Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (New, White box)

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I take photos for fun, mostly at zoos to make my own desktop wallpapers and wall art. I got my first impression of this lens when I rented it. At the time, I was using an 18-200mm lens (lol). I was heartbroken when I had to send this lens back after the rental period ended. This lens spoiled me, and could no longer tolerate my 18-200 lens. Before buying this lens, I kept asking myself why I needed to spend so much money on just a lens when all I do is take pics of animals at zoos. I think my heart skipped a beat when I hit the "purchase" button. But over a year later, Im still so glad that I bought it. This lens solved several problems for me that I was having with my 18-200 lens, which were soft focus, chromatic aberration, faster autofocus, edge-to-edge sharpness, and edge-to-edge brightness; and at f2.8, allows faster shutter speeds in lower light. Ive also used this lens on a D800E that I rented. Upon careful inspection in Lightroom, I could see a very small amount of light fall-off around the edges. So slight, that its easy to miss and even easier to correct in software. I was tempted to buy the 70-200 f4, but decided against it because I would lose a stop of light. Sure the f4 version supposedly has better VR, but what if you dont need VR? Youre still stuck at f4. With all this said, this lens is big and heavy. Its not a casual lens. Youll be the one accommodating this lens, not the other way around. It took me a few months to become fully comfortable using it and carrying it. I use a BlackRapid Strap ( BlackRapid RRS-1BB Sport (RS-Sport) (Black) ) to dangle the camera body and lens at my right side, lens pointing straight down. Some side notes: From my experience, this lens is waterPROOF, and so is the D7100. I got caught in a downpour here in Florida and the body and lens got drenched. The lens fogged up, the cameras viewfinder filled with water. I put the lens and camera in airtight containers with dehydrated rice for a few days and all the moisture was absorbed and both worked like new! Ive used this lens with and without an expensive clear filter. No difference in quality, so I leave it on. Id rather have light "cleaning scratches" on the filter than on my expensive lens. Without the filter, I would have to resort to my cleaning kit and spend a lot of time carefully cleaning the bare lens. With the filter, I use my shirt! For best auto-focus results, half-press the shutter button for a few seconds before taking the photo. This gives the VR time to counter the type of vibration its experiencing in that particular situation.

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This marvelous new-generation Nikon 70-200MM F2.8 VR II (Vibration Reduction) “Trinity” Tele-Zoom works flawlessly with our Nikon cameras (D800, D3200, D300S). Auto focus is very fast; at mid to far distances, auto focus is literally immediate; at closer distances, it quickly follows, searches and obeys where I want to focus on and with a whispering sound locks the focus with the subject tack sharp in the viewfinder (or Live View). Auto-Focus fine tuning is also dead-on at 0 (no variation) with our D800 and D300S (the D3200 does not have this fine-tuning capability). It is incredible to see pictures having virtually fault-less sharpness, contrast, color depth and vibrancy with this Tele-Zoom, which leaves our Sigma 70-200MM F/2.8 APO DG HSM in the dust in every aspect (oh well, the Sigma is less than half the cost), when viewing at actual-pixel magnifications with Photoshop CS6 and ViewNX 2. For example, the tiny reproductive parts of Hibiscus flowers - the yellow stamens and the red pistils – the tiny “hairs” on the stems, and the tiny “veins” of the petals with very subtle color changes, all came out clean and clear within pictures of the whole flowers taken more than six feet away. In comparison with our other Nikon “Trinity” Zoom 24-700MM F.28, at 70MM and the same apertures, the smaller sibling slightly won in sharpness, with all other performance aspects pretty much even. In comparison with our Nikon Primes (85MM F/1.4 and 105MM F/2.8 Micro), while the Primes won in sharpness contests at similar focal lengths, two things stood out from our tests: (1) With the same shutter speeds, this Tele-Zoom came in within 1/3 F stop of the Primes : excellent light transmission capability, and (2) Colors of similar spots in pictures are within a few points of the Primes (using the Color Sampler tool in Photoshop): exceptional color depth and vibrancy. Just one minor point, a tripod may be a necessity, even with VR, for shutter speeds slower than 1/40 second. Conclusion: Expensive but so worth it.

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The Nikon Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR II has great professional quality optics youd expect from Nikon. Its is an wonderful lens that takes amazing images . I really love the low light capabilities and the VR for image stabilization allows me to shoot much slower without always having to use a tripod. Im very pleased with my purchase it works perfectly combined with my Nikon FX full frame dslr. If you are serious about getting a quality piece of glass these optics will surely not disappoint.

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This is a great lens thatll be your go-to for up to 200 mm telephoto. Ive paired it with a 1.7 teleconverter for an African safari and came back with some great pictures both with and w/o the TC. Obviously it is pricy, but if you can afford it you will not be disappointed.

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Its a very high quality (and heavy) lens. It works great on a DX camera as well as FX. The optics are very sharp and *very* clear. Ghosting is minimal and will only show up if shooting almost directly into the sun. Bokeh is fantastic. The auto-focus is *very* fast. The vibration reduction is useful but at 200mm (effectively 300mm a DX body) a tripod or even an improvised support of some kind should be used for best results. The constant aperture (when set to f/2.8 it remains at f/2.8 through the entire zoom range) is wonderful. However the depth of focus at f/2.8 is very small and so correct focus-point placement becomes *very* critical. The only thing I dont like about it, is the price. If youre shooting exclusively on DX there are several other lenses you might look into instead, that will get you similar results for a much lower price tag. Is it worth the price? For most people Id argue probably not. Most real "pros" I know carry used gear that is just "good enough" so they can pocket the rest of the money as profit. The clients wont be able to tell the difference between this and a cheaper alternative. A discriminating photographer might. Is it a nice toy if you like to play with expensive camera stuff? You bet it is! Its fantastic.

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I am not here to compare the old Nikon or shoot brick walls, this is the new Nikon lens it is better then the old one since it had issue, Nikon worked those bugs out. I was looking at the Sigma for 1200 the new Tamron that just hit the market for 1600, and the Nikon. At the same time I had researched this lens I brought the Nikon 24-70F/2.8 which I compared the three brands. The Nikon 24-70 was on my camera 90% of the time and I was so impressed I knew I had to get the 70-200. I have now had the 70-200 for a month and it is sweet. The construction of this lens is just solid and heavy (use it in a fight youll win) you know that you have a lens on your camera and in your hands, but it is also well balanced and very responsive with a sonic fast focus, Recently I covering indoor sport event the focusing was dead nuts on. This is a work horse of a lens(the breast)after using the high end Nikon lens I am now brand loyal. In addition, I have used this lens outdoors in foul weather and it just keep clicking. Hope this helps.

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I got this lens (the 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII) back when it first came out. It was my main lens for outdoor events, and occasionally I also took family pictures with it. Practically every single shot was stellar, the focus was precise, the lens was super sharp at all settings, with great contrast and colors, and wonderful bokeh in the out of focus areas. Then last year I got the new 70-200mm f/4 lens, thinking it would be a lighter and less expensive alternative. And indeed, the f/4 is an excellent lens, too. When I did some companions in good light and with static subjects, the images practically looked the same and just as sharp as with this f/2.8. So foolishly I sold my f/2.8 lens. Big mistake, as I found at the next event at school. When the light is not that good, and/or the subjects move, the f/4 misses quite a lot of shots. It simply does not focus as fast under those conditions! Im still keeping it for my family shots, but last week I bought another 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens, and this time I wont sell it again. I already used it extensively last weekend, and the shots are once again stellar, just as I knew from this lens.

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I just love this lens. It produces fantastic images that are super sharp and contrasty. The colors are great, AF is super fast, quiet and spot-on accurate. Professional build quality with smooth turning zoom ring, awesome bokeh and sharp wide open and sharp stopped down, sharp center and sharp edges even zoomed out to 200mm. In comparion, my older 80-200mm f/2.8 was a bit soft at the edges wide open on the telephoto end. VR II works superbly well, allowing me to get sharp hand-held shots down to 1/15 with ease, which was not possible for me with older non-VR lens. The tripod foot is easily removed when handholding the lens. The lens balances well on D800 and really maximizes all the mp available and the combo gives you awesome low light capability in a zoom lens. Only con for me is that there is noticeable vignetting at 200mm f/2.8 with FF, less so with DX body, although its pretty much gone by f/4.0. Also, there is the issue of "focus Breathing" which may be a deal breaker for some, although it doesnt affect my style of shooting.

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Let me start off right up front that I am not a photographer - Im a point and shoot guy, and am happy with what my smartphone provides. Now, my wife is a different story. Id say shes a semi-pro and shes rented this lens once or twice a year when she does the photography for our daughters ballet shows. One day I noticed that she was blabbing on her facebook page about this lens and some site was having a contest for one and how she "covets" it and maybe shed get one in a future lifetime. With Valentines Day a few days away, and Hunts Photo having a refurb available for a ridiculous price, I could not stop myself. Needless to say, wife was floored and could not be happier. If the wife is happy, then Im happy.

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I use this on the D800. This was a lens I always longed for and did not turn back once I had the money. I am so glad I got this beast. It is the fast and furious in the Nikon line and I love it every time it does that super sharp photograph consistently. I am not a big reviewer with the details. I am practical. It has done super photos for me and even handheld for a couple of shots were unbeliveable. I could not hold it for too long for handheld shots. What did you think? I am not Rambo LOL. The sharpness is to be seen to believe right down to the corners. The flaring and vignetting is controlled well. The Last word "Buy it if you can afford it" ... I bought this when it was 2611 USD incl of taxes and now the price is dropped and I am pulling my hair ... But no complaints, I know the lens is worth the money spent and it will recover for itself some day.

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