Optical quality; well built; outstanding handling; AF operation is quite fast on my F5 and F100, though it''''s a bit noisy on F4 (may be the problem is the camera body, not the lens). I think this is a perfect lens Nikon has ever produced.

It would be nice to have a built-in lens hood...the bigger front barrel makes it appear so. The lens does have a counter-torque when used with N90s, F100, or other light camera body. Understandably this is due the large front lens elements and mechanical movement. But with F5 it does wonderfully--fast and virtually no counter torque.

This is a great lens! It is very sharp, very well built and superb handling. Contrast and color rendition are outstanding! Personally I prefer this lens over the AF-S version, because it''''s smaller and a bit lighter, plus I don''''t need the silent operation, and this lens is already fast enough for my taste and shooting habit--landscape and portraiture.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8D ED-IF, Nikon 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6, Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED, Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Silent wave motor Fast focus operation MF/AF override is awesome Optical quality---superb Good contrast and outstanding color rendition on slides. The focus operation is very very smooth, no counter torque during operation, unlike the non AF-S version. This is because the AF-S version does not have the focus clutch connected to the camera body; the focus mechanism is in the lens itself.

The removable tripod collar is not quite as smooth as the AF-D version w/ tripod collar when rotating from horizontal to vertical. It may smoothen over time, but mine is still stiff and hard to turn. The lens is a little long and big for my taste, but understandably due to the silent wave motor.

This is a wonderful lens! Well built, very fast focus and silent. The optical quality is also wonderful, but I don''''t think it''''s much better than the non AF-S version and plus the current non AF-S version is about half the price, making it a better choice. Some people said this lens does a poor job at f/2.8, where the outside edge is about 1 stops underexposed compared to the center (you can see this by shooting the blue sky at f/2.8). I think this is to my advantage when shooting portraiture, especially when the subject is at the center of attention in the middle and everything else is soft and a little darker. And at f/2.8 it is still sharp! I bet my money the person below has not used or tested this lens to the fullest. The resulting prints (contrast and sharpness) are almost entirely due to the photo finisher''''s fault. To test it accurately, you need to use slides and with color that you know and like. I personally prefer the non AF-S version over this one, because 1) I use MF operation 80% of the time 2) it''''s expensive, 3) it''''s a little too big and heavy to hold. But for sports or action shooters this is it!

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED w/ Tripod Collar Nikon 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6, Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED, Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

A great solid feeling in your hands.

You will draw alot of attention when you shoot in a public location. Not always a bad thing!

This is a great lens! It''s well built and has a great feel when I use it on my F-100. When attached to my N80 back-up body it feels very front heavy but not a problem when you use the tripod mount on the lens. The contrast and sharpness of this lens is superior to my other non-pro lenses. A great value with the present $200 rebate.

Customer Service

None needed yet.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-105 3.5 Nikon 75-300 4.5 Sigma 17-35 2.8

Very well built! Good color! Good feel! and you will get people''s attention. Kids will think you are a pro and they will do all kinds of goofy things for you to photograph.

I knew it was heavy when I bought it.

This is a great lens! I use it on the Nikon F100 and N80, with the F100 having the better feel and focus speed. The quality and feel of this pro lens will make it one of my most used. Many reviewers have said they have had to return the lens for dust or repairs several times before getting a clean lens. My recomendation to all is to support your local photo shop. These people live and work in your area and most of the time they are eager to please. You might pay alittle more, but the information you gather might save you money over time. I''m very greatful to the people who work at M&Q Camera Syracuse N.Y

Customer Service

None yet! and I can return it to my local camera shop!

Similar Products Used:

Nikor 28-105 3.5-4.5 Nikor 75-300 4.5-5.6 Sigma 17-35 2.8-4

SHARP! and very contrasty! One of the most versitile focal lengths. Large aperture great for portraits, sports or low light shooting. Great for nature/landscape photography for its beautiful color rendition especially on fuji velvia. Great value when compared to pricey AFS version. Able to use Nikon TC-201 2x teleconverter to get a 160mm-400mm F5.6 nikkor!

77mm filters will be pricey but then again everything is relative. I highly recommend a good set of Heliopans. They are made with schott (Zeiss) glass so you will not lose any optical quality. Don''''t waste a lens of this quality by putting cheap low grade filters on it!

I have been fortunate enough to own this lens for about 2 years now and I have to say that IMO this has to be one of the best, most virsatile lenses made by Nikon. The Image quality is on par with my 50mm F1.4 prime lens. Slides shot with fuji provia are sharp as a tack from edge to edge and in the corners. This is probably due in part to the 3 elements of ED glass used in the optical formula. Great lens for shooting portraits, weddings, low light jazz clubs, and sports. I have also used this lens for covering SCCA pro-rally races for Motorsport. Auto fucus has kept up with every car I''''ve shot even with my F-100 ripping through film at 5 shots a second. The AFS lens is a touch quicker but if this one can keep up with 350 horse power all wheel drive pro-rally cars ripping down a gravel road at 70-105mph (at a distance of 25 feet!), how fast do you need? Used with a nikon TC-201 2X teleconverter you get a great manual focus 160mm-400mm F5.6 nikkor.

Customer Service

none needed thanks nikon!

Similar Products Used:

18mm-35mm F3.5-4.5 nikkor, 28mm-105mm F2.5-4.5 nikkor, 35mm-70mm F2.8 nikkor, 50mm F1.8 nikkor, 50mm F1.4 nikkor, 55mm F3.5 P.C. micro nikkor, Nikon TC-201 2X teleconverter

Fast Focus: especially with f100 and f5 Superb color renditionability Built like a tank Eye pleasing to look at Excellent buy Tripod mount works great and for me is an added bonus to place in the palm for hand held shots

Some say a little heavy-maybe, but everyone needs excersise now and then!!

On the hunt for an 80-200 zoom, I went to my local rental place and rented a Nikon AFS, "N" model and a Sigma 70-200 HSM. Went trecking up to the mountains for a day of some 4x4 fun and photography. Using a Nikon F100/MB-15, F3p/MD-4 and F3hp/MD-4, I set up for some early morning landscape shots. I set all three cameras on tripods with a lens each, at the same settings, on the same subject, and began to fire away as the sun came up. Later that day as everything warmed up, I took the F-100 and started shooting some mud kicking action, interchanging all 3 lenses. Then reset up for some sunset shots using the same technique that I had that morning. Had the slides developed. After careful and time consuming scanning of all slides by myself and a friend (who is the staff photographer for Red Rocks Amphitheater), we came to the following conclusion: Both the Nikon Lenses were not only tac sharp but the color renditions were absolutely beautiful, giving the slightest edge to the AFS. The Sigma, while slightly faster at focusing than the "N", was lacking in everything else. Not as bright and colors much duller than both Nikons, especially in the lanscape photo''s taken. Vignetting was very slight for the "N", not enough to warrant a concern (we looked hard) when set at f2.8 with the slower shutter speeds. There was considerably more for the Sigma and none for the AFS. While all three were spot on for the truck shots, I did not notice a considerable difference between the Sigma and "N" when it came to focusing. The AFS did hold an advantage over both in this area. Again, the Sigma did not have what it takes in the color and contrast departments to compare with the Nikons (it just felt "cheap" in comparison also). By the way, to be fair to all, I did not use any filters and I used Fuji Velvia. I bought the "N" model instead of the AFS because although the AFS was slightly ahead of it in certain aspects, the differences did not warrant an extra $600.00. I have had it now for 6 months, and have absolutely no regrets in my decision. I use this lens almost on a daily basis. For added oomph, add it to a Kenko Pro 2x convertor, you will not be sorry! The AFS is awsome, but in it''s own right the "N" is also and you will not go wrong or be disappointed with it! Oh yea, I took the $600.00 and bought an FM2/t which sits in my collection and am still taking sellable photo''s w

Customer Service

Not yet needed

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 70-200 HSM Nikon 80-200 AFS

Very well build

no sharpness and contrast at f2,8 as described above price

I just bought this lens for which I red great reviews. After first roll of the film I''m very disappointed. The result prints are of very low contrast and sharpness (at f2,8). Has someone else this same kind of problem??? I have to return the lens to the shop and hope for the immediate exchange. I also bought a MB15 for F100 along with this lens and it''s not working at all. This part already gone for the service. It seems NIKON has no QUALITY control at all. (or I have really BIG misfortune)

Customer Service

No experiencies up to now. Just sent MB-15 to the service.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor D 28-80, D 70-210, Sigma 24-70EX F80, F100

Quick enough AF for my needs. THREE ED elements. MTF 4.0 @ photodo.com. Solid tripod mount. 9 shutter blades for great bokeh at f/2.8-f/4.

No 360 degree collar. If it would rotate 20 degrees more counterclockwise from normal position it would clear my hands when zooming. Other than that, nada.

First Nikon glass, caught the double rebate the day after Christmas. I have an N80 w/ MB16 grip, balances like they were made for each other. Few rolls of RDPIII I''ve gotten back are unlike anything I''ve ever taken, but then I was used to a Sigma(Not even a semi-decent HSM). Focus limiter speeds up AF considerably, either limits infinity to ~9.5ft or 9.5ft to min focus dist of ~6ft.

Customer Service

Not on this & don''t expect to need it. 5 year warranty just in case. I somehow cracked the LCD on my N80, sent it to Nikon in NY and they fixed it under warranty.

Similar Products Used:

Tried 80-200 AFS, can''t afford, don''t need. Not that much faster IMHO, felt funny. Sigma 70-300 APO

Everything, Buy This lens it will change your life!

Nothing

This is a fantastic lens.I have owned this lens for just over a year and I simply cant put the thing down.I have an Nikon F100 Body and this lens works like a charm. The lens is really well finished and feels good to use.(I have the newer version with the tripod collar).When compared the the APS lens costing twice as much over here, this lens delivers the goods and gives nothing away to its hugely expensive stable mate. The Autofocus is fast and accurate, the images of this lens are stunning the colors are vivid and bright contast is great and the image is tack sharp.This lens is a bargain if you take your photography seriously and use it a lot. I find that it is especially good as a portrait lens you can walk around and snap away taking great candid shots of people and never miss a thing.Lets face it, I am addicted to this lens it has taken my photographs to another level and I can''t stop using it. Other lenses I have tried from the non brand lens makers like Sigma Tokina and Tamron dont even come close to this and the price''s here are not much different.

Customer Service

Have not used

Similar Products Used:

APS 80-200mm Lens Tokina 70-200 APO

Well built for superb handling. Tripod collar is excellent for landscape photography. Tack sharp images. Color reproduction is also excellent. The twist-on lens hood HB-7 is excellent when a polarizing filter is used...though difficult sometime to rotate with the hood in the way, but my hands are small...so it''''s ok with me. The 77mm filter-size thread is excellent...the same size as my other zooms. Handhold for portraits is also excellent...balances well with the F100, N90s or F4 (with MB-20).

No weaknesses, just a few complaints. 1) A bit heavy....but hey! size and wieght are not the main concern for a performance lens! 2) Would be nice to have a removeable tripod collor (much like the new version AF-S). 3) Built-in lens hood would be great (a hood with similar shape like the screw-in HN-28 for the old 80-200mm f/2.8 version).

This is a very sharp lens! My first try of this lens was photographing my cusins at their high school graduation commencement. Looking back I wondered how I could survive with my 70-300mm and 24-120mm. This lens is capable of producing superb images---colour redention and contrast. The version I have is the 2-ring with tripod collar, excellent for landscape photography. With a fixed f/2.8 it is very bright in the view finder. I love this lens! This and my 20-35mm zoom-Nikkor are my most used lenses.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200mm, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Canon FD 70-210mm f/4, EF 70-210mm f/4 Nikon AF Nikkor: 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED, 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6, 180mm f/2.8 ED, 85mm f/1.8D Sgma 28-105mm f/4-5.6, 105mm