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A few shots from the new 80-400mm AF-S VR...

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
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What's that?

I just got a 200-400mm f/4 VR and now I have the new 80-400mm AF-S VR?

As sharp as the 200-400mm is, I think the 80-400mm fulfills my needs better. For a zoom, portability becomes a lot more important. Nikon threw a little bit of a wrench into my plans by announcing the new 80-400mm so soon after I acquired the 200-400mm f/4, but the nice thing about used glass is that it maintains its value well. I'll be selling the 200-400mm.

The nice thing about the new 80-400mm is it's small enough that I can toss it in a backpack, which I did when I went to Florida on business earlier this week.

The new lens is pretty awesome. Fast to focus, very effective VR, and sharp @ 400mm wide open. Those were my three complaints with the old 80-400mm, and the reasons I didn't own one.

american white ibis.jpg

boat tailed grackle.jpg

D71_1486.jpg

D71_1820.jpg

red headed woodpecker.jpg
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,161
1,261
NC
I know that Kelby liked the lens and had good things to say, but it cracked me up that one of his negatives was size/weight. The guy has about a hundred pounds on me, and I feel like this lens is pretty compact.
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,161
1,261
NC
So...can I have your 200-400? Pretty please?
Yes. I'll even cut you a good deal on it :)

BTW, the 80-400 pics look sweet. Thats on your D7100?
Yep, I'm pretty happy about the whole kit. It may not have the quality of the D800 I was eyeing, plus the 200-400 f/4, but it's sure a lot more portable.

I did some testing... the 200-400 is still the sharpest lens I own. But the 80-400 gets a heck of a lot of the way there for the size.
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,161
1,261
NC
Yup... definitely don't hate this lens.

200-400mm f/4 sold a few days ago, I'm sure the owner will love it - he shoots motor sports.

803578.jpg

D71_1940.jpg
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,161
1,261
NC
We booked it through a company called Peak Planet in the US, who represents African Walking Company. Jenn did most of the trip shopping, as usual, but of all the people we contacted with questions, this one seemed the best - most friendly & knowledgeable.

Interestingly enough, National Geographic Expeditions - by far the most expensive tour we looked at, being something like $8k more - was the least friendly, the least knowledgeable, and took the longest to get back to us. Not sure if they're counting on their name to sell the trip, but it sure turned us off. It definitely wasn't the way to sell a premium product.
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,161
1,261
NC
It's even good with a 1.4x TC attached. Not a great shot, but I don't think there's any arguing that it's pretty sharp: