Taking off from John's thread (http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=1889), I am really torn between getting the 80-200 f/2.8 or the 70-200VR. The VR is almost twice the cost of the 80-200, but is it worth it, I mean the VR? I am into wedding photography.

Thanks guys.

Simple answer to your question Marco is: ABSOLUTELY! :)

it would definitely help your shooting (events). ive seen a friend shoot with that thing @ 120mm @ 1/20 VR on - super sharp!:)

but if money is an issue.. the 80-200 is also a performer ... im one happy owner :D

it would definitely help your shooting (events). ive seen a friend shoot with that thing @ 120mm @ 1/20 VR on - super sharp!:)

but if money is an issue.. the 80-200 is also a performer ... im one happy owner :D

Yup this is true... Actually you can even stretch that up to 1/4 VR on with enough practice considering the target or subject is static... Like I told you before, subject movement is also an element here to consider...

As for the 80-200, no doubt about the performance of this lens! :Grin:

Marco,

If you get the 80-200, you would always wonder what you are missing. I suggest you get the 70-200 VR and be done with it.

By the way, you can get it from B&H from $1514 if you use a certain promo code. Plus Nikon has a $75 rebate offer for that lens which brings it down to $1439 http://www.nikonusa.com/fileuploads/pdfs/SelectandSave.pdf

HTH

Thanks guys! I'm convinced I'm gonna get the 70-200.

Now, how to get the money to buy that is the next challenge...

Thanks guys! I'm convinced I'm gonna get the 70-200.

Now, how to get the money to buy that is the next challenge...

Congratulations then on your choice Marco! And as always please do the ritual post-the-first-pic break-in for the lens. :D hehehehehehe

i have the 80-200 afd and so far and it has lessened my nas for the 70-200 but something tells me that i will still eventually get the 70-200 further down the road, but so far i cannot justify the purchase of one. as long as theres plenty of light the 80-200 should suffice. now i agree with the others in fading dim light or in events, that vr feature can be the key to getting those money shots handheld at very low shutter speeds

i have the 80-200 afd and so far and it has lessened my nas for the 70-200 but something tells me that i will still eventually get the 70-200 further down the road, but so far i cannot justify the purchase of one. as long as theres plenty of light the 80-200 should suffice. now i agree with the others in fading dim light or in events, that vr feature can be the key to getting those money shots handheld at very low shutter speeds

Hmmm... thought you already got one? :)

Hmmm... thought you already got one? :)

yup but the other one was on loan this one is for keeps:)

yup but the other one was on loan this one is for keeps:)

You are indeed a very blessed man, Bro.! :)

You are indeed a very blessed man, Bro.! :)

remember what i talked to you about before? take care of your friends and you will be blessed:)

remember what i talked to you about before? take care of your friends and you will be blessed:)

That's what I'm trying to do Bro. :) Always...

yup but the other one was on loan this one is for keeps:)

Which is for keeps? the 80-200? :Grin:

Which is for keeps? the 80-200? :Grin:

yeah the 80-200. but who says i cant get the 70-200:)? still have allocation from my recent lens disposals

yeah the 80-200. but who says i cant get the 70-200:)? still have allocation from my recent lens disposals

That's what you told me, you got a 70-200...

That's what you told me, you got a 70-200...

lets see on december when my other long distance howitzer arrives:)

lets see on december when my other long distance howitzer arrives:)

dum dee dum dum... And what's this now Bro.? :Grin:

dum dee dum dum... And what's this now Bro.? :Grin:

bro wait nalang il give you the honors provided you have a wimberly head:)

bro wait nalang il give you the honors provided you have a wimberly head:)

I'm darn envious naman! Lucky dude! Lucky dude! Congrats in advance! :)

I'm darn envious naman! Lucky dude! Lucky dude! Congrats in advance! :)

i just hope that some of my friends coming home for the holidays dont bring home too much gear as this will be a handflul.

70-200 seems like the only piece in an expensive puzzle thats missing:(

i just hope that some of my friends coming home for the holidays dont bring home too much gear as this will be a handflul.

70-200 seems like the only piece in an expensive puzzle thats missing:(

Knowing you Bro., it's just a matter of time! :)

When I return to Japan I'll handcarry that 70-200 VR for you my Brother! :) Just say the word...

just got one for 76k second hand. actually the receipt says its only a month old. for some reason, the owner unloaded all his photo eqpt. he sold his d200 for 68k, 18-200VR for 35k. the last lens he was trying to sell was a 17-55mm f2.8 for about 50k. ok sana pero medyo galit na si misis sa 70-200VR ko. Its not really easy to "conceal".

i tried the 80-200 on my D70s abd and it had a little recoil when focusing since it was a "light" camera. But the heavier D200 helped reduce the recoil. But its nothing really.

I was more surprised how fast and efforless the 70-200 focuses. i tried it out for the first time in the ateneo-san beda game and I was very satisfied.

Both lenses are indeed for keeps, but if you need a fast focusing lens for sports photography, the 70-200 is ideal. But for just your everyday shoots, the 80-200 will give you all you need. But if you can afford the 70-200, go for it!

@Noel
Congrats on the new lens! :)

just got one for 76k second hand. actually the receipt says its only a month old. for some reason, the owner unloaded all his photo eqpt. he sold his d200 for 68k, 18-200VR for 35k. the last lens he was trying to sell was a 17-55mm f2.8 for about 50k. ok sana pero medyo galit na si misis sa 70-200VR ko. Its not really easy to "conceal".

i tried the 80-200 on my D70s abd and it had a little recoil when focusing since it was a "light" camera. But the heavier D200 helped reduce the recoil. But its nothing really.

I was more surprised how fast and efforless the 70-200 focuses. i tried it out for the first time in the ateneo-san beda game and I was very satisfied.

Both lenses are indeed for keeps, but if you need a fast focusing lens for sports photography, the 70-200 is ideal. But for just your everyday shoots, the 80-200 will give you all you need. But if you can afford the 70-200, go for it!

nice to hear that noel. glad you are enjoying the 70-200.

...80-200 will give you all you need. But if you can afford the 70-200, go for it!

amen to this. hehehe

i guess for now im stuck with my beloved 80-200:Grin:

70-200mm vr is the shiznit! GO get it!

amen to this. hehehe

i guess for now im stuck with my beloved 80-200:Grin:

my 80-200 afd is giving me headaches already. whats your version afs?

my 80-200 afd is giving me headaches already. whats your version afs?

hmm... what seems to be the problem?

i also got the AFD version.

my 80-200 afd is giving me headaches already. whats your version afs?

hey carlo, if ur selling it i know a lot of ppl hu will get that!as long as its still in good condition:Grin:

70-200mm vr is the shiznit! GO get it!

Coudn't agree more with you migs! :)

I shouldn't have tested that thing last weekend.. Now I'm having restless dreams on how I could afford that lens! :D:Grin:

hmm... what seems to be the problem?

i also got the AFD version.

the noisy focusing is to be expected but i usually have to keep switching to manual and auto to make sure the gears bite. focusing speed is not as fast as i expected. but then again im comparing it to the 17-55 and 85mm

my 80-200 afd is giving me headaches already. whats your version afs?

You have the 70-200VR on the way anyway. :)

hey carlo, if ur selling it i know a lot of ppl hu will get that!as long as its still in good condition:Grin:

dodie i will not sell this. when im able to focus the images are tact sharp. its good when it works but tahst not always the case

OT: lol Orly, tsik tsik, baka yan naman ang susunod na ipakain sayo .. hahaha ... how was the flight? 13hours straight huh .. you broke my record.

I wonder who would get me that 70-200mm by December? hmm ...

the noisy focusing is to be expected but i usually have to keep switching to manual and auto to make sure the gears bite. focusing speed is not as fast as i expected. but then again im comparing it to the 17-55 and 85mm

the noise is normal... the jerking motion when focusing is also normal... but i dont experience that i have to switch back and forth to manual and auto just for the gears to bite. might be good to have it check.

and the focusing speed... definitely slower than your 17-55.

i guess its time for you to upgrade... and good combo for your up and coming Dxx:Grin:

the noise is normal... the jerking motion when focusing is also normal... but i dont experience that i have to switch back and forth to manual and auto just for the gears to bite. might be good to have it check.

and the focusing speed... definitely slower than your 17-55.


I'll have to agree with Levi that maybe you should have the lens checked. The noise is normal, just like your 85. And focusing speed should be about the same too. Both definitely slower than the 17-55... :) But having to switch between manual and auto doesn't sound right.

You have the 70-200VR on the way anyway.

still have roughly two months til the year ends.

the noise is normal... the jerking motion when focusing is also normal... but i dont experience that i have to switch back and forth to manual and auto just for the gears to bite. might be good to have it check.


yeah i guess. it also doesnt help that im really constantly working on the edge of the lens' min working distance

i guess its time for you to upgrade... and good combo for your up and coming Dxx

soon. it should be en route from the us and somewhere over the pacific ocean in exactly 24 hours:)

But having to switch between manual and auto doesn't sound right.

i agree. this is not normal. oh and i forgot the lens doesnt even focus on manual mode. works ok though in A mode. oh well its free anyway

eah i guess. it also doesnt help that im really constantly working on the edge of the lens' min working distance

hmm.. if this is the case, the 70-200 is not the solution. i think the 80-200 has a better (closer) focusing distance. forum/lens masters correct me if im wrong:)

hmm.. if this is the case, the 70-200 is not the solution. i think the 80-200 has a better (closer) focusing distance. forum/lens masters correct me if im wrong:)

I checked on this when Joel thought this was so. The 70-200VR has a shorter minimum focusing distance, by almost a foot, if I remember right. :)

hmm.. if this is the case, the 70-200 is not the solution. i think the 80-200 has a better (closer) focusing distance. forum/lens masters correct me if im wrong:)

Easily fixed: Attach a Canon 500D Close-up lens and Viola... Instant Macro capability and closer focusing distance... :)

Easily fixed: Attach a Canon 500D Close-up lens and Viola... Instant Macro capability and closer focusing distance... :)

yeah bro im already using one to make the focusing distances closer but still not satisfied. might get a 250d instead.

Carlo, you can try using extension tubes as well.

Carlo, you can try using extension tubes as well.

Nice and solid idea here from Mr. Marantal :)

Carlo, you can try using extension tubes as well.

zero experience with extension tubes. does anyone have one i can sample in the next eb?

i just hope that some of my friends coming home for the holidays dont bring home too much gear as this will be a handflul.

70-200 seems like the only piece in an expensive puzzle thats missing:(

My experience having 80-200 AF,80-200AFD two touch and Nikon 70-200VR

Before yung gamit ko ay 80-200AF non-D ED first release 1 touch version, I used this lens for two years at then i decide to upgrade and I buy 2nd hand 80-200AFD two touch version not the AFS.

Eto po yung comparison.
Optic Quality and Shapness
- Old 80-200AF wins 1+

Build and Quality
- Both lens wins


Weight
-Old 80-200AF wins

Handling
-New two stop version wins

Cost
-Old 80-200AF

Eto po advice ko.
Kung plan nyo to buy Nikon 70-200VR but no buget at this time. Advise ko to buy one touch version pero yun version D ang hanaping nyo for DSLR compatibility. Because the optical quality is much sharper " you can try to search on google". You can buy this lens 2nd hand almost 1/2 price of the 80-200AFD two touch and in ebay its cost around 350USD+ .For reason to SAVE money for 70-200VR.

The prons and cons comparing the two lens is the same, except for the old 80-200AF once touch version is much cheeper which is the big factor. For me the 80-200AF one touch version wins and sold the two touch version after two months and lost almost 3,000++ in peso :Sick:

Now i'm using the lens Nikon 70-200VR because the lens is a worthy addition to Nikkor's 80-200mm range of lenses and its VR/AFS capabilities are truly outstanding (no need futher introduction to this lens.)

My experience on 70-200VR
1. VR is only nice to have.(for me) and 2.8 in all range still the +points
2.Optical quality +1 compare to old release.
3. I like AFS "Very Fast" for sports and Panning
4. minimum of 70mm is really worth the price.
5. protraits and Boken is superved.:D
6. worth the price.

Hope this will help you decide.

a huge advantage for the VR!

a huge advantage for the VR!

the vr is an eventuality i may have to deal with.

the vr is an eventuality i may have to deal with.

Congrats in advance Bro.! :)

this http language is beyond me. pls help. how do i upload images. i wanted to share some pics taken with this lens. tx

Hello Noel.

First, copy the url of your image (the last part has to be ".jpg"). Next, in the Quick Reply box, click on the "Insert Image" button and paste your link in the box that pops out. :)

thanks fidel. what do you mean by URL? does it mean my foto has to be in a website? what if the foto is in my PC?

Yup, the photo has to be in a website. Try flickr, photobucket etc. :)

Lens: 70mm, 1/500, tungsten WB, 1600 ISO, noise off, VR at normal
Camera: D200
http://static.flickr.com/110/288529697_916b6f3046.jpg
yes, even with the noise off, the image is not too grainy at 1600. just cropped this photo.

Thanks Fidel!

Hey Nonoy! I've been trying to e-mail you but there's something wrong with my e-mail account. Nice first set you sent me. The quality of this posted image looks much better than what I saw.