Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
by Nikon
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Our Price: $5,999.00
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: NikonModel: B000144I2G
Product features:
- Focal Length: 200-400mm
- Picture Angle : 6-degees 10' - 12-degrees 20'
- Lens Construction: 24 elements in 17 groups
- Lens Drive: Silent Wave Motor
- Extra Low Dispersion (ED) Lens: 4 Elements
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Digital camera reviews of Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Digital camera Review: An absolute jewel of a lens... if you only buy one long lens, it should be this one.
Summary: 5 Stars
Conventional wisdom says that primes (lenses of a fixed focal length without the ability to zoom) have better optical quality than zooms, and that's almost always true. But in a few rare cases, zooms can be better than the available primes (see Nikon's incredible 14-24/2.8 for an example), and in others the difference in quality is so small that it becomes functionally irrelevant. So it is with this lens.
Both Canon and Nikon have phenomenal "long guns" in their lineup: 200/2, 300/2.8, 400/2.8, 500/4, 600/4. Each of these is bigger, heavier, and more expensive than the last, with the 200/2 and 300/2.8 being roughly 6 pounds and $5,000 while the 600/4 is closer to 11 pounds and $10,000. And they all deliver amazing image quality with near-instant autofocus performance... but none of them can zoom. And to cover the 200mm to 400mm range, you'd need to spend $18,000 and carry around nearly 22 pounds. You'd get lenses with larger apertures and could either shoot faster or in less light... but if you can live with f/4 (and I can absolutely live with it, even for wildlife in Botswana or airshows at dusk), then you can get that range for $6,000 and 7 pounds, or add in a 1.4x TC-14EII teleconverter to get a 280-560 f/5.6 lens that is still stunningly sharp.
If you're making enough money to buy the primes, and you don't miss the ability to zoom, and you're willing to carry two or three big primes around with you (along with 2-3 bodies to put on them), then this lens may not be attractive to you. But for everyone else, who either cannot or will not pay $18,000 and carry 22 pounds of glass, this lens is a bloody godsend. The image quality is incredible, the AF performance is extremely fast, and there is not much of a difference in either IQ or AF from this lens to any of the big primes. A little, yes; but not a lot. And no other zoom on the market, from any company and at any price, can offer the speed and quality this one does.
I've used this lens since 2007, on three different bodies: the D200, D300, and now the top-of-the-line 24-megapixel beast of the D3x. Even on the D3x, this lens provides more resolution than what the camera can deliver. Don't try this lens if you can't buy it... it's absolutely addictive. The one thing to keep in mind if you're moving into the "big guns" is that 7 pounds does not sound like much, until you're holding it up with your left hand for a few hours, a foot away from your face, and trying to hold it steady. Even with VR, long lenses do take some practice, some strength, and some technique; so get lots of practice, and don't expect to be able to get the very best possible quality from this (or any comparable) lens in your first few days or weeks with it.
Summary of Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
The world's first AF-S VR super-telephoto 200-400mm zoom lens. It combines four fixed focal length super-telephoto lenses into a single compact super-telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor lens. VR (Vibration Reducion) operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops faster. There are two VR Modes: Normal mode or Active Mode for when taking pictures with extreme movement. The lens automatically detects when the photographer is panning and compensates for it. The Nikon 200-400mm AF-S VR lens is compatible with Nikon TC-14E II, TC-17E II, and TC-20E II Teleconverters, AF operation only with TC14E II. The exclusive Silent Wave Motor enables ultra-high-speed autofocusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful super-quiet operation. The lens has 4 Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass elements which minimizes chromatic aberration and provides higher resolution and superior contrast. The minimum focus distance of 6.2 feet is maintained at all focal lengths. The Internal Focusing (IF) design provides smoother focusing and great body balance when shooting. The M/A mode enables instant switching from autofocus to manual with virtually no time lag even during AF servo operation. There is no power consumption during manual focus operation. The 9-bladed rounded diaphragm produces natural and attractive looking out-of-focus highlights. Nikon's D-type design provides precise distance information for flash and ambient light exposure processes. A detachable tripod mounting collar is provided with the lens. The G design enables apertures to be selected from select Nikon AF SLR camera bodies.Lenses
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