{"id":2211,"date":"2010-10-15T10:33:48","date_gmt":"2010-10-15T18:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/?p=2211"},"modified":"2017-01-23T16:20:41","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T01:20:41","slug":"comparing-nikon-zoom-lenses-80-200mm-f2-8d-vs-70-200mm-f2-8-g-vrii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/comparing-nikon-zoom-lenses-80-200mm-f2-8d-vs-70-200mm-f2-8-g-vrii\/","title":{"rendered":"Comparing Nikon Zoom Lenses: 80-200mm f2.8D vs. 70-200mm f2.8 G VRII"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/forms.aweber.com\/form\/23\/73008123.js\"><\/script><br \/>\nThe other day I received an email from a reader, we&#8217;ll call him &#8220;Larry,&#8221; who had a question about Nikon lenses. Larry is currently in the market for a telephoto lens, and, being a smart shopper, he did some research and somehow ended up landing on my blog.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s read that I use a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/124669-USA\/Nikon_1986_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_80_200mm_f_2_8D.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon AF 80-200mm f2.8D ED<\/a> lens for my work. Seeing some of the imagery that I&#8217;ve captured with that particular lens, he figured that it might be a good choice for him as well.<\/p>\n<p>However, he&#8217;s also read that the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/644741-USA\/Nikon_2185_AF_S_Nikkor_70_200mm_f_2_8G.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f2.8G ED VRII<\/a> is also a great lens, and since it&#8217;s a more up to date model with Vibration Reduction technology, he&#8217;s having trouble making up his mind. Normally, a decision like that would be a no brainer- you get the newer model, the 70-200mm.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, though, the 70-200mm costs twice as much as the 80-200mm. Current street price is $2169.00, whereas the 80-200mm doesn&#8217;t even break the thousand dollar mark. Current street price on that lens is $999.00.<\/p>\n<p>Larry wanted to know why I use the 80-200mm and not the 70-200mm, and if I had to shop for a new telephoto today if I&#8217;d make the same choice. I told him my answer, but then it occurred to me that Larry is probably not the only photographer out there trying to decide between the two models, so I&#8217;ll tell you exactly what I told him.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2212\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2212\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/124669-USA\/Nikon_1986_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_80_200mm_f_2_8D.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2212  \" title=\"80-200\" src=\"http:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/80-200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/80-200.jpg 500w, https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/80-200-300x172.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2212\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8D ED Telephoto Lens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #444444;\">Nikon 80-200 f\/2.8 D ED Lens<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/124669-USA\/Nikon_1986_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_80_200mm_f_2_8D.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8D ED<\/a> is an outstanding lens. I bought mine fourteen years ago. Back then, that lens didn&#8217;t even come with a tripod collar. I have the one with the single push-pull zoom that controls both focal length and manual focus. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kenrockwell.com\/nikon\/images1\/80-200mm-f28-d\/80-200mm-f28-d-950.jpg\">See a photo of that model here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Nikon upgraded that lens in 1997. The gave it dual rotating zoom rings, one for focal length and one for focus, and they stuck on a tripod collar. That version has been out ever since then, and as I said, it&#8217;s an outstanding lens that produces excellent, professional quality results and tack sharp imagery.<\/p>\n<p>Someday maybe I&#8217;ll get around to trading mine in for one of those models. I&#8217;d probably make good use of the tripod collar, although for the type of work I do, I mostly shoot hand held with that lens and get great results.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2213\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2213\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/644741-USA\/Nikon_2185_AF_S_Nikkor_70_200mm_f_2_8G.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2213 \" title=\"70-200\" src=\"http:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/70-200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/70-200.jpg 500w, https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/70-200-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/70-200-473x300.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2213\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8G ED VRII Telephoto Lens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #444444;\">Nikon AF-S Zoom 70-200 f\/2.8 G ED VRII<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/644741-USA\/Nikon_2185_AF_S_Nikkor_70_200mm_f_2_8G.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8G ED VRII<\/a> is also an outstanding lens that produces excellent quality imagery. It has the faster, AF-S autofocus system, which is great for quick action and sports, and it has Vibration Reduction, which is a feature that obviously attracts many potential buyers. A photographer could not do any wrong buying that lens. However, as I said, it costs over twice as much.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #444444;\">So, which one should you buy?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Unless you absolutely need the AF-S for very fast sports and money is no option, then I&#8217;d recommend the 80-200mm f2.8, especially if you have one of the high ISO capable bodies like the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/592951-REG\/Nikon_25442_D3x_SLR_Digital_Camera.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon D3x<\/a> or the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/570162-REG\/Nikon_25444_D700_SLR_Digital_Camera.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon D700<\/a>. It&#8217;s a great all around zoom telephoto for a variety of outdoor photography, sports, landscapes and portraits. If I had to choose on today, I&#8217;d go that route and here&#8217;s why.<\/p>\n<p>As I said, I often hand hold my 80-200mm, and with the high ISO performance of the newer Nikon DSLR bodies, I just don&#8217;t see that I&#8217;d use the VR often enough to justify the cost. Chances are, most of the time you&#8217;d need the VR, your subject is moving anyway, so it wouldn&#8217;t really make a difference. If your subject is not moving, then make use of that tripod collar and screw it on to a set of legs. You&#8217;ll probably get better results anyway.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the 80-200 lens has a much lower profile tripod collar than the 70-200. You can take off the foot on the 70-200, but the rest of the collar still sticks out pretty far below the lens. That makes the 80-200 that much more compact if you&#8217;re packing it in somewhere. Overall, it&#8217;s a smaller, lighter lens anyway. And it has an aperture ring, so you can use it on an older SLR body if you&#8217;ve got one lying around. You can&#8217;t use the G-series Nikon lenses with a manual film body like the FM-2<\/p>\n<p>Finally, there&#8217;s the AF-S factor. Sure, I&#8217;d love to have AF-S \u00a0for some of the subjects that I shoot. However, in real life applications, the Nikon 80-200mm AF\u00a0focuses about 80% as fast as the AF-S on the 70-200mm. It&#8217;s no slouch.\u00a0I do just fine without AF-S on my newer Nikon bodies, even when shooting things like skiing and kayaking.<\/p>\n<p>So, my real world advice on this matter stands. Buy the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/124669-USA\/Nikon_1986_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_80_200mm_f_2_8D.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">80-200mm f2.8D ED<\/a>, and use the extra thousand bucks to buy something else, like another lens. Or two more lenses. Or put it towards a second body or a new computer. The 80-200mm is an awesome lens and so is $1,000 cash. I guarantee, you won&#8217;t be disappointed with either.<\/p>\n<p><strong>EDIT March 2013: <\/strong>As technology and products evolve, I have a new recommendation. I suggest that you take a serious look at the new\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/897230-REG\/Nikon_2202_NIKKOR_AF_S_70_200mm_f_4_0G.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\">Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f\/4G ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens<\/a>. It&#8217;s considerably lighter and less expensive than the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/644741-USA\/Nikon_2185_AF_S_Nikkor_70_200mm_f_2_8G.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8G ED VRI<\/a>, ($1,399) and it has Nikon&#8217;s 3rd Generation VR system.<\/p>\n<p>Since I bought this lens last month, it has become my go-to adventure and outdoor telephoto zoom. It&#8217;s got full pro specs, with Nano Crystal Coat, ED glass and an AF-S motor, and the image quality is excellent. Your only tradeoff is that you lose a single stop. It&#8217;s f\/4, but while that would have made a big difference with film, with today&#8217;s digital cameras, it&#8217;s really not much of a factor.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/full-review-the-nikon-70-200mm-f4g-ed-vr-lens\/\">Read my full review of the new Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f\/4G ED VR lens here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/nikon-70-200-f4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"286\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Finally, if your lens buying stars align properly and your credit card cooperates, you can show your appreciation for this review by\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/124669-USA\/Nikon_1986_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_80_200mm_f_2_8D.html\/BI\/5871\/KBID\/6746\" target=\"_blank\">ordering it here at B&amp;H Photo<\/a>. Doing so will throw a tiny bit of cash my way and it won&#8217;t add any additional cost to your order. It can be your way of saying, &#8220;Hey Dan, you rock!&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The other day I received an email from a reader, we&#8217;ll call him &#8220;Larry,&#8221; who had a question about Nikon lenses. Larry is currently in the market for a telephoto lens, and, being a smart shopper, he did some research and somehow ended up landing on my blog. He&#8217;s read that I use a Nikon [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,185],"tags":[22,231,23,230,98,219,20,89,149,234,525,233,232],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2211"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2211"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19079,"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2211\/revisions\/19079"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/danbaileyphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}