Customer Reviews for Nikon Inc. AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
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Nikon Inc. AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
High-performance, high-speed telephoto zoom is a superb choice for sports and portraits, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Average Customer Rating:
(55 Reviews) 55
Rating Snapshot 55 reviews
5 stars
45
4 stars
9
3 stars
0
2 stars
1
1 star
0
54 out of 55(98%)customers recommend this product.
Customer Reviews for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Review 1 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Symmetre
Location Toronto, ON
Age 45-54
Favorite Subject Travel
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience More than a year
Role Professional photographer
I have used this lens on assignments around the world. It's been dropped, splashed with salt water, left in hot vehicles for hours on end, caked in sand, and no matter what I do with it, it continues to make extraordinary pictures every time out. It focuses nearly as fast as the 70-200 AFS, yet it is noticeably smaller and lighter, and best of all it costs one-third less! Yet its optical performance is absolutely unreal. Sharpness, contrast and colour fidelity are spectacular. Distortion is minimal, ghosts and flare are unheard-of. It's built like a tank.
Several people have asked me why I don't upgrade to the 70-200 AFS with VR, but in all honesty I just don't see what I would gain. This lens does everything I ask of it and more. Wonderful lens that every photographer should have in their bag.
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+133points
Review 2 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Hindsight
Location Denver, CO
Age 35-44
Favorite Subject Sports
Nikon Family 6-10 years
Experience More than a year
Role Professional photographer
This lens has been fantastic for shooting horse shows, and for everything else as well. It's a little long for close up work but if you've got room to back up does fine for portraits. Always sharp, and very fast, it is a fine sub for the twice as expensive 70-200. It's heavy though, be sure and get a more elastic foam type strap for long outings to avoid neck chaff. Good for indoors especially w today's awesome high ISO sensors. Most indoor arenas can be shot at ISO 3200 or less at 2.8 without flash.
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+50points
Review 3 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Great Lens
PostedMarch 23, 2013
Joe C LI NY
Location Long Island, New York, USA
Age Over 65
Favorite Subject Family & Friends
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience 1-3 months
Role Serious passion, hobbyist
I have used this lens a few times under different solutions & have found it to be very reliable, incredibly sharp easy to use in close to distant shots in an instant. I only have it 3 months this winter season & can't wait to use it a great deal more the rest of the year when the weather is agreeable. So far I have only hand held this lens with excellent results but this lens is best used on a tripod where its full potential can be explored.I attached 4 of the most recent hand held shots in sequence of the gull flying/landing & the dog came out of nowhere & I adjusted & got him too.! All in one motion & zooming in/out thats how easily this heavy duty lens reacted. The heavy weight is offset by the excellent results achieved.
My product recommendations
D300S
(92)
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.2
(13)
AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
(234)Share:
0points
Review 4 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
No Faults
PostedMarch 5, 2013
MartinC
Location San Diego, CA, USA
Age 45-54
Favorite Subject Landscape
Nikon Family 6-10 years
Experience More than a year
Role Serious passion, hobbyist
I have used this lens for 5 years for thousands of shots, primarily at soccer games. It is built like a tank, optically excellent and great value. For sports VR doesn't help so for me the choice was easy beween the newer 70-200 VR and the 80-200. I have used this lens on a D200 and now on a D7000 and in both cases focus is fast and precise despite the 'old' screw drive focus.
There really isn't any more to say, I just wish all the newer lenses were as solid as this one.
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+4points
Review 5 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Superb optic quality, sturdy and solid and yes, FAST AF
PostedJanuary 18, 2013
Irak P.
Location Mexico City, D.F., Mexico
Age 35-44
Favorite Subject Sports
Nikon Family 6-10 years
Experience More than a year
Role Professional photographer
I've had my copy for about 4 years and there are a lot to say about it, i'll start with the:
PROS
Incredible image quality continuously from f2.8 to f11 where diffraction kicks but still usable results.
Sharp CORNER TO CORNER also from 2.8. The Bokeh is just beautiful wide open (slight loss in roundness at the corners) and acceptable up to 5.6, if the subject to background distance is enough the blur is super creamy and ethereal.
Sharp CORNER TO CORNER also from 2.8. The Bokeh is just beautiful wide open (slight loss in roundness at the corners) and acceptable up to 5.6, if the subject to background distance is enough the blur is super creamy and ethereal.
But this tank is not all this girly stuff... It is extremely well build, solid and sturdy, absolutely not a delicate lens, it can take well use and abuse, all internal focusing is welcome and front element slightly inside the outer rim making it safer. The limiting device works just fine but you might never use it if you leave it in full because this lens ALMOST NEVER HUNTS OR LOOSES C-AF, which is actually very very fast.
I do a lot of Collage Basketball and Volleyball, and its AF speed is enough, only I have tried the 70-200 AF-S vr II and yes, it focuses a slight almost unnoticeable faster the new one. (Is it worth the 2x Price?...)
Overall it is a fantastic lens that i have to say to all the people that say it is heavy, well... are'n all the good lenses a bit heavy? It is certainly not that heavy, not for the quality of this gem.
The tripod collar has a perfect quality in the movements, yo can leave it slightly loose and then rotate orientation vertical to horizontal as many times your framing dictates and it won't loose further or get tighter at all, the best I've tried in that matter. All japanese quality, here is far superior to the new 70-200 VR II.
Some may encounter the fall-off from 135 to 200 a little bit too much (only at 2.8, by 4.0 it is unnoticeable) I don't, in fact is pleasant for me, if you don't like it Lightroom has the lens profile and wipes the fall-off very fast and also DXO does a great job automatically. (I prefer the results from lightroom).
CONTRA (yes... singular, not plural)
The ring that selects manual or AF it is terrible, it is flimsy as its placement is awkward, exactly where the lens rests when handheld, you keep pushing the button all the time, and eventually, due to the poor quality of the plasticky ring you end up breaking it. I've break it 3 times, last time I didn't send it repaired and glued the stuff in place, surprisingly Its holding on better than new.
Summarizing, if you want to shoot gym or sidecourt sports you wont use the VR of the new lens anyway, (it will slow your AF therefore FPS if you use release+focus or focus release priority, so BETTER GET OR KEEP THIS ONE. If you don't shoot sports and you use this one for portraits, GET OR KEEP THIS ONE. Only for quicker situations (male basketball for instance) might be BETTER THE AF-S of the new 70-200, and the difference is a slight one. For the weddings i find the AF-S of the new one QUIETER and more suitable than this 80-200 because of the 70 length instead of the 80 and the slight better close focus capacity of the AF-S VR II... That is why I'll get the new one and only for that.
I hope this was useful for your decision.
My product recommendations
HB-7 Bayonet Lens Hood
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+5points
Review 6 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Very strong lens.......
PostedDecember 2, 2012
Patt
Age 55-65
Favorite Subject Landscape
Nikon Family 6-10 years
Experience More than a year
Role Semi-professional photographer
What a strong lens,........I have several Nikon lenses,all very fine. But this baby is perfect for my D700.I feel it has substance,some may call it heavy..I do not. It is wel balanced,focuses faster than all my lenses...and is razor sharp...Do not hesitate to purchase this lens....
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+4points
Review 7 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Amazing 80-200mm 2.8D lens!
PostedFebruary 28, 2012
imagesbytommyg
Location Worcester, MA
Age 25-34
Favorite Subject Portrait
Nikon Family 2-5 years
Experience 1-3 months
Role Semi-professional photographer
I have had this lens for almost two months now as a replacement to another zoom model (non Nikon) and it is amazing. The price is right, it is very sharp and is average in weight for this focal range. The build quality is phenomenal and makes me proud to walk around with a pro-lens. Great job Nikon!
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+5points
Review 8 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
What a great 2.8f Zoom for a great price
PostedSeptember 14, 2011
Alewigi
Location Johannesburg, South Africa
Age 35-44
Favorite Subject Portrait
Nikon Family 0-1 years
Experience More than 10 years
Role Professional photographer
If you are starting out as a pro or a serious photographer, and looking for a 2.8f pro zoom, this is the lens to get. Period! The results on a D300s is almost the same as the newer much more expensive 70-200mm and you will hardly miss the extra f-stop. I Love This lens, Bokeh is beautiful! Daytime or low light... With the Crop factor of 1.5 on the D300s, I actually have a 102-300mm. It fits nicely in smaller camera bags. Looks really good on the camera. Performs every time. Pin sharp pictures, you can really crop. Weddings, Wildlife, Watch out.. I'm coming for you.
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+14points
Review 9 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
MOST VERSATILE
PostedJuly 31, 2011
SWEDE
Location PALM COAST FLORIDA
Age Over 65
Favorite Subject Nature
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience More than a year
Role Professional photographer
This is my most used lens. It is versatile, easy to hold, has great glass, and has not failed me in any weahter condition anywhere in the world
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+5points
Review 10 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Lens I have wanted for years
PostedJuly 7, 2011
BK
Location Manchester, Ct
Age 55-65
Favorite Subject Family & Friends
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience 1-3 months
Role Serious passion, hobbyist
This lens I have had my eye on for years. Back in the day with family, it was not in the budget. This is a fantastic lens, affordable, with quality glass. It works great on the D7000, and my old N8008. The quality of the pictures is amazing. For the price, this is a bargain. The VR on the newer 70-200 is not all the impressive, for an extra $1000 plus dollars. This is a great lens, and should not be overlooked.
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+7points
Review 11 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
A great quality lens very sharp and fast
PostedApril 18, 2011
Nickolaas
Location Idaho Falls
Age 45-54
Favorite Subject Sports
Nikon Family 11-20 years
Experience 1-3 months
Role Professional photographer
This is a great lens I shoot sports. I have found this lens to focus super fast with wonderful sharpness.
I would highly recomend it.
I would highly recomend it.
Share:
-1point
Review 12 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Best zoom telephoto I have ever owned
PostedApril 14, 2011
crow
Location Vallejo CA
Age 55-65
Favorite Subject Portrait
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience 6-12 months
Role Semi-professional photographer
This zoom is the best I have ever owned. Its sharp and focus is fast. As for speed this lens combined with my D-700 is exceptional. I've owned Nikon since 1968 and I think they have out done themselfs this time.
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+4points
Review 13 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
The best all around zoom
PostedApril 14, 2011
Ed
Location Southern CA
Age 45-54
Favorite Subject Portrait
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience 6-12 months
Role Professional photographer
The 80-200 D f2.8 two ring lense has always been a favorite. The amazing quality throughout the full range of zoom and apeture is spectacular. I also like the boca the lens creates. There are few lenses that really help create great images this is one of them. This is the second time owning this lens. I will kepp it until I accidentally drop it of a cliff or loose it in the ocean.
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+2points
Review 14 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Great lens, a work horse.
PostedApril 14, 2011
lou's photos
Location Sunnyvale, Ca
Age 35-44
Favorite Subject Sports
Experience 1-3 months
Role Professional photographer
I'm a freelance sport photographer for an online newspaper. Since buying this lens all of my sport photography has been shot with this lens. It has fast focus and very nice bokeh. It's built like a tank and I feel like it will be around for a long time to come.
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+6points
Review 15 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Superior performance, built like a tank
PostedApril 14, 2011
R adn Photography
Location Florida
Age 55-65
Favorite Subject Sports
Nikon Family 11-20 years
Experience More than a year
Role Professional photographer
I have owned and shot with this lens for about four years now. it is the most reliable and durable lens I can imagine.
The images are tack sharp. I have compared it to the latest stabilized Nikon lens with no discernible difference in image qualities.While shooting high school sports this lens was slammed, dropped, and generally torture tested but never failed to perform even when the auto focus switch was broken, I held it in place and shot the second half.of the game. As a matter of fact I shot four more months before I had the lens repaired.
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+9points
Review 16 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Great lens but a bit heavy
PostedApril 14, 2011
Cellar1
Location Guelph Ontario Canada
Age Over 65
Favorite Subject Travel
Nikon Family 6-10 years
Experience More than a year
Role Serious passion, hobbyist
I have had this lens for about two years and find that the lens takes high quality photos. The lens is quite heavy but this is expected as the lens is quite large.
I have carried this lens on many trips and excursions around the world and canoing and camping in areas close to my home.
I am certainly pleased with the lens. If I had the available cash I might even consider purchasing a 400mm lens as I enjoy taking photos of birds and animals and sometimes it is hard to get close enough with the 200mm lens. I don't have any difficulty using the lens even when I have had to hold my camers above crowds of people.
I would definitely recommned this lens. I shied away from the VR lens as I have had some issues with VR with another camera where the VR setting made focusing a bit of an issue!! And VR is supposed to make focusing easier!! Go figure.
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-1point
Review 17 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
An underrated lens
PostedApril 14, 2011
BWCombs
Location Dallas
Age 55-65
Favorite Subject Landscape
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience More than 10 years
Role Semi-professional photographer
I've had this lens for some time now, and have used it with film and digital, and to this day, marvel at its performance. I do not shoot sports or anything requiring speed and such. But for a constant f/2.8 lens this is a wonderful addition to anyone's bag. And it's affordable.
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+3points
Review 18 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Top notch lens for a great price.
PostedApril 14, 2011
Abraxsis
Location Kentucky
Age 25-34
Favorite Subject Nature
Nikon Family 2-5 years
Experience More than a year
Role Semi-professional photographer
For the price this lens is top notch. Really sharp and fast focus. Some people thumb their noses at it because it doesn't have VR in it. In my opinion you should know how to use a proper pro lens without VR, then use VR only in those instances where it is absolutely needed. The only con to this lens is it doesn't come with a hood, nor is there a petal hood available for it (which I feel is better). I have used this lens on Micro 4/3rds camera and it is STELLAR, better than the lenses available from those companies.
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+8points
Review 19 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
Sweet Lens & a Steal of a Deal
PostedMarch 25, 2011
Wm Gardner Photography
Location Central Wisconsin, USA
Age 35-44
Favorite Subject Landscape
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience More than a year
Role Professional photographer
This was the first "good" telephoto lens I bought. What a difference! Over the years, this lens has been around the country with me a few times now. It is not as fast focusing as the new AS-F lenses but the image quality is such that I will have a hard time ever switching to the 70-200 versions.
I use my 80-200 for both landscape photography and as a part of my portrait photography business. It is hard for me to find anything bad to say about this lens. Despite all the new product offerings, if I had to replace this lens, it would likely be with another 80-200!
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+4points
Review 20 for AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
Overall rating
This lens is a beast...
PostedJanuary 23, 2011
DG
Location Brentwood Ca
Age 45-54
Favorite Subject Nature
Nikon Family 6-10 years
Experience More than a year
Role Serious passion, hobbyist
If you are shooting sports, indoor events, portraits, close up wildlife...ok anything at all where a lens with a focal length between 80mm and 200mm is needed, this lens will not disappoint! if you buy it, you will love it! image quality is as good as it gets. it is f/2.8 fast-built to be abused and just wont let you down! it is heavy but lots of glass always is!
Wouldnt be caught without it!
Wouldnt be caught without it!
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+11points