Opinion on a 70-200mm f2.8 vr ii

[Sutto]

Good info, was looking at selling my 500 for either the nikon or the sigma. Will have a look for a decent used one to save costs.

[monsters]

I am still saving up...hahaha
Got given a piggy bank for my birthday recently by my colleagues
I also got a SB700 from my Dad on my birthday!

[Lance B]

Can't comment on any other lenses that suit Nikon, but the 70-200 f2.8 VRII is one of the best lenses I have ever used and I can tell you I have used plenty and planty of them were the top lenses in their class. Look at my signature to see what I have now and I have also shot with Pentax (who make some of the best IQ lenses around) and some of their best lenses like the FA Limiteds, FA* zooms etc.

The thing with the 70-200 f2.8 VRII is that it is unbelievably sharp and can match and exceed many if not most primes, VR works brilliantly and focus lock is super fast and accurate. However, it must be remembered that this is when mounted on a D700 which will probably be faster than a consumer grade body. Overall IQ is stunning and you can also use TC's right up to the 2x TCIII (which is also brilliant) with little degredation in IQ which I think is a huge bonus. I can post samples of results with the TC's if you like as I think you will be mightily impressed.

[monsters]

Yes please lance. I am still thinking hard about it...haha
Thanks in advance

[Lance B]

D700 + 70-200 f2.8 VRII bare. I do not have a crop of this shot available, but the detail on the flag is amazing!:



D700 + 70-200 f2.8 VRII + 1.4x TCIII:





CROP:



D700 + 70-200 f2.8 VRII + 2x TCIII:



CROP of above:





CROP of above:



D7000 + 70-200 f2.8 VRII + 2x TCIII and at ISO3200!:



D7000 + 70-200 f2.8 VRII + 2x TCIII @ ISO6400!!:



D7000 + 70-200 f2.8 VRII + 2x TCIII @ ISO6400!!:

[bxaftw]

Lance whoa, in the 2nd crop of the duck I can practically make out what you look like in the reflection from the ducks eye if i zoom in, that is impressive. Seems like an amazing lens, in my opinion it is almost always worth either fronting up with more, or saving for longer when buying lenses.

[kiwi]

Lance whoa, in the 2nd crop of the duck I can practically make out what you look like in the reflection from the ducks eye if i zoom in, that is impressive. Seems like an amazing lens, in my opinion it is almost always worth either fronting up with more, or saving for longer when buying lenses.

Yes, but not at the expense of getting out there shooting and learning. Nothing wrong with say buying a sigma 70-200 and when you reach it's limitations upgrading. You lose very little if you buy and sell in the 2nd hand market

[Lance B]

Lance whoa, in the 2nd crop of the duck I can practically make out what you look like in the reflection from the ducks eye if i zoom in, that is impressive. Seems like an amazing lens, in my opinion it is almost always worth either fronting up with more, or saving for longer when buying lenses.

Thank you for your kind words!

[monsters]

Thanks Lance for the amazing photos! They are really sharp, from droplets of water to every other details even with the TLC!
Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing