Thanks for the kind words. I have been a lot more busy with family and other projects. I hope to come back soon. Hopefully the camera business will still be around!
I had a chance to test this lens last weekend with a D7200. It balanced perfectly on the smaller camera and I was really impressed with the VR, AF, and image quality. The f2.8 on the same body is much more front-heavy and I feel would have been harder to shoot handheld all day. Another thing that gets overlooked in comparing the f2.8 and the f4 is that the f4 stops down further, so if you need a larger depth of field, or to block out more light on a bright day, you have more options there with the f/4.
Great review Brian..very polished and well produced..some stumbling with the odd mistake can easily be forgiven considering the quality of the rest of the segment ...ive subscribed to you channel ever since i caught the review of the iso tested between the D600 to D4..great work mate and keep the videos coming ..
Really good review of this lens Brian. As always in your videos a lot of detail and info about the product as well as an in depth discussion about performance. I've got the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR which suits my needs for the moment, and has good VR performance. By the way, the written product reviews on your web site are a great source of information and comment ! For me it's one of a few GOTO place for any info on NIKON products. Many thanks for all the efforts.
That was a great comprehensive review and this lens . The focus breathing on the 70-200 2.8 being at 135 mm at close distance is another reason why this lens is a great choice
This is my favorite video on RUclips by far. The way you describe the real attributes of a lens is great. The scripted reading is rad! Don't let these guys say anything
Yes.. thanks for the advice. Your statement is true. This was a one shot go. I had difficulty in the bright lights. I will work on it for future videos.
Hey, the 70-300mm VR is an excellent lens. I have used it frequently and truly enjoy its handling and performance. However, I do find it a bit soft at 300mm, I prefer using it under 240mm. Thanks for commenting.
+Sureshkumar Vairamani this one definitely. The 70-200mm f/4 has much better CA and the VR is amazing. If you strictly need the speed, go for the 2.8, but I would recommend a prime if you really need the speed of a larger aperture. Otherwise this 70-200mm is by far a better choice.
Just bought mine Christmas Eve. I'll be shooting a New Years Eve outdoor concert with it, a 17-55 f2.8 Nikkor and an 11-16 f2.8 Tokina all on a D7000. Can't wait to see how the 70-200 performs on tight closeups. My take on the review? Well done, except, as others have said, for the frequent closeups which are distracting. Perhaps if the teleprompter was on top of the video camera they would work better. Otherwise, good job.
Thanks for the review. A question for you... most of the subjects I'm interested in photographing are firefighters in action. These are often low light in motion situations shot handheld. It sounds like the f/2.8 version might be better for the low light and capturing motion, but the VR III would be better because I'm shooting hand held. Do you have any thoughts you could share? I'm not a professional, simply an amateur with an appreciation for quality.
Appreciate the feedback. We try to make a soundtrack for these long videos to give it a little pep (and cover the noise floor). We make them generic (copyright-free sounding..) in hopes they don't distract but I understand how 12 minutes of synth can get annoying. We'll make something less electronic for the next video so hopefully we can redeem ourselves :)
I would suggest the 2.8 for your circumstances. Freezing the motion is the key element, not hand held motion blur. Although the new VR III is fantastic, it won't make up for a blurred action shot in low light.
Well, don't be so critical. The 70-210 is not related to this version, as it was primarily designed to be an affordable solution. I would bet they did not leverage anything from that design. I believe it is fair to say that this is Nikon's first f/4 70-200mm pro-grade design.
Interesting review. 10 years later I just brought this lens used at a very good price (equivalent of approximately 400usd) overall very happy with it. Sounds like my copy is a bit better than your test copy as it's absolutely tack sharp wide open at 200mm except at very close focus distance were it needs to be stopped down to F5.6 to achieve maximum sharpness.
Of course Nikon claims that you get 5 stops with the VR on this lens. Hard to believe if one does the math: Old school rule of thumb for handholding = reciprocal of effective focal length = 1/300 of a second for a DX body like the D300 Now take 5 stops off that: 1/150, 1/75, 1/38, 1/19, 1/10 of a second. Same math at 70mm on a full frame sensor = 1/70 Less 5 stops: 1/35, 1/18, 1/9, 1/5, 1/2... good luck with that. Now perhaps an Olympic biathlete (ski & shoot) could hand hold it at that, but I seriously doubt anyone more mortal could pull that off, unless your standards for a "decent image" is you can make out the face of someone you know, or model of car filling the frame. Not that I wouldn't be open to Nikon loaning me one to prove me wrong ;)
***** Those are excellent points. However, the Sigma exhibits a bit of poor bokeh and its autofocus and VR system are not on par with this f/4 version. Further, if you are accustom to your 105mm and its excellence, you may be disappointed with the sigma compared to the quality of the Nikon. All in all, your points are accurate and I totally agree. The sigma clearly has its benefits and if you are unsure about the f/4 f/2.8 decision, better to go with the 2.8. David Polzine I agree with your shutter speed breakdown, and clearly this VR system doesn't claim the likelihood of motion blur. 5 stops of what accuracy of motion blur? Nikon doesn't specify. But regardless, this VR system is superior to any other system I have used, by a long shot. Like I said, it does impact composition. But it is awesome in terms of stabilization. I would be willing to loan you lenses if you want to try them out. I need help with reviews. Obviously your expertise could contribute greatly. Anyway, don't overlook this lens, it is impressive, but expensive. Guys thanks for checking out the review and your comments are always appreciated. Clearly, I need to continue to improve. I am always working on trying to better reviews.
Brian Tobey Hey man, Great in depth reviews.. Just wondering if your going to do a D7100 review.... D7100 vs D7000 vs D600??? let me know.. im just a D7000 shooter and seriously thinking about the upgrade, just not sure which way to go. have had the D800 in my sights since it came out, just slightly out of my price range..
Steven Wilson I have the D7100 in my hands now. I am working on a review for it. However, I do not have a D7000 to compare it against. But I will make some comparisons to the D600, and maybe even D800. However, those FX cameras still have a huge advantage. Unfortunately, based on my initial suspicious, I feel as if the D7100 is not going to offer much over the prior D90 or D7000. I hope to have something up on the D7100 within a months time. Thanks for commenting!
5 f-stops. It provides significant stability for handheld camera shake. 5 stops can be translated to 5 doubling factors of shutter speed. So where you might typically require a shutter speed of 1/250 with the VR off. however, with the VR on, it may be possible to shoot stable at 1/15 of a second. This is just a simple example.
mr toby, you put out decent videos.however,the music is a little too loud. may i suggest addition tracks that would be softer? tekken 4 - touch and go, inner shrine or groove armada's sand dunes.
It does, I have the d300, d700 and d610 all of them autofocus at f8 and all the way down to f32, but at 200mm it just hunt for focus so I set it about 180mm (360mm) and do a decent job
Thanks Brian to your superb review. I i now decided finally to go for the f4 version instead of f2,8., not simply due to financial reasons, but mostly because of its superb performance and weight. I will use it on my new D610 and also on the D300s. The 610 performs so well at higher ISO's so the f 2.8 does not make so much sense in my opinion f0r the "normal" photographer . Ken Rockwell was besides you the other persuader.
Great. Glad to hear. I think the f/4 is great for most situations. In fact I recently sold my f/2.8 version. Happy to hear you like the D610 as well. I have the D600 with the oil residue. But the sensor is great.
I hate to say, but it depends. Good question. I prefer Nikon, but both sigma and tamron do offer excellent products, especially in the 70-200mm range. However, the construction and professional quality of this lens is bar none better. The VR is better. But image quality may be a subjective topic between this and sigma and tamron. So in the end, it depends on the features you are looking for. This 70-200mm f/4 is outstanding, but obviously it comes at a cost.
The review sounds decently great. But I could not stand the cheap music longer, really. I though it was just for the beginning but it stays apparently all long !
Obviously well done, slight criticism.... Maybe a rehearsal of your material. It seems you are reading verbatim and seem a bit uncomfortable. In close up shots you are not looking at the camera, just saying... Your review is good and the information is useful .
Not a bad presentation Brian, but stay away from closeups when you have to read your subject matter, you don't look into the camera when you do, You aren't that familiar with the material and it doesn't sound like it's yours. Try rewriting the script in a vocabulary you are more comfortable with, it won't make it sound like you are reading from a Nikon brochure. Keep at it man you'll be doing reviews with the best of them. Don't take critique the wrong way Please. Keep Practicing and Good Job
Indeed your struggling while speaking and the close ups of your face looking at something else, seemingly a teleprompter, are very distracting. I like the music and lighting. More organic speech and less distracting close ups and you've got something here.
Brian, I am guessing you're reading the telepromtpter word for word. If you shoot photos regularly I don't think you need to be that critical in delivering your words. Simply write down ideas, or a broader rundown of what you will be talking about, do it by parts and edit the pieces together in post. There're many instances where you seem to struggle and it's hard for us to listen in a coherent manner. It almost sounded like you're being forced to do this :) Work on it bro! I know you can.
How come you stopped making videos man? They're great!
Thanks for the kind words. I have been a lot more busy with family and other projects. I hope to come back soon. Hopefully the camera business will still be around!
I had a chance to test this lens last weekend with a D7200. It balanced perfectly on the smaller camera and I was really impressed with the VR, AF, and image quality. The f2.8 on the same body is much more front-heavy and I feel would have been harder to shoot handheld all day.
Another thing that gets overlooked in comparing the f2.8 and the f4 is that the f4 stops down further, so if you need a larger depth of field, or to block out more light on a bright day, you have more options there with the f/4.
Great review Brian..very polished and well produced..some stumbling with the odd mistake can easily be forgiven considering the quality of the rest of the segment ...ive subscribed to you channel ever since i caught the review of the iso tested between the D600 to D4..great work mate and keep the videos coming ..
Really good review of this lens Brian. As always in your videos a lot of detail and info about the product as well as an in depth discussion about performance. I've got the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR which suits my needs for the moment, and has good VR performance. By the way, the written product reviews on your web site are a great source of information and comment ! For me it's one of a few GOTO place for any info on NIKON products. Many thanks for all the efforts.
That was a great comprehensive review and this lens . The focus breathing on the 70-200 2.8 being at 135 mm at close distance is another reason why this lens is a great choice
Yes, I agree. This lens is night and day more contained when it comes to focus breathing.
Thanks for the feedback.. Good tips for consideration for future reviews.
This is my favorite video on RUclips by far. The way you describe the real attributes of a lens is great. The scripted reading is rad! Don't let these guys say anything
+619RobdoG Thanks man... I need to get back into doing more reviews. thanks for your feadback
Thanks for the feedback. This is really appreciated. I hope to make better reviews in the future.
Thank you for the kind words. I hope to improve my review process. Thanks for watching.
Yes.. thanks for the advice. Your statement is true. This was a one shot go. I had difficulty in the bright lights. I will work on it for future videos.
Thanks for your feedback. I will consider it for my next videos!
Very good review. To the point and very informative! Thank you.
:o)
So want to get this lens! Great review!
Thanks for the great review of this lens. This will be my next lens to buy.
Thank you, I know I struggled a bit, but I hope it was concise enough.
Thanks. Working on a D7100 review currently.
Super video. One of the best I've seen, thank you for doing this
The re centering action is negated in sports vr mode
Hey, the 70-300mm VR is an excellent lens. I have used it frequently and truly enjoy its handling and performance. However, I do find it a bit soft at 300mm, I prefer using it under 240mm. Thanks for commenting.
Good review. I bought my copy a couple of months ago. Great lens!
Is it better to get the old built like take Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 or this new one with new VR system but two stops down?
+Sureshkumar Vairamani this one definitely. The 70-200mm f/4 has much better CA and the VR is amazing. If you strictly need the speed, go for the 2.8, but I would recommend a prime if you really need the speed of a larger aperture. Otherwise this 70-200mm is by far a better choice.
+Brian Tobey Thanks Brian for the fast response. Continue to do more reviews. Your reviews are awesome.
+Brian Tobey Also, if you can do the review for Nikon 16-35mm f/4G lens. Planning to buy that one.
gud work on ur suite ... for landscape photographer which lens do u recommend f/4 or 2.8
Great review; very useful. Thanks for all your effort.
Great review dude.
Just bought mine Christmas Eve. I'll be shooting a New Years Eve outdoor concert with it, a 17-55 f2.8 Nikkor and an 11-16 f2.8 Tokina all on a D7000. Can't wait to see how the 70-200 performs on tight closeups. My take on the review? Well done, except, as others have said, for the frequent closeups which are distracting. Perhaps if the teleprompter was on top of the video camera they would work better. Otherwise, good job.
Thanks for the feedback. How did the New Years Eve event turn out?
Brian Tobey
It turned out well I got some wicked shots with the 70-200 F4.
May I ask, what does it meant by 5 stops VR? Planning to get one of these soon. Thanks for your review!
could you please tell me that is this lens is good for sun starburst on photos?
This can produce starbursts but other older prime lenses with straighter diaphragms are better for sun starbursts.
Thanks for the review. A question for you... most of the subjects I'm interested in photographing are firefighters in action. These are often low light in motion situations shot handheld. It sounds like the f/2.8 version might be better for the low light and capturing motion, but the VR III would be better because I'm shooting hand held. Do you have any thoughts you could share?
I'm not a professional, simply an amateur with an appreciation for quality.
just bought this today cant wait to use it
Appreciate the feedback. We try to make a soundtrack for these long videos to give it a little pep (and cover the noise floor). We make them generic (copyright-free sounding..) in hopes they don't distract but I understand how 12 minutes of synth can get annoying. We'll make something less electronic for the next video so hopefully we can redeem ourselves :)
I would suggest the 2.8 for your circumstances. Freezing the motion is the key element, not hand held motion blur. Although the new VR III is fantastic, it won't make up for a blurred action shot in low light.
Well, don't be so critical. The 70-210 is not related to this version, as it was primarily designed to be an affordable solution. I would bet they did not leverage anything from that design. I believe it is fair to say that this is Nikon's first f/4 70-200mm pro-grade design.
Glad to hear. It is a great lens!
Interesting review. 10 years later I just brought this lens used at a very good price (equivalent of approximately 400usd) overall very happy with it.
Sounds like my copy is a bit better than your test copy as it's absolutely tack sharp wide open at 200mm except at very close focus distance were it needs to be stopped down to F5.6 to achieve maximum sharpness.
A question Nikon 70-200mm f/4G or Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 DI VC USD?
Please reply,,
New video review of the 70-200mm f/4G.
Of course Nikon claims that you get 5 stops with the VR on this lens. Hard to believe if one does the math:
Old school rule of thumb for handholding = reciprocal of effective focal length = 1/300 of a second for a DX body like the D300
Now take 5 stops off that: 1/150, 1/75, 1/38, 1/19, 1/10 of a second.
Same math at 70mm on a full frame sensor = 1/70
Less 5 stops: 1/35, 1/18, 1/9, 1/5, 1/2... good luck with that.
Now perhaps an Olympic biathlete (ski & shoot) could hand hold it at that, but I seriously doubt anyone more mortal could pull that off, unless your standards for a "decent image" is you can make out the face of someone you know, or model of car filling the frame.
Not that I wouldn't be open to Nikon loaning me one to prove me wrong ;)
***** Those are excellent points. However, the Sigma exhibits a bit of poor bokeh and its autofocus and VR system are not on par with this f/4 version. Further, if you are accustom to your 105mm and its excellence, you may be disappointed with the sigma compared to the quality of the Nikon. All in all, your points are accurate and I totally agree. The sigma clearly has its benefits and if you are unsure about the f/4 f/2.8 decision, better to go with the 2.8.
David Polzine I agree with your shutter speed breakdown, and clearly this VR system doesn't claim the likelihood of motion blur. 5 stops of what accuracy of motion blur? Nikon doesn't specify. But regardless, this VR system is superior to any other system I have used, by a long shot. Like I said, it does impact composition. But it is awesome in terms of stabilization. I would be willing to loan you lenses if you want to try them out. I need help with reviews. Obviously your expertise could contribute greatly. Anyway, don't overlook this lens, it is impressive, but expensive.
Guys thanks for checking out the review and your comments are always appreciated. Clearly, I need to continue to improve. I am always working on trying to better reviews.
Brian Tobey Hey man, Great in depth reviews.. Just wondering if your going to do a D7100 review.... D7100 vs D7000 vs D600??? let me know.. im just a D7000 shooter and seriously thinking about the upgrade, just not sure which way to go. have had the D800 in my sights since it came out, just slightly out of my price range..
Steven Wilson I have the D7100 in my hands now. I am working on a review for it. However, I do not have a D7000 to compare it against. But I will make some comparisons to the D600, and maybe even D800. However, those FX cameras still have a huge advantage. Unfortunately, based on my initial suspicious, I feel as if the D7100 is not going to offer much over the prior D90 or D7000. I hope to have something up on the D7100 within a months time. Thanks for commenting!
I don't know about this lens yet, but I've done 4 second long exposures hand held on other lenses and it was super sharp.
5 f-stops. It provides significant stability for handheld camera shake. 5 stops can be translated to 5 doubling factors of shutter speed. So where you might typically require a shutter speed of 1/250 with the VR off. however, with the VR on, it may be possible to shoot stable at 1/15 of a second. This is just a simple example.
Decent review but please, switch the annoying music off.
Yea I will work on it next time.
nicely reviewed !!!
mr toby, you put out decent videos.however,the music is a little too loud. may i suggest addition tracks that would be softer? tekken 4 - touch and go, inner shrine or groove armada's sand dunes.
Picking up this lens tomorrow to go with my recently purchased d7100, should b intresting.
Damn...good review!
I have got mine and I love it
hey i have the tc-20eii and a d300 camera do you know if i need to adjust a fine focus?
I don't think the D300 can autofocus well with the TC-20e II. Remember with this lens you would be at f/8.
It does, I have the d300, d700 and d610 all of them autofocus at f8 and all the way down to f32, but at 200mm it just hunt for focus so I set it about 180mm (360mm) and do a decent job
interesting. That is good to know. It is strange that it has issues at 180mm.
keep up the good work brian.
Maximum focus distance or minimum focus distance?
Luka Koprivica minimum
Oh its my material. It was written first, and I did not practice enough before the shoot. Next time I will practice more.
I loved the 70-200 f4, but for the cost, I went with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8
Thanks Brian to your superb review. I i now decided finally to go for the f4 version instead of f2,8., not simply due to financial reasons, but mostly because of its superb performance and weight. I will use it on my new D610 and also on the D300s. The 610 performs so well at higher ISO's so the f 2.8 does not make so much sense in my opinion f0r the "normal" photographer . Ken Rockwell was besides you the other persuader.
Great. Glad to hear. I think the f/4 is great for most situations. In fact I recently sold my f/2.8 version. Happy to hear you like the D610 as well. I have the D600 with the oil residue. But the sensor is great.
this or a sigma or tamron 70-200 2.8?
I hate to say, but it depends. Good question. I prefer Nikon, but both sigma and tamron do offer excellent products, especially in the 70-200mm range. However, the construction and professional quality of this lens is bar none better. The VR is better. But image quality may be a subjective topic between this and sigma and tamron. So in the end, it depends on the features you are looking for. This 70-200mm f/4 is outstanding, but obviously it comes at a cost.
Ohh great review! Im buying one mate.
Btw, skip the awful "copyright-free music", so annoying. I'd rather have a video without music
Nikon's first f/4 design? They've made a 70-210 f/4 AI-S (E series) and 70-210 f/4 AF. Some good info otherwise.
Thanks!
The review sounds decently great. But I could not stand the cheap music longer, really. I though it was just for the beginning but it stays apparently all long !
Obviously well done, slight criticism.... Maybe a rehearsal of your material. It seems you are reading verbatim and seem a bit uncomfortable. In close up shots you are not looking at the camera, just saying... Your review is good and the information is useful .
Nicely done! I would just as soon you'd not done all those facial close-ups - it's a little distracting cutting back and forth. Still, great job.
Got mine 2 days ago, another nikon winner in glass
I will work on better ambient music. It was poorly mixed in.
Good
What accent? Boston? New York??
Not a bad presentation Brian, but stay away from closeups when you have to read your subject matter, you don't look into the camera when you do, You aren't that familiar with the material and it doesn't sound like it's yours. Try rewriting the script in a vocabulary you are more comfortable with, it won't make it sound like you are reading from a Nikon brochure. Keep at it man you'll be doing reviews with the best of them. Don't take critique the wrong way Please. Keep Practicing and Good Job
Indeed your struggling while speaking and the close ups of your face looking at something else, seemingly a teleprompter, are very distracting. I like the music and lighting. More organic speech and less distracting close ups and you've got something here.
New York Originally
the f/4
The background "music" is totally distracting....degrades the presentation!
Brian, I am guessing you're reading the telepromtpter word for word. If you shoot photos regularly I don't think you need to be that critical in delivering your words. Simply write down ideas, or a broader rundown of what you will be talking about, do it by parts and edit the pieces together in post. There're many instances where you seem to struggle and it's hard for us to listen in a coherent manner. It almost sounded like you're being forced to do this :) Work on it bro! I know you can.
I'm sorry but I feel as if you're reading from a screen or something. I can't focus on what you say anymore =(
Majed S that is correct
I got my aftermarket tripod collar on Amazon. It cost me $40. Nikon is crazy. They want 0ver $200.
Got