Need suggestions on Nikon telephoto lens.

[saintleo]

Hi I've owned a Nikon AF 80-200 F/2.8 (push pull model) for many years now and it still works perfectly. It's optics are sharp and and produces great sports images when I go shoot some rugby matches.

However I want to make a change to the Nikon AF-S 80-200 F/2.8, but according to kenrockwell.com it is no longer in production, furthur more it seems there are more people in favor of the Nikon AF-D 80-200 F/2.8.

I need some help in deciding which to get. Firstly, I also need to confirm if the AF-S 80-200 still exsist in shops today.

I know there is the more modern 70-200 but that thing blows my budget. So I won't be getting that.

And I'd like to know from people who own either one of the 80-200, their opinions on which is more worth getting. Also it would help if people who own them could tell me roughly how much it cost in stores today.

Thanks, hope to hear some contributions soon.

[stupidbloke]

hey bro
Yeah i own the af d version. Its a great lens i bought it at a thousand second hand. Only thing its a little soft at the 200 end. Yes the afs still available. Not easy to find. You can still find the afd new at cathay for 1.6

[giantcanopy]

The AFS version was discontinued in 2003 with the 70-200mm being the replacement.

Here is the link from Nikon :

http://www.nikon-image.com/eng/Lineup/discon.htm

Probably not be easy to get one new because it was unsold for so long

The AFD version is still much in production. ( On Nikon's existing catalogue alongside 70-200 )
The pricing you can check from the pricelist, or call the shops for a quote :

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=458315

Ryan

[luna_sea83]

AF-S 80-200 still could be found at the shop beside CP Peninsula but its 2nd hand.

[saintleo]

Hi Luna_sea83, are you refering to that second hand camera shop that sells those old old cameras like the Mamiya cameras etc? And would you happen to know how much it cost? Thanks.

[saintleo]

Originally Posted by stupidbloke hey bro Yeah i own the af d version. Its a great lens i bought it at a thousand second hand. Only thing its a little soft at the 200 end. Yes the afs still available. Not easy to find. You can still find the afd new at cathay for 1.6

So after using the 80-200 AFD would you recomend that over the AFS model suppose I were to obtain a good copy of it. Currently the debate going on in my head is

1) Sell my Nikon AF 80-200 F/2.8 (One Touch)

2) Which to choose: AFD or AFS (Apparently a first hand 70-200 blows my budget into bits and pieces)

If any one else can give their 2 cents about which is better I'd really appreciate it.

[luna_sea83]

I remember the pricing shd be ard 1.6-1.7k, yes its tht 2nd hand shop.

well i would still recommand the afd 2 touch ver, least it doesnt give u motor problem in the future, but the afs has a very nice flower petal hood.

[saintleo]

Originally Posted by luna_sea83 I remember the pricing shd be ard 1.6-1.7k, yes its tht 2nd hand shop. well i would still recommand the afd 2 touch ver, least it doesnt give u motor problem in the future, but the afs has a very nice flower petal hood.

Potential for motor problems, uh oh...damn...the AF-D doesnt come with a hood?

[erictan8888]

why not consider the 300mm f4....
that is a very sharp value for money telephoto lens.... (unless you need the zoom)

[saintleo]

Originally Posted by erictan8888 why not consider the 300mm f4.... that is a very sharp lavue for money telephoto lens.... (unless you need the zoom)

Yep I need the zoom for framing and composing pictures, also after comparing the 80-400 and 80-200 series, I've concluded that the 80-200 would be more practicle to carry around because of its sharpness, and quality, after all I've been using the push pull 80-200 F2.8, since 1991 and its been a product that with stood time. But after long years, guess its time to upgrade this guy But thanks for your suggestion!

[YSLee]

You sound like you're upgrading for the sake of it. If you can use the slower AF of the one-touch in a rugby match, I don't see much need for upgrading.

[achtungbaby]

Originally Posted by saintleo Yep I need the zoom for framing and composing pictures, also after comparing the 80-400 and 80-200 series, I've concluded that the 80-200 would be more practicle to carry around because of its sharpness, and quality, after all I've been using the push pull 80-200 F2.8, since 1991 and its been a product that with stood time. But after long years, guess its time to upgrade this guy But thanks for your suggestion!

If u need the zoom n budget is a constraint, may I suggest u look at the newer AFS 70-300mm VR2. This is really a surprising sharp lens n have used it myself to take rugby pics. And it's very handy!

2nd hand can be gotten for around $700++

[luna_sea83]

the AFD 2 touch version does not comes with hood, you have to buy 1 from shops outside and its not easily available,

but however, if budget allows and mainly using for day shoots, y not consider 80-400? it even enables u to capture expression clearly.

[jnet6]

AF-S 80-200 has been replaced by AF-S 70-200VR quite sometime ago(more than 5 yrs, based on release date from nikon sg 2003) , so what you can find in the shops are 2nd hand as mention by other. Please take note of that.

[saintleo]

Originally Posted by luna_sea83 the AFD 2 touch version does not comes with hood, you have to buy 1 from shops outside and its not easily available, but however, if budget allows and mainly using for day shoots, y not consider 80-400? it even enables u to capture expression clearly.

RE: the 80-400, at first I was pretty attracted to it, your right it gives me a much better telephoto range and from kenrockwell.com the lens doesn't produce ghosting effect not as much as the 80-200. But I'm trying to keep all my lenses an F/2.8 lens. So the F Stop is a criteria.

RE: the guy above who said upgrading for the sake up upgrading, thats actually quite true...makes me think of why am i even bothering with an upgrade, but the 80-200 push pull has an irritating creeping effect,

Thanks every one for your input, I have shortened the list to the 80-200 AFD or 70-200 AFS
gotta see which will give me more bang for my buck.

So far I have had some one call me yesterday to give me some suggestions and he said the 80-200 AFD has a very bad M/A switch as it is only a thin strip of plastic so it cracks easily.

[zac08]

Honestly speaking... if you can live with the creep problem, the zoom speed on a pull-push is way faster than with a turn zoom.

[saintleo]

Originally Posted by zac08 Honestly speaking... if you can live with the creep problem, the zoom speed on a pull-push is way faster than with a turn zoom.

Man...faster than the AF-D? For real?

[jnet6]

Originally Posted by saintleo So far I have had some one call me yesterday to give me some suggestions and he said the 80-200 AFD has a very bad M/A switch as it is only a thin strip of plastic so it cracks easily.

Yes, i repair before @ nsc near $200. i didn't remember the exact amount.

[saintleo]

Ah 200 isn't so bad, but I just wouldnt want it to break on me while I'm back packing. Anyway any one got any comments regarding comment made on the 80-200 F/2.8 push pull is faster than the AFD version?

[zac08]

Originally Posted by saintleo Man...faster than the AF-D? For real?

Zooming speed... not the focusing speed. From Kenrockwell, he favours the newer (after 1997) AF-D version and says the pullpush is much slower in focusing....