Nikon 80-200mm F2.8 - Talk to me!
Discussion
Evening,
I have been offered a Nikon 80-200mm AF-D F2.8 ED lens as per the photo below, by a local chap who doesn't want to sell it online or have the hassle of posting it to anyone.
As a consequence he has offered me it for £250 if I want it, and I can try it out with a few shots on my camera first to make sure I'm happy before parting with the cash.
It is seemingly in very good order and fully working, no marks on the optics etc.
It is obviously the older AF-D ED version as oppose to the newer VR 1 and VR 2 models.
Now, I found myself lusting after 80-200mm F2.8 lenses because my best telephoto (if you can call it that) at the moment is my all-purpose Nikon 18-200mm VR, and I find myself using it loads at 150-200mm and even wanting a bit more, due to me shooting a lot more events for people and finding that the 200mm end is giving really nice portraits, head and shoulder shots and a fair bit of nice bokeh. Plus I use it lots when shooting car shows for nice tight shots of light clusters and details, again with as much bokeh as I can.
So with all that in mind I think an 80-200mm 2.8 would be great but I was always unwilling to spend the money they command!
Now £250 seems really cheap to me, but my questions are:
Being the older AF-D ED model, is £250 a decent price?
Secondly, is this model lens a good one? I know everyone obsesses over the newer Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR lenses but they are still mega bucks, and I'm just a keen amateur who doesn't really want that much cash tied up on one lens, no matter how good it is!
Should I go for it?
Thanks
I have been offered a Nikon 80-200mm AF-D F2.8 ED lens as per the photo below, by a local chap who doesn't want to sell it online or have the hassle of posting it to anyone.
As a consequence he has offered me it for £250 if I want it, and I can try it out with a few shots on my camera first to make sure I'm happy before parting with the cash.
It is seemingly in very good order and fully working, no marks on the optics etc.
It is obviously the older AF-D ED version as oppose to the newer VR 1 and VR 2 models.
Now, I found myself lusting after 80-200mm F2.8 lenses because my best telephoto (if you can call it that) at the moment is my all-purpose Nikon 18-200mm VR, and I find myself using it loads at 150-200mm and even wanting a bit more, due to me shooting a lot more events for people and finding that the 200mm end is giving really nice portraits, head and shoulder shots and a fair bit of nice bokeh. Plus I use it lots when shooting car shows for nice tight shots of light clusters and details, again with as much bokeh as I can.
So with all that in mind I think an 80-200mm 2.8 would be great but I was always unwilling to spend the money they command!
Now £250 seems really cheap to me, but my questions are:
Being the older AF-D ED model, is £250 a decent price?
Secondly, is this model lens a good one? I know everyone obsesses over the newer Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR lenses but they are still mega bucks, and I'm just a keen amateur who doesn't really want that much cash tied up on one lens, no matter how good it is!
Should I go for it?
Thanks
I've not used one but they're very highly regarded, with some reviews suggesting that they're a match for the 70-200's in terms of pure optics, though obviously much slower AF and no VR or fancy coatings. The one in your pictures is the pick of AF-D ones. The earlier push-pull ones don't seem to be so popular. Sounds like a pretty good price too if it's in good nick.
By the way, I assume your body has a built in AF motor?
By the way, I assume your body has a built in AF motor?
NinjaPower said:
Thanks for that,
Yes, I use a D90 which autofocuses great with my other AF-D lenses.
As I said, I know £250 is cheap but I don't want to be buying an old model lens that is regarded as rubbish just because its cheap!
Rubbish, it most certainly won't be, unless it's bust! I realise Uncle Ken doesn't always speaketh the truth but I've generally found his lens reviews to be spot on (if not his conclusions). Read what he has to say about this:Yes, I use a D90 which autofocuses great with my other AF-D lenses.
As I said, I know £250 is cheap but I don't want to be buying an old model lens that is regarded as rubbish just because its cheap!
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/80200.htm
For the money, there is no competition. I have a Sigma 70-200 that is probably poorer optically but it cost me twice that.
RobDickinson said:
AFIK the 80-200 is supposed to be good on a crop.
It and the 70-200mk1 were poor on full frame in the corners etc which is what the vr2 has mostly improved on.
I'm sure the 80-200 will rock!
Sorry Rob I'll have to disagree with you on part of the above.It and the 70-200mk1 were poor on full frame in the corners etc which is what the vr2 has mostly improved on.
I'm sure the 80-200 will rock!
I've got the AF-S version and it's a superb lens which works well on both a D200 and D3. I understand the vignetting on full frame was a first gen 70-200 issue rather than the 80-200.
OP - At £250 grab it while you can it was and still is a quality bit of glass which will yield excellent results. Both the AF-D and AF-S generally sell for a lot more.
Fezant Pluckah said:
I have an even older version of this lens.
Mine has the pull-me/push-you zoom barrel.
It's a great lens, though mine, being somewhat older, is slower to focus and is heavy.
I took this piccie with mine on Monday:
That is a truly beautiful shot Mine has the pull-me/push-you zoom barrel.
It's a great lens, though mine, being somewhat older, is slower to focus and is heavy.
I took this piccie with mine on Monday:
I've always wanted a 80-200 2.8... Only 3 hours until I get my hands on it!
Well... I bought it at the agreed price of £250.
It had a few marks and scuffs on the metal body but optically it is as clean as a whistle. Not a single mark on the front or rear elements, and no hint of dust or anything inside. Obviously been well used but looked after.
The reason it was being sold so cheap was that the seller got left a heap of pro Nikon gear by his relative who was a lifelong professional photographer and had recently died. So all gear is being sold off for rock bottom prices just to get rid of it!
Anyway, I am already blown away by it. I have only shot a few pics with it as the weather is crap, but before it poured down I pointed it into the garden and snapped this:
Handheld at F3.5 and 155mm, just pointed at a pot plant!
Here is the untouched uncropped JPG right out the camera, and below is a really small crop of the plant which was the focus subject.
It had a few marks and scuffs on the metal body but optically it is as clean as a whistle. Not a single mark on the front or rear elements, and no hint of dust or anything inside. Obviously been well used but looked after.
The reason it was being sold so cheap was that the seller got left a heap of pro Nikon gear by his relative who was a lifelong professional photographer and had recently died. So all gear is being sold off for rock bottom prices just to get rid of it!
Anyway, I am already blown away by it. I have only shot a few pics with it as the weather is crap, but before it poured down I pointed it into the garden and snapped this:
Handheld at F3.5 and 155mm, just pointed at a pot plant!
Here is the untouched uncropped JPG right out the camera, and below is a really small crop of the plant which was the focus subject.
Nicely done, early shots look good.
NinjaPower said:
The reason it was being sold so cheap was that the seller got left a heap of pro Nikon gear by his relative who was a lifelong professional photographer and had recently died. So all gear is being sold off for rock bottom prices just to get rid of it!
Go on...AndWhyNot said:
Go on...
He had a load of AF-D primes and bags of other stuff, but to be perfectly honest I just paid for the lens and then left without having too much of a rummage as I am trying to limit my spending on gear at the moment and if I had got stuck in I may have ended up coming out of his house a minimum of £1000 lighter!He said he was going to start listing it on eBay bit by bit as and when he could be bothered once he works out the finer points of ebay use!
NinjaPower said:
He had a load of AF-D primes and bags of other stuff, but to be perfectly honest I just paid for the lens and then left without having too much of a rummage as I am trying to limit my spending on gear at the moment and if I had got stuck in I may have ended up coming out of his house a minimum of £1000 lighter!
Yebbut - you stag it for £2,000 Great first shot BTW. Big apertures and a steady hand are half the battle.
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