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REVIEWS:  Manufacturers:  Nikon:  35mm Primes:
200mm f/2.0 ED-IF Nikkor AI-S

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Nikon 200mm f/2.0 ED-IF Nikkor AI-S


 
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Rating
Reviewed by: 

nikon_junkie

( Intermediate)

Review Date
December 3, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5,
3 votes

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Review 1 of 7

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from ebay

Summary:

I think I got a great deal on this minty Nikon AIS version of a light vacum. It is a heavy beast, one that will definatly stay mounted on a mono pod. Once you learn the limitations of manual focus, using a monopod, it becomes a wonderful tool. I have shot soccer with this lense and can easily cover one quarter of the field with room to spare. I can't wait to use this thing for a wedding. This could be a primary lense in the case of an available light shooter. It's a spectacular portrait lense. Sports... basketball, foortball, soccer... well that is what autofocus is for dummy! Volleyball, swimming, baseball... things more stationary with slower moving athletes... one can adapt. Sometimes I regret I didn't give the 180mm f/2.8 AF a look first. One... the money saved would have been substantial. Two... more flexible hand holdable lense. All said I have no regrets. THE ONLY REASON TO BUY THIS LENSE is if you have a reason to need F/2 ALL THE TIME or want to do something different with your portraits.... then this is your baby! Sweet Sweet lense!

Strengths:

F/2, quality of image is unmatched by my 28,50,85,135mm primes.

Weaknesses:

200mm can be short or long depending on where you want to shoot. For example, high school basketball it is to slow (manual focus) to long (focal length). While for football it is too short (focal). Weight, cost, manual focus. Because it is so specialized I would consider giving it a 4 in overall rating, but nobody can do this with argueably the best optics ever produced by Nikon!



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Rating
Reviewed by: 

RogM

( Expert)

Review Date
February 6, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

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Review 2 of 7

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from eBay

Summary:

The 200mm f/2 ED-IF has had 2 or 3 variations since its introduction. The most desireable (from an optical standpoint at least) is the later version having the detachable sunshade and built-in protective filter. Earlier models were soft, or lacked contrast wide open, so are not as useful. I'm quite pleased with the later version (have an earlier one as well), often called the "coffee can" by the pros, it delivers as only the big Nikkors can--and this one is especially handy for digital use, where its 200mm becomes effectively 300. A 300mm f/2 is a lens to be reckoned with!

Strengths:

Later version has excellent optical performance at f/2. Lens fills a niche for low-light or moderate-range sports use, also a good lens for theatrical photography or indoor sports.

Weaknesses:

No AF, but this could be seen as a virtue, depending on application. Lens is designed for manual focus, so focusing is fast and precise--it just takes a little practice.

Similar Products Used:

300 f/2.8 S, 400 f/2.8, 400 f/3.5, 600 f/5.6

Customer Service:

First 200 f/2 I got from eBay had been abused. Sent it to Nikon, they returned it after 2 months, claiming it was "not economically repairable." However, the iris problem had been largely corrected, so I was happy--and it didn't cost me anything...



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Rating
Reviewed by: Michael Dixon
 (Professional)

Review Date
August 13, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
2 votes

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Review 3 of 7

Price Paid:  $3000.00 from ebay

Summary:

Absolutely fantastic lens, especially wide open. It's great for sports and especially for fashion photography. When used on the Nikon D100, D1x or Fuji S2 Pro it becomes a 300mm f2 lens.

Strengths:

Tack sharp wide open and one stop down.

Weaknesses:

Very heavy lens and not good for shooting hand held unless fast film is used.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 180mm f2.8 Zeiss 200mm f2.8 Zeiss 180mm f2.8 Nikkor 200mm f4



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Rating
Reviewed by: Kevin Jones
 (Expert)

Review Date
March 5, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5,
3 votes

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Review 4 of 7

Price Paid:  $2100.00 from Private party

Summary:

A wonderful lens especially for indoor sports. It produces sharper images wide open than the famous 300mm f/2.8 and the 400 f/2.8 It does not perform as well as the 300 when using the TC-14B teleconverter. I learned something about this lens recently from reading of all things, the owners manual. 52mm glass filters can be inserted into the gel filter drawer after removing the metal ring around the filter. I bought a number of extra gel filter holders from KEH for $14 each and now I have an assortment of glass filters in the holders for quick changing. I hate using gels!

Strengths:

Very sharp at f/2
Alot of money over 180mm f/2.8 for one stop but worth every penny.
Ideal for indoor sports.

Weaknesses:

It would be nice if the lens could handle screw-in filters in filter drawer.
The lens is heavy.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 AIS
Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 AIS
Nikkor 400mm f/2.8 AIS



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Rating
Reviewed by: Steve Strahan
 (Professional)

Review Date
November 23, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.86 of 5,
7 votes

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Review 5 of 7

Summary:

Incredible lens, period. Indespensible for sports and portraiture, this lens is a must have if you can find one at a reasonable price.

Strengths:

Extremely sharp wide open and at the wider apertures, which is what this lens is designed for. Portraits with this lens yield incredible out of focus backgrounds. With a TC-14, you get a 280/2.8 which also yields incredible results. Color reproduction is fantastic. WONDERFUL LENS!!

Weaknesses:

Heavy, but manageable to hand hold for short periods. The built-in hood could benefit from a lock in the in position.

Similar Products Used:

None



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