonplace, the new VR II performs very well. I’d say that the circle of confusion that the lens draws, on average, is pretty neutral. Most instances lack the hard-edged ring that can create distracted defocused elements.
Image Performance – Sharpness
I know. Talk is cheap. Here are some photos that I’ve made with the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II.
100% Crops – For The Pixel-Peepers
About that sharpness, we’re getting to it. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So, for the pixel-peepers out there, here are some 100% crops (that is, a crop from the full-resolution file with no resizing).
EXIF Info:
Processed using Lightroom 3 (sharpening settings at right)
Now, the thing that strikes me most about this shot isn’t necessarily the sharpness alone – I think it looks fine. But what really impresses me about this shot is that the crop is from the very top of the frame when the lens is wide open at f/2.8 – not someplace I’d expect to deliver any kind of greatness. And, if you believe the ratings from dpreview.com’s test of the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, this marginal part of the frame is not topping any of the charts for sharpness.
Here’s another one from Common:
EXIF Info:
Processed using Lightroom 3 (sharpening settings at right)
In this shot, we’re closed down 1/3-stop to f/3.2 and shooting at a blazing shutter speed of 1/800 second. Again, a little away from the center of the frame, but to me, the detail in this shot looks great. You have to consider that these images are made at ISO 1600, so there is detail degradation there as well.
EXIF Info:
This ISO 800 crop starts to show some of the potential of the new VR II lens. As much as I love shooting at ISO 1600 on the Nikon D3, the crop shows the extra detail ISO 800 produces, and the new lens is more than up to the task of rendering that detail. That this was shot wide open – where the lens, short of diffraction, is performing at it’s worst – is simply impressive.
Last one – let’s go out with the Father of Rock ‘n Roll.
EXIF Info:
For this shot of Chuck Berry, we’re again at f/2.8, and I think that the new 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II is showing some pretty excellent real-world sharpness.
These three 100% crop samples weren’t shot in a studio under perfect conditions, but they are examples of what the new telephoto can deliver under working conditions. From the thousands of frames I’ve shot with the new 70-200mm, I have absolutely no concerns about the wide-open performance of this lens. It’s excellent.
Sharpness At Other Apertures Besides f/2.8 & f/3.2
I’m not going to go into the sharpness and performance of smaller apertures with this new 70-200mm. Why? Because it’s like standing on the surface of the sun and being asked where it’s the hottest. Sure, some parts are warmer than others. But you’re on a big ball of plasma.
Trust me. There are a lot of unsharp lenses out there. The new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 isn’t one of them.
Worth The Upgrade?
Is the new 70-200mm f/2.8 worth the upgrade if you already own the original Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR I? My opinion is no – while the new VR II offers a lot to like, at the end of the day it’s still a $2,100 lens. The improvements are not so much that I’m really tempted to make the switch myself. For all the nice 100% crops from the new lens that I’ve shown, they could have just as well been from the VR I version for all practical purposes.
Now, if my own 70-200mm goes to the big camera bag in the sky, I have no doubt that I’ll pick the new lens up in a second.
If you’re thinking about upgrading from a third-party telephoto zoom like the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 or Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, it’s a different story. From these lenses, there are going to be more remarkable improvements of image quality, but more importantly in focusing speed and focusing precision. Add on the goodness of Nikon’s VR II and the other bells and whistles, and this new lens has to be in serious consideration for those in need of a professional 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.
New Buyers
For new buyers considering saving money and going for the original VR I model over the VR II, personally I’d go with the new lens. While I am not myself planning on upgrading, the new lens does present enough improvements that were I starting from scratch, the improvements justify the premium.
When considering that used copies of the VR 1 are going for as much as $1,600 USD, the warranty and guarantee of a factory-conditioned lens are worth the extra $500. The difference in cost if you have to fix a used 70-200 VR is most likely the minimum expense if you have to service it.
Planning For The Future
It is worth noting that the shooting I do is on the Nikon D3 and D700 bodies, which are full-frame 12-mp cameras. If you’re shooting on a camera with a higher pixel-pitch, like a Nikon D3x, D2x, D300 (or any other DX camera), I would more strongly suggest the new VR II lens. The reason being that the relatively huge pixels of the D3 sensor are actually more forgiving than many other sensors.
I suspect that on a high resolution camera like the D3x, the differences between the new and old model 70-200mm are going to be even more pronounced, which is another reason to invest in the newer lenses.
Even if you don’t shoot on these pixel-packed cameras, it’s worth thinking about your upgrade path and needs for future cameras.
The Lens Hood
The worst thing I can say about the new 70-200mm f/2.8, aside from mentioning it’s price tag, is mentioning a criticism of the new lens hood, the HB-48.
The redesigned lens hood of the VR II is shallower than it’s older brother. And while it features a much-improved locking mechanism to secure it to the lens barrel, you cannot stand the new 70-200mm VR II upright on it’s lens hood without the lens tipping over, thanks to the subtle curve of the front edges.
That, and the HB-48 just looks wimpy next to the beefy HB-29 of the VR I.
There’s a lot to like about the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, and the VR II offers some genuine improvements over its predecessor, a lens that I’ve used for years. With the recent introductions of the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 and Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, and now more recently this upgraded telephoto, I don’t think there’s been a better time to be a Nikon shooter.
If this article or any other content on www.ishootshows.com was helpful to you, please consider supporting this site and grabbing your next photo gear purchase through one of my affiliate links:
Simply clicking through any product links on this site helps me bring you free content like the photography tips and gear reviews regularly posted on www.ishootshows.com, and naturally it doesn’t cost you a cent more. If you do grab some gear, drop me a line! I’d love to hear about what you picked up.
If you want to donate directly to help support and host www.ishootshows.com (and if there’s any leftover, keep me stocked in tea), you can contribute money to www.ishootshows.com via PayPal.
Questions or comments? Leave a comment below, and let me know what you thought of this post.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 3:33 pm and is filed under Photography Gear and tagged with comparison, lens review, nikon 70-200, review, upgrade, VR I, VR II, vs, worth it. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Welcome to ishootshows.com, your source for music photography featuring daily concert coverage, portrait features, and photo advice from professional music photographer Todd Owyoung.
Support this site by purchasing your photo equipment through my affiliate links to B&H Photo Video or Amazon.com
Learn more about how you can support the features of ishootshows.com.
One of my very favorite discoveries of last year was the band Greek Fire. More than anything, they&#…
Last year in one of my favorite promo sessions, I headed to sunny Miami’s South Beach to photo…
With what started as a seeming novelty, the market for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (MILC…
You’ve seen it before. A sea of point and shoot digital cameras and cell phones held aloft dur…
My friends and UK photographers Danny North and Ashley Bird just posted an interview with me on thei…
Nice review, Todd. I’ve just picked up the Canon 70-200 f/2.8IS II – Looking forward to it arriving! Like you, the MKI was an awesome lens, the MKII builds on that…
Hey Sime, thanks very much. If the magic Canon worked is anything like what Nikon did with the new MK II, I’m sure you’ll love the new 70-200.
great, now instead of focusing on the review, I just keep on thinking about the big camera bag in the sky.
:(
If it makes you feel any better, the big camera bag in the sky is padded with the downy feathers from angels, and it’s always a lovely 68º.
Todd Owyoung's (@toddowyoung) extensive Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VRII review is out. Check it out at: http://is.gd/edzXa
My review of the new Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR II – Real-world images, performance, 100% crops, comparisons against the VR I: http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
Review: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII – http://b2l.me/agnzar
RT @toddowyoung: My review of the new Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR II – Real-world images, performance, 100% crops, comparisons against the VR I: http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
RT @toddowyoung: My review of the new Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR II – Real-world images, performance, 100% crops, comparisons against the VR I: http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
RT @toddowyoung: My review of the new Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR II – Real-world images, performance, 100% crops, comparisons against the VR I: http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
brilliant review Todd, have read a couple of others online, but it’s great to read one from someone who shoots events too, puts it into perspective!
it’s really interesting you think a new 70-200 buyer should invest in the VR2 over a used VR1.. sadly in the UK, the price difference between these equates to about $1000 rather than $500 :(
given that price difference, does it alter your opinion about what a new 70-200 buyer should go for? :)
Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it.
Are those prices for a new VR I vs VR II, or for a used VR I? I think that’s a very big distinction.
ahh sorry… prices are roughly in the UK:
new VR2 – $2500
used VR1 – $1500
=)
That’s a tough call, but I think the issue with used lenses still stands – if something goes wrong and there’s no warranty coverage, you may well be stuck with a big bill that eats up all of the savings.
Personally, if I didn’t have the VR I and was in the market for a 70-200/2.8, I would go with the new VR II. There are enough nice advancements & upgrades that I’d rather go with the new tech if I’m starting from scratch.
Great Review Todd, I am impressed by this lens since I moved to Nikon digital and got it despite for gig photography I still use mainly 24-70.
this Thom Yorke set shot from a balcony is mostly 100% crops.
http://liveon35mm.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/thom-yorke/
keep the good stuff going,
ciao
Vale
Those are mostly 100% crops? Pretty nice testament for the new lens. The new 70-200 certainly is impressive – I’d feel a bigger itch to upgrade, but the old 70-200mm isn’t a slouch, either, on the D3 and D700.
Yes Todd,
I was in the mezzanine, even difficult to spot meter from there, but they are. On a D700. Vale
Great review!
I just picked up Tamrons 70-200mm from B&H because I’m a broke college student and don’t have the money for the VR II yet, but I’ll be sure to pick it up next time around!
I got it yesterday and so far it seems to work for me, but I’m sure it’s nothing compared to these two.
Hey Amanda,
Thanks for the comment. I’ve heard great things about the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8, and have a friend who shoots with it regularly at big amphitheater concerts. Hope you enjoy it.
Review: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII http://bit.ly/9rIea4 CHORANDO SANGUE. VÁRIOS LITROS.
Updated Nikon 70-200 VR II review w/ additional samples & ISO 800 crop (killer detail @ f/2.8): http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
missed it yesterday? geek out here (Nikon users)
RT @toddowyoung Review: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II | ishootshows.com http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
RT @toddowyoung: Updated Nikon 70-200 VR II review w/ additional samples & ISO 800 crop (killer detail @ f/2.8): http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
this thorough review is making me wish i was a nikon user http://bit.ly/90yisu (via @toddowyoung)
RT @toddowyoung: Updated Nikon 70-200 VR II review w/ additional samples & ISO 800 crop (killer detail @ f/2.8): http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
RT @toddowyoung: Updated Nikon 70-200 VR II review w/ additional samples & ISO 800 crop (killer detail @ f/2.8): http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
Holy smokes, that's an impressive/massive review: RT @toddowyoung: Updated Nikon 70-200 VR II review http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
Thanks! RT @OliverWilke: Holy smokes, that's an impressive/massive review: RT @toddowyoung: Nikon 70-200 VR II review http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
RT @toddowyoung: Thanks! RT @OliverWilke: Holy smokes, that's an impressive/massive review: RT @toddowyoung: Nikon 70-200 VR II review http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
Great review of the Nikon 70-200 VR II over at ishootshows.com.
http://ishootshows.com/2010/08/11/review-nikon-70-200mm-f2-8-vrii/
RT @timdobbsphoto: Great review of Nikon 70-200 VR II http://snipurl.com/10mka6 http://snipurl.com/10mkbr
In addition of being a great concert photographer also a great reviewer! RT @toddowyoung: Nikon 70-200 VR II review http://bit.ly/cF7UEf
another good revue thanks and i agree with you. the first version is so good i wont swap unless it breaks.a top tip i found some time ago and copied was using a mamiya rubber hood 77mm fits either lens.
much,much better.
http://terrywhite.com/techblog/archives/5390
Nice review. Answered the question “should I sell my 70-200 VR 1?”. I noticed the vignetting and like you Todd, felt it was not a bad thing and easy to correct in Aperture anyway. My 70-200 has been in rain, snow and dust. It’s very rugged. The fact is that the 14-24, 24-70 and now the 70-200 VR II are all equals with regards to quality. The Big Three are superb lenses. Also, if you want to get into venues, sometimes having that 70-200 on your body is all you need. They see it and people start parting for you! It demands respect.
I took this shot on the fly of an old friend. http://bit.ly/bbGYAf
I want her to be the new Breck Shampoo Girl!
I had the 70-200 on the D700 and she called over to me. I basically turned and shot. I kept going back to the photo at the end of that day and I still marvel at this lens. It turned out to be one of my favorite shots and it was also a very quick shot. To me, this is indicative of what to expect with this lens. I’m keeping this version and saving for the 24 f/1.4 instead!
[...] D3 Examples Review Nikon 70200mm f28 VR II ishootshowscom More infos are available here: Review Nikon 70200mm f28 VR II [...]
I didn’t see any mention of this in the review, but have you noticed much of a difference in AF response between the two generations? When I shoot roller derby, I’ve borrowed a VR I first, then rented the VR II, and most recently rented the VR I again. When I borrowed the first time, it was my first time using that focal length for derby, so there was a learning curve. When I rented the II, it was nearly effortless to get great in focus images. Last weekend I rented the I (it’s about $30 cheaper for a 4 day rental), and I struggled with it the whole night. It was noticeably slower to focus. Have you noticed anything similar? Roller derby is extremely fast paced and constantly moving, but some concerts can be just as daunting. I’m definitely grabbing the VR II for regionals and nationals.
Hi Joey,
Overall, I did feel as though the VR II was more responsive than the VR I. I didn’t perform side-by-side tests, but this feeling comes from, like you, returning to the VR I after using the VR II.
Great review, Todd!
I’ve been renting and/or borrowing the VRI for the past few years and finally bought the VRII last month. I really put it through the paces at Lollapalooza and couldn’t be happier with the performance. When I went to process the images, the thing that surprised me the most was the beautiful bokeh. Here’s an image that really shows what the defocusing quality of the VRII is like in bright daylight:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paigekparsons/4875602665/in/photostream/
and also in diffuse daylight:
http://icecreamman.com/gallery/?gallery_id=6118&ref_id=3103
Can’t say enough good things about this lens!
Hey Paige,
Nice to hear from you. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the new VR II – it is a great lens. Looks like the 70-200mm is working out well for you – and yes, the character stays really pretty nice even under bright conditions! Thanks for the links to your shots with the lens.
[...] If you missed it, check out my recent review of the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II. [...]
[...] I mentioned in the Nikon 70-200mm VR II review, unless you’re shooting from a car, helicopter, or other wildly moving position, the normal VR [...]
How would you compare this lens to the new Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG HSM II Macro Zoom? More specifically, would you purchase a used Nikon with the older version of VR or a new Sigma? While I read your recomendation that if this is your first purchase of this lens you’d spring for the VRII model, I find the price differential of 1/3 the cost of the lens to be significant. Thanks for the great info.
Hi Jim,
I haven’t used the Sigma, so I can’t compare. That said, if it were me, I would save for the Nikon. Third party lenses offer great optics, but I still always prefer the shooting experience of using Nikon/OEM lenses.
So, I’d say that I would go with the used VR I over the Sigma.
I had an old Sigma 70-200 dg hsm and I rated it very highly. The only reason I changed was that I wanted VR. IMHO you could easily do without VR with such great ISO perfoming cameras out there now.
On the new Nikon’s lenshood. I have found it quite useless – the lens is often prone to flair where a deeper lens hood would help. I wonder if anyone has tried the old lens hood on the new lens – will it vignette?
Oh yeah and it does topple over!
Hi Todd, thanks for writing a great review.
have u used it for weddings? especially in low light?
will i have problems using it especially when the focal range is high and i have to roughly have a fast shutter speed to prevent blurred images
is it fast enough to capture movements in low light? or does it need to be accompanied with a flash?
im having a hard time to choose between the 70200 and 85 f1.4g
if i shoot the 85mm at wide open. wont it be hard to catch movements because of the small depth of field?
thanks in advance
Hi Guan,
If this lens can handle concerts, I have no doubt it will be fantastic for wedding photography. I’ve used the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR I for wedding photography and it’s more than capable, so the VR II won’t break a sweat.
If you need to shoot in very low light, the 85mm f/1.4G AF-S is going to be the better choice, but I prefer the AF speed and precision of the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II.
thanks for the quick response!!
btw i saw your review on the tammy 28-75
I have it as well and i love it!
too bad the focal length isnt 24-70 ha!
Hi. I’ve been thinking about buying the VR2 version. What is this I hear about this version not actually being the full 200mm compared to the VR1 version? I would be using this lens with a D90 for now.
Heyy Todd,
i hope you still look into the comments on this relatively old review.
Im currently still shooting the 15-55 on my D5000 – and Ive been borrowing lenses from time to time.
nd now id like to step up a bit
Im shooting DX. Mostly portraits.
should i get a sigma 70-200 2.8 first?
or a 24-70 2.8?
or would a 24-70 be too tigh on a DX body (would a tamron 16-50 2.8 be better)?
i really cant decide which lense to buy frst.
im on a tight buget, cuz im a high school student.
$900 for th 200mm 2.8 is a lot, but i relly kinda need that focal lenght…
Hey Benni,
For individual portraits, the 70-200mmm f/2.8 range will most likely be more useful (so far as you don’t mean environmental portraits). On DX, the 70-200mm offers great compression and isolation for headshots and such. If you’re shooting more group or environmental portraits, the 24-70mm f/2/8 range would be perfect. Hope this helps.
I “LOVE” this right up. You get right to the point, you don’t fancy up your reviews with photography jargon and your reviews are non bias. I own a third party lens and am also looking to upgrade to a Nikon lens for my Nikon D2xs. Thank you for the review on the VR I and VR II. :)
Great review that you made!i find myself in a complicated situation,
i was going to buy the VR I, but i find out that there was no stores sellin it! and the ones i found was incredible more expensive than the VR II LOL.. i really love the design from the old version, but i can’t buy it new anymore, at least not here in japan. I just have a doubt about the lens hood, can you tell me if the old hb-29 fits on the new VR II? Thanks
Hi David,
Performance-wise, the new VR II is an all-around better lens. The only catch is the “focus breathing” that gives you less reach at the long end, as noted. But otherwise the hood is a better design with the new lens. It locks more securely, so overall I’d really recommend the VR II over the VR I if you’re buying new.
Hello Todd!
First of all, thanks for your amazing website and the reviews and tips your are giving. I really enjoy spending time here!
Now I have a question. I read a lot about that “focal-breathing” and you mentioned it by yourself in the comments:
“Performance-wise, the new VR II is an all-around better lens. The only catch is the “focus breathing” that gives you less reach at the long end, as noted.”
As far as I understood and noticed this in sample-images I think this issue COULD be a issue for our (music-shooting)business indeed. Often you are fixed at a place where you are allowed to shoot (stage or down the stage) and usually the distance between me and the artist during a show would be hmm about 2-4 meters.
So, what is your experience with that issue after all? Does it handicap you when you’re shooting shows?
I am very curious what you think about it. (I ordered mine a few days ago)
Thank you very much!
Moritz
Hi Todd: just ordered the 70-200vrll (after reading your review) looks like I made the right choice (course only my “skills/talent” will be the true judge) thanks for your review. P.S. love your shots!
Hey bro, thank you much for the great reviews on 24-70mm 2.8 and 70-200mm 2.8 vrII, it really helped me a lot which lens I should buy it first, and I’m so excited because in 2 days I will receive my first PRO lens. I ordered 70-200mm 2.8 vrII on B&H.com, It was a great deal and I was delightful after I found out that there’s no tax and free shipping!!! I would definitely buy all my photography needs there from now on.
Nice review Todd!