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Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED Autofocus VR Zoom Nikkor Lens | List Price: $1,599.99
Discount Price: $1,418.95
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Brand: Nikon
Binding: Electronics
Features: - Compact, lightweight 5x telephoto zoom lens
- Vibration Reduction operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed three stops faster
- VR automatically detected during panning operation
- Three ED glass elements ensure superior optical performance
- Nine-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements
AVOID! [Posted on 2007-12-18]
It might be a great lens, but I cant tell. The vendor cancelled the order without any explanation...leaving me in the lurch for Christmas. AVOID BUYING FROM DBROTH. They will dissappoint. Now I have no lens for my safari.
Better than competitors [Posted on 2008-03-15]
First I believed some reviews that the Sigma 80-400 would perform as good as the Nikon and cost 30% less. I bought one. After 2 years I bought this Nikon and it's much better than the Sigma. It's faster on focusing and it eats-up much less batteries. On Sigma using OS I could shoot about 100 pictures on a 10 Mp Nikon, now on the same Nikon D80 I shoot not less than 300 pictures always using VR.
Better finishing than the Sigma.
A bit heavy and maybe not up to the state-of-art. Focus could be faster and more precise comparing to other lenses.
I use it mostly with an f8 and that gives very sharp pictures.
I owe also a 400mm fixed f 3.5 but that's a completly differnt price class. Don't compare it to a fixed focus lens.
It's an excellent all-rounder zoom lens.
Would buy it again.
This Dog Will Hunt [Posted on 2008-05-02]
I bought this lens after reading many reviews. So, I went into the purchase already knowing that this lens wasn't perfect. I own multiple cameras in several formats and have been a Nikon shooter since the 1980's. I guess you'd call me an "advanced amateur". However, I was slow to enter the digital world and have a lot to learn after about two years with a D70s and an 18-200 Nikon VR zoom.
I found the 18-200 very versatile, but wanted the greater reach that the 80-400 VR offers. After a few weeks of shooting small desert wildlife, birds and cactus flowers in our yard, I think I have a feel for the performance I can expect. While certainly not a fast lens, it produces very sharp photos when the lens is tripod or monopod-mounted. The VR function works well, but at the long end of the zoom I have experienced some blurring with this lens when it was hand-held. As noted by many others, this lens tends to "hunt" if the lighting is not strong or the contrast is low. While this is a bit frustrating, I knew this would happen. I just got tired of waiting for Nikon to announce an AF-S version and made the plunge.
Considering the price I paid for this lens versus what I would have to pay for a faster Nikon lens with a similar zoom range, I was willing to accept its weaknesses. Overall, I think this was a good purchase - not perfect - but good. I recommend this lens as a good value for serious amateurs.
Need a zoom.....this is it! [Posted on 2008-07-26]
For bird watching and any distant viewing, this is the lens that will bring things in, clearly and sharply. Goes perfectly with my Nikon D300.
Love its manual focus capability, as well as its autofocus; VR (Vibration Reduction) feature works well.
Great lens but screames for an update [Posted on 2008-08-29]
This is one of Nikons 1st attempts at vibration reduction and although Nikon had the AFS focus technology at the time it was not included in the 80-400. The Nikon 300mm AFS f4 is of the same era but Nikon did the reverse on it leaving off the VR and including the AFS focus motor. I've had the 80-400 for a couple years before purchasing a 300mm AFS f4. I really love taking bird photos and the slow focus of the 80-400 leaves me with too many missed shots.
The 300 AFS f4 has replaced the 80-400 as the lens most often attached to my D200. The 300 AFS f4 focuses much faster, more accurately and being a prime lens is very sharp at f4 where the f5.6 on the 80-400 is a bit soft and I prefer to use at least f6.3. The 300 also has a closer minimum focus distance. I find that the 300 AFS f4 allows more keeper shots even if I have to crop a bit more. My results are that much sharper even hand held.
The frustrating part is that Nikon could improve both lenses by including AFS focus and their VR2 technology in both of these otherwise great lenses. Each time I see Nikon come out with another 18-whatever kit lens with AFS and VR2 I shake my head. Maybe Sigma's new 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF APO DG OS HSM for $849.00 will spur them on to an update. If I was looking for a reasonably priced zoom in this range and didn't want to wait for an update from Nikon I would certainly consider the Sigma.
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