Any NON-professionals own the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR?

[occifer nick]

Thank you for the extensive explanation arthurking it was very useful. The more I research the more I know that saving for this lens is a no brainer for me. I deserve it I've been a good hubby who does all his chores lol

Paul, I thought about the 80-200 as price was good but when I thought about how much I would be spending I decided that I may as well save for the 70 as everyone is blown away by this lens.

I'm with ya nightbringer VRII here we come haha

I read a review by someone that shot with primes and he bought or borrowed (can't remember now) a VR1, he stated that his primes were better when comparing to the same focal length of his primes and was vy disappointed. He went on to say that he used the VRII and was blown away as it out performed his primes so he bought one Anyone else notice this with the VRII as a set focal length compared to their prime?

[I @ M]

Nick, whoever said that the primes out performed the zoom by a large degree must have had a very impressive range of top qualty prime lenses or they were using a sample of the zoom that wasn't quite "in tune" with their body.
A lot of the work that went into the VR11 over the VR1 seemed to be concentrated around getting better edge resolution on FX bodies and either model of that lens seems to be one where you rarely hear negative reports about image quality.

A word of warning, when you go ahead and buy the VR11 version that you know that you want need, don't, repeat don't try it on an FX body because you will suddenly see that those focal lengths are an absolutely ideal range on the FXcamera and you will have to start saving your coins all over again to buy a D700 D3s D3x D800 D4 D4x.

[reflect]

Just buy one, sell the kids, the house, whatever, it is truly a great lens. Yes I am a part time pro, part time retired, but I would own one just to shoot the kids, the letterbox, whatever with. Well made, quality components and just plain nice.

I just saw I@Ms comment about FX bodies and fell on the floor laughing.....sloop true, a few years back I went out to buy a speed light and came back lots of thousands of dollars poorer...long suffering wife wasn't all that happy

[Lance B]

I know of a very reputable on-line store in Sydney that has the 70-200 f2.8 VRII for AU$2,600. You can either pick up or get it delivered. If you want to know which one, PM me.

[occifer nick]

Mate when i save enough coins im hoping they will still be around that price lol
hmmmmmmmmmm D800? better start 2 coin jars!!! haha

[Xebadir]

Heh. It happens like that I@M. Once I saw what a 14-24 could do I was hooked...the upgrade to the D700 took some time to save for but I couldn't have one without the other. Its like heaven . I have a similar feeling that if I try a 70-200 VR or II I will want one...so hence the best option the moment is *do or do not, there is no try*

[rellik666]

Another one with for the VR II. Fantastic lens, really quick and lovely to use....looking forward to a weekend of motorsport with it....

I am glad I bought it when I did as it was under $2000....but lovely and well worth every penny!

[nightbringer]

Yeah I've got a feeling that I'll be getting the new FX that Nikon will be putting out, or if not then at least a second-hand D700 with grip, and for sure I'll be getting a new lens to go with that new body too ... this hobby keeps pummelling my bank account lol

[gqtuazon]

I have this superb lens too and I'm just an enthusiast. Aside from the excellent optical quality and built that the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8 VRII offers, they are also "NAS" proof. Once you have these zoom lenses, your NAS craving is minimized quite a bit. Your bank account balance may be a lot lower but you'll recover in the long run. You'll avoid buying and selling gear when you get the best lens that you are willing to pay. I could have had the best lenses in the first place and saved the trouble in getting "ok" lenses. Of course, that is just my suggestion or opinion since I regretted not getting it when I was just starting this expensive hobby.

[johndom]

i have the 70-200vr1 and my comrades are always borrowing it to shoot with as its much quicker focus than their older 70-200s. Its heavy to shoot with all day, but crisp as a sao even at 1/50th.

[occifer nick]

Under two grand sounds like a deal and a half there Roo! Nice score
Added $500 from part of my tax return so a little closer,
approx $700 so far
Haha

[driverkelly]

You will never regret quality. I have it and the 24-70 f2.8 and they are a perfect pair, quality is outstanding. That is why the pro's go for them and they will last longer than your camera body's, these you will need to upgrade over time but not your quality lenses.
Regards Allen

[occifer nick]

Thanks Allen, got any pics taken with yours? would love to see some
and Roo where did you manage to find one for under two grand? Any other place to look other than the usual suspects?

[gqtuazon]

Here are some few shots from this weekend using a D7000 + 70-200mm f2.8 VrII

f2.8 @180mm


@200mm, f3.5


@195mm, f2.8

[rellik666]

DWI, but that was maybe 18 months ago. I note the price has gone up a lot since then! I just looked and they must have got more stock as the price has dropped a bit. It is $2199. Have had it over the 12 months now and not a problem (touch wood)!

[nightbringer]

I like the first pic, mainly cos that old guy is rocking a TLR XD

[occifer nick]

Yeah I'm a big fan of the first one as well, my dad had one of those cameras Shame he doesn't now!

[swifty]

The 70-200 VR2's the lens I would dearly like to have and when I do buy a 70-200 it'll be Nikon's VR2 variant.
I have used the VR1 before on DX and loved it. If you use it frequently you won't need to work the guns at the gym so think of it as a $100 saving per month.
I like the 70-200 (VR1) more than both the 14-24 and 24-70 that I use to own but have sold since (aslight regret but that's a different story altogether).
Everything I've seen from the VR2 is an improvement except focus breathing but that's not an area I'm concerned with. Plus I shoot FX which makes the VR2 version a far more logical choice because of corner performance.

[swifty]

Oops..that should be 'focal length breathing' not 'focus breathing.'

[occifer nick]

Well I have definitely moved from wanting the VRI to now wanting the VRII and if im going to save all that money I may as well save for a little bit longer and get the latest model