80-400mm update this week? (1 Viewer)

[Pasquier]

Thanks for the pics, Les.
Looks like a good lens.
What does it handle / feel like.
It is a bit on the heavy side, but guess that's due to the sue of a lot of good glass.

 

[capdegat]

Hor Kee
I'm afraid I don't use VR at the moment as I prefer to use shutter speeds . In the next couple of days I will give it a go just to see.
Pasquier
It's fatter and about same length though the hood is much longer than my 300 f4 .I haven't had problems handling it so far .
Another from today which tells me I will get good pics if I get close enough !

 

[Pasquier]

Les,
looking good - will check it out this week!
Thanks for sharing.
P :t:

 

[JPAC]

Lens price is starting to drop already.

 

[Pasquier]

Lens price is starting to drop already.

Where....?

Curious - would be a good argument to wait a while.

8-P

 

[JPAC]

It was Amazon but they've put the price back up, very sneaky.
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod.php?n=NikonAF-S80-400mmf4.5-5.6GEDVR&p=4561

 

[RMWD]

Price drop is significant

Shame none of the high res links work. He seems to overlook the extra length and weight of the new lens. It's the £2,500 price that cripples it for me. If the D400 ever show up, they would make a great combination otherwise I'll seriously consider the Canon 7D2 and new 100-400mm.

Just bought mine from Mathers of Lancashire for £1999
It's really quite light when compared to what I normally carry.

 

[Pitvar]

Not sure if anyone has both yet but I'd be really interested in seeing a static test - something like the 80-400mm at 300mm and 400mm against the 300mm f4 - ideally taken with same settings, same camera static subject and then cropped [from the 400mm] to the same image size - don't want much do I It's just that I'm consdiering both lenses but generally avoid zooms as I don't get on with the quality. I did have the original 80-400 and couldn't cope with the focusing speed - which I believe is vastly better on the new one. Thanks in anticipation if anyone is minded to assist!

 

[JPAC]

Just bought mine from Mathers of Lancashire for £1999
It's really quite light when compared to what I normally carry.

That's a good price, is it UK or grey import? I forgot about Mathers.

My 80-400 old version manages fast jets very well on a D300, focusing speed was never a problem.

 

[capdegat]

Mine was from mathers too .I believe they're uk but lenses are always international guarantees anyway .
Pitvar
I still have both lens so will try to do a test.

 

[Pasquier]

This lens is getting good reports on the DPReview forums - will definitely be taking a closer look at it.

 

[Pitvar]

Mine was from mathers too .I believe they're uk but lenses are always international guarantees anyway .
Pitvar
I still have both lens so will try to do a test.

Thanks very much Les - would be very interested as my 300mm f2.8 is too much to take on family holidays etc so looking for a good quality compromise!

 

[RMWD]

Not sure if anyone has both yet but I'd be really interested in seeing a static test - something like the 80-400mm at 300mm and 400mm against the 300mm f4 - ideally taken with same settings, same camera static subject and then cropped [from the 400mm] to the same image size - don't want much do I It's just that I'm consdiering both lenses but generally avoid zooms as I don't get on with the quality. I did have the original 80-400 and couldn't cope with the focusing speed - which I believe is vastly better on the new one. Thanks in anticipation if anyone is minded to assist!

Here you go.

http://www.cjcphoto.net/lenstests/80-400afs/index.html

 

[Pitvar]

Here you go.

http://www.cjcphoto.net/lenstests/80-400afs/index.html

Thanks for the link - plenty of shots there and to my eye looks like the 80-400 just has it for sharpness over the 300m f4 but not a lot in it. Anyone else got a view? Cheers

 

[Hor Kee]

Teleconverters always adversely impact IQ. From what I've seen, the new 80-400mm is just as sharp as the bare 300mm f4 at the long 400mm end, and improves slightly when stopped down to f/8. Typical characteristic of this lens class, but impressive results nonetheless. Have you tried a VR efficacy test?

 

[RJM]

It's an impressive lens, no doubt. But there a many ways to get to 400mm-560mm F5.6-F8 that can yield equally impressive IQ at half the cost.

 

[JPAC]

Mathers has been included in the Camerapricebuster list now but their price has jumped £200!

 

[Birdman7]

New 80-400

Would love to try this lens on a Nikon body sometime, any1 purchased this lens already?

 

[Pasquier]

This lens does seem good for birding:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51317882

Some impressive photos in that discussion.

 

[Pasquier]

Here is an interesting appraisal by EJPiker an Naturescapes:
http://www.ejphoto.com/Quack PDF/Nikon 80-400.pdf
In combination with the D7100 it seems to be a very useful birding lens.