Nikon 80-200 AFS 2.8 vs 70-200 AFS VR1 2.8 - added test pics

kman

kman

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Has anyone made the transition between these two lens?

If so, what are your thoughts in terms of difference in IQ, build, the VR benefit etc...

I'm toying with the idea of changing the 80-200 for a 70-200 primarily for the VR.
 
I haven't made the transition, but I have an observation which may be helpful.

The 70-200 VR Mk I was notable for having been clearly optimised for a DX sensor. Whilst it is of course an FX lens, the sharpness falls away quite markedly outside the central DX-sized area. (And that's perhaps quite understandable, when you consider that the lens was designed back in the days before Nikon made any FX DSLRs.)

Since you shoot with a D700, that might be an issue for you.
 
Yes I have heard issues with vignetting on the 70-200 on full frame but could do with some confirmation.
 
I use mine with a D700 and have zero issues with it. It is a beautiful piece of kit.

Dave.
 
i went from 70-200 2.8 to a 80-200 2.8 and found very little difference for the money. £600 compared to £1000
however in low light, i find the edges on the image alot darker with the 80-200
 
I've now got my 70-200 as well as the 80-200 (for sale), so decided to do some comparison tests, for future reference to anyone who's considering either of these lens.

Shots were set up on tripod, same settings, shot raw with sharpness setting to 25 in LR, NO output sharpening. Focus is on the right hand edge of the picture frame.

All shots taken wide open @ 2.8

1. Lens: 24-70, 70mm:


2. Lens: 70-200, 80mm:



3. 80-200, 80mm:



100% Crops of the above

4. 24-70 70mm



5. 70-200 80mm



6. 80-200 80mm



200mm test shots coming up
 
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70-200 200mm



80-200 200mm



Crops

70-200 200mm



80-200 200mm



My conclusions are that both these are sharper than the still super sharp 24-70mm. At the short end the 70-200 is a bit sharper at full zoom theres virtually nothing in it, if anything I'd give it to the 80-200
 
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Kman, there is vignetting on all three if you look :) Even the good old 24-70 (which is definitely softer than the 80/70-200, interesting how it always gets raved about...)

Did you have vignetting control turned on in CaptureNX afterwards?
 
Yes these were taken full frame (d700). I'm sure on the D300s/D90 dx sensor wouldnt have the same vignetting. I keep the vignette correction to normal in camera for jpeg shots but i shot these raw, imported to LR and no correction applied. Also, whilst vignetting occurs I think just the composition I had used in my bedroom with the flash and natural shadows exagerrates it a bit.

In my normal workflow PP i fix it anyway so its not an issue for me.
 
Your 24-70 at 70mm wide open doesn't look right to me.

Not a surprise the longer zooms are sharper at their shortest focus distance than the short zoom at its longest, but your 24-70 is actually soft IMHO, which isn't right.
 
Hmm ok I think I need to perhaps take another shot with the 24-70 - tbh I kinda rushed the shot as this wasn't part of the test so maybe something wasnt right or there is an issue with the lens. But I've used the 24-70 the most and have never found images from it to be soft in general shooting wide open.
 
I've retaken the shot with the 24-70 and its sharper now. Also think flickr is doing something too cos theyre even sharper before upload!
 
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