Review 2 of 64
Price Paid:
$900.00
from Individual Summary:
The lens does work well. It takes great images. The VR does work but dont believe the hype about total stability. It works well in daylight. I used it hand held and noted blurring in numerous images. I now use it on a monopod with the VR on and the limiy set to full. It works alot better on the monopod and distibutes the weight a little better. This lens is heavy and you feel it after carrying this thing around for awhile. Make sure you have good monopod, the big ones. I used it on a smaller monopod at first and that set up was not the best. After getting used to the lens and its limitations most of the images I get are great as far as being in focus. The image quality is on par for a high end Nikon Lens. The 400mm focal length is great for wildlife shots, though I never go all the way out to 400, image quality tends to suffer abit at the long range. Most people buy this thinking they can chunk the tripod, you will end up using a monopod, if nothing else to help with carrying this monster around. The plus is the images are great, color and detail. I used a Sigma 500mm APO as well. It took great images as well but only mounted on a tripod with more or less stationary subjects. The Sigma Lens works well and cost alot less, but it does limit you oprions of use and ease of use. The Sugma Lens does not feel near as nice in build quality as the Nikon. The Nikon is well built and sturdy. I love this lens, but it can get tiring if you do a alot of walking, the images usually make up for that. Look at like carrying a dumb bell around to excersise. Works great on my D200. Strengths:
VR, does help but is not the cure all. It takes great images just like you would expect for the money it costs. I got mine from a person I knew and the lens was in great condition. If you van find one for 1000 dollars or so it is worth every cent. New they are not priced to bad, but is still alot of money.
Excellent feel and build quality. I would recommend this lens and would have paid full price if I had not got the deal I got. It is worth it. Weaknesses:
It is heavy and slow in focusing, but it is abig lens. I do not if this is really a weakness for what it is designed to do. I do not think it was intended for action sports. I have used it for sports and got some great shots. It just takes some paitence. I think the price ought to be a little lower with the other VR Lenses that Nikon has come out with, but this is really the only Nikon Vr targeted to nature shooters in this price range, so they kinda got us. Similar Products Used:
Sugma 170-500mm APO-Not to bad of a lens. I got mine for 550 at a local camera shop new. Tripod required.
Nikon 300mm-Not long enough, excellent images.
Nikon 200mm F2.8-Great images, way to short for wildlife at a distance. Handy when limited on light. I have used a teleconverter on it but got mixed results depending on conditions.
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