Nikon AF Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED Lens

Pros: Take professional level photos at consumer prices.
Cons: No built-in tripod mount (not a big deal get a second party tripod mount)

The Nikkor 80-200 f2.8 ED-D lens is one of 4 variants of the Nikon 80-200 lens series. The push-pull variant had an older Non-D version and the ED-D version which allows for 3D lighting information. There are 2 newer lenses that have 2 zoom rings. This ...

Pros: Extremely sharp, fast maximum aperture throughout zoom range, rugged, very good ergonomics, etc, etc...
Cons: Heavy, but not unreasonably so for a lens with this speed and optical quality.

Which lens am I actually reviewing? Good question. There are several versions of this lens, and it can be difficult to keep them all straight. This is the "Nikon Nikkor 80-200mm 2.8D AF Macro Zoom ED" lens (description from the box that came with the ...

Pros: very fast focus and silent
Cons: price

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...

Pros: Superb optical quality, AF is fast. Well built, a Pro quality!
Cons: None

Updated: August 2002, November 2002.

INTRODUCTION

I am reviewing the Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED w/ Tripod Collar (the 2-ring one with separate focusing and zooming), and I will call it in this review as Nikon 80-200mm...

Pros: Fast lens, professional construction,
Cons: Weight, price

This review is about the newer two ring version of the same lens mentioned above. If you are searching for this kind of lens, you must already now how good it is! Very fast aperture (f2.8 at all distances, you can shoot inside a cave and still have...

Pros: Awesome optics
Cons: No tripod mount, HEAVY

This review is for the “Push pull” "D" version of the lens not the newer two ring version (The picture above is the one I am reviewing). I have to recommend this lens to any serious photographer who wants a versatile zoom lens without giving...

Pros: ED glass. Sharpness
Cons: A bit heavy but not bad.

I just recently purchased this lens and got the slides back today. A very impressive telephoto zoom with very sharp contrasty results. I was actually trying to win a AFS-80-200MM F2.8 on Ebay recently but lost out. Decided to buy this one new. I don't regret doing so. With the three ED elements in this zoom it produces some very nice shots. The Macro on this lens is also very good. This lens along with the AFS 17-35MM F2.8 will be all I'll need to cover landscape. Both lenses are of excellent quality. I've been using primes for 20 years. These two lenses are on par or better with sharpness & contrast compared to the primes with the convenience of a zoom range.

Pros: Constant f/2.8 - Image Quality
Cons: Heavy

Optically, one of the best (and fastest) long zoom Nikon ever made. AF might not be as quick as some AF-S models, but it's fast enough, especially when using the Limiter option.

With its constant f/2.8 aperture throughout its focal range, the 80~200 allows you to render razor sharp subjects with silky soft backgrounds. Even in low-light conditions, like in a theater or concert, subtle gradation of light is captured impressively thanks to its three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements.

Except for newer (and more expensive) VR (vibration Reduction) lenses, long telephotos perform best on a tripod or a sturdy monopod to prevent camera shake. I keep a monopod permanently attached to its small, but adequate supplied lens collar.

On a digital SLR (x1.5 crop ratio), the lens reaches out to a whopping 120~300mm at f/2.8! However, as in most pro-models, the lens is built like a tank and weights nearly as much. Perhaps not the glass you want to tote around all day at Disney World, but if exceptional image quality is what you seek in a super fast, medium to long zoom, look no further than this.