Anyone tried this: Nikon AF 80-200mm f/2.8
- Thread starter Sparky874
- Start date
chancenorris
Active member
I bought the AF 80-200 F2.8 for my AF100 a month ago. I shot Kiteboarding footage of the Levee in Galveston Bay on a Sachtler FSB8 Soom tripod and lens combo was really stable.
I picked this lens up of Ebay for $700.00.
Just so your aware a few days before purchasing on Ebay I went into the Houston Camera Co-op to look at an AF 80-200 F2.8. I was able to try on my AF100 in store. Everything performed well and I was going to purchase for $760.00. During checkout another sales person grabbed the lens to show me the manual / auto ring and ended up breaking it and losing sale. ($150.00 dollar repair)
So make sure the auto / manual ring functions before purchase.
Other than that its a pretty nice range on AF100 160-400mm
I picked this lens up of Ebay for $700.00.
Just so your aware a few days before purchasing on Ebay I went into the Houston Camera Co-op to look at an AF 80-200 F2.8. I was able to try on my AF100 in store. Everything performed well and I was going to purchase for $760.00. During checkout another sales person grabbed the lens to show me the manual / auto ring and ended up breaking it and losing sale. ($150.00 dollar repair)
So make sure the auto / manual ring functions before purchase.
Other than that its a pretty nice range on AF100 160-400mm
gaffney film
Active member
I have the lens and love it. I am going to get it modded at Duclos. De-click and focus gear. I've also had the 70 200 and for my money as a video lens I prefer the 80-200.
Sparky874
Well-known member
Thanks guys, what is the exact model 80-200 you have? Is it the Nikon AF 80-200mm f/2.8 D ED. Do you have to use a support with it due to its weight? How sharp are you finding it? On paper it seems like a great solution.
Are you looking at this one http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/afd802028n.jpg or this push-pull version http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/af80200.jpg?
The former is said to be Nikon's sharpest 80-200 variant ever (except the newest 70-200 which lacks an aperture ring, so nogo there) and my experience shooting with several of the variants seems to confirm that. The push-pull version I don't know anything about.
Believe nothing Ken Rockwell says. Ever. Nikon's 200 f/2 is in a different UNIVERSE than even their sharpest 70/80-200. And that's wide open. Stop it down to the zoom's 2.8 and fuggetaboutit.
It's also like 4x the price, but if you've got the money, it's worth it.
Last edited:
Ron Rodenmeyer
Well-known member
I have the push-pull version (found quite cheaply on Craigslist) and have used it on my GH1 and GH2. I can't compare to the other model or newer 70-200 versions, but it looks amazing to me. The sharpness and contrast always blow me away. I use a Manfrotto support like this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554350-REG/Manfrotto_293_293_Telephoto_Lens_Support.html as to not destroy the GH2 mount. I haven't tried this lens on my AF100 at work yet, but I hope to very soon. I assume I'll need to use the support for it. Not sure what the max load for the AF100 is, but that Nikon zoom is H-E-A-V-Y.
Hi sparky,
The lens I believe you are looking at is the third lens in the "dream team" set of the Nikkor f/2.8 lenses: 17-35mm, 28-70mm, and 80-200mm. I own two out of the three, and am hoping to pick up the long zoom too.
Skip the "G" version, as it does not have an aperture ring. It will work with an adapter like the Novoflex - but nice to have the real thing and know exactly what stop you're at.
There are two different models to look at:
1) The older, non-AF-S version (just AF) dubbed the "ED". It is still available new:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124669-GREY/Nikon_1986_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_80_200mm_f_2_8D.html
2) The newer AF-S version dubbed the "ED-IF" (Internal focusing), that is one generation newer than the above lens, slightly superior image-wise (and a better match for the other two in the "dream team"), but strangely, discontinued. It has the fast Silent Wave auto-focus motor and is internal focusing. Lousy tripod collar, though. Here are links to used ones so you can see the difference:
http://www.keh.com/camera/Nikon-Autofocus-Zoom-Lenses/1/sku-NA07999034114R?r=FE and
http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20434271.html
The older generation 80-200mm that is still available new is still very, very good, however.
I hope this all helps.
The lens I believe you are looking at is the third lens in the "dream team" set of the Nikkor f/2.8 lenses: 17-35mm, 28-70mm, and 80-200mm. I own two out of the three, and am hoping to pick up the long zoom too.
Skip the "G" version, as it does not have an aperture ring. It will work with an adapter like the Novoflex - but nice to have the real thing and know exactly what stop you're at.
There are two different models to look at:
1) The older, non-AF-S version (just AF) dubbed the "ED". It is still available new:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124669-GREY/Nikon_1986_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_80_200mm_f_2_8D.html
2) The newer AF-S version dubbed the "ED-IF" (Internal focusing), that is one generation newer than the above lens, slightly superior image-wise (and a better match for the other two in the "dream team"), but strangely, discontinued. It has the fast Silent Wave auto-focus motor and is internal focusing. Lousy tripod collar, though. Here are links to used ones so you can see the difference:
http://www.keh.com/camera/Nikon-Autofocus-Zoom-Lenses/1/sku-NA07999034114R?r=FE and
http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20434271.html
The older generation 80-200mm that is still available new is still very, very good, however.
I hope this all helps.
manglerBMX
Veteran
i have the 17-35 and 80-200, great glass. but with the af100 you'll need a lens support. i went with the redrock support.
Bern Caughey
Veteran
Even wide-open the old push-pull 80-200 is plenty sharp for 1080P, but the front element rotates, & extends, so is not great with a matte box, or grads.
manglerBMX
Veteran
does the nikon 28-70 extend? i bought a tokina 28-70 2.8 nikon mount cause i thought it was the only one that didn't extend.
Toby Ralph
Member
I've just done a five week shoot using the 70-200 and a bunch of other Nikon lenses with the Novoflex adapter. I found the 70-200 very good, and as I was doing documentary work I used it a hell of a lot. For support I used a screw in donut and the Genus matte box on bars, which clamps quite tight to the front of the lens providing support. My other zoom was the 17-35. Both great for video shooting with matte box as they don't extend when zooming or focusing. I tried a 28-70, but the one I had access to did extend, and so was out of the picture for matte box use.
My only real issue was the shakiness when pulling focus. It's just too big a lever (the lens) on a very light fulcrum (the camera), which makes things very delicate indeed. all compounded by the lack of a good plate to get the rig onto a decent tripod. I managed to rig something up by adapting Miller and Genus bits.
Here's a pic.
My only real issue was the shakiness when pulling focus. It's just too big a lever (the lens) on a very light fulcrum (the camera), which makes things very delicate indeed. all compounded by the lack of a good plate to get the rig onto a decent tripod. I managed to rig something up by adapting Miller and Genus bits.
Here's a pic.
vicrattlehead
Well-known member
We've been shooting national TV spots with the 80-200 D lens and it is phenomenal! It does require a support out front, we use the redrock micro support. We're also using a Sachtler 15sb for our tripod. And the Novoflex adapter.
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Nice.
If you got a rail mounted support for that lens the shake would be a lot more minimized.
Michael Carter
Veteran
I've used the D-version forever, most recently for video on Canon rigs - haven't put one on an Af100, but there's something special about the 80-200's - they just have some kind of soul & mojo to the image. Bokeh, contrast, sharpness - it's luscious, and you can pick up the early AF versions for a few hundred bucks. If your matte box is on your rails, no worries there, if it's clamp on could be some hassles.
The Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 does not extend while focusing (so it is great as a variable prime, and is matte-box-friendly) - but it does, however, extend slightly while ZOOMING. If you must zoom (even though it's not really meant to be a cine zoom) then nun's knickers will probably do the trick.