I was just on Phil Greenspun's Nikon page looking at the reader comments about the 80-200 f/2.8 lens. There were several comments about the new AFS version that suggest it to be a nearly perfect lens, however, the very last comment on the page (Dated May 18, 1999) made some comments about the lens vignetting noticably when wide open. I am looking at purchasing this lens within a month or so and had no reservations (except, of course, the price) about its supposed performance. Please let me know (soon) if there are problems with this lens or if this person happened to get a bad one from the start and just needs to replace it. Obviously I won't be doing all of my shooting wide open, but I would like to take advantage of the fast aperature this lens offers. So, if you have any experience with the AFS version of this lens, please let me know if this is a one-time incident or a common problem. Also, I'd appreciate any general comments about the lens' performance. Thanks in advance. Sean

-- Sean Haggerty (smhagger@mtu.edu), May 18, 1999

Answers

In the June 1999 issue of Popular Photography, they did a test on this lens. They concluded that it was "an outstanding, professional- caliber lens that is unsurpassed in its class, offering slightly better performance than even its illustrious predecessor."

-- Rodger Bantigue (rb643@yahoo.com), May 19, 1999.

I think you are being unduly optimistic about being able to purchase one in a month. I've had one on order since December 1998. I traded my last version Nikon 80-200 (the one with the collar) at that time. I've been without a 80-200 since. At the local store I frequent, there are at least 5 people waiting and I doubt the store will see 5 of those lenses any time soon.

-- Mark R. Haflich (jhaflich@erols.com), May 19, 1999.

I recently borrowed a friend's F5 to see if there really was a vignetting problem with this lens (my N90 doesn't help much with doing vignetting tests unless I snap a few test shots and have them developed). Anyway, on the F5 with the Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 AFS lens, with the lens at f/2.8 and the focal length set between 180 and 200mm, there *IS* definitely a bit of darkening at the edges,albeit *VERY* slight. This was observed while looking though the F5's viewfinder at a blue sky. Of course, this is a sample of one, but I've heard the same thing from a few other sources. Unfortunately, I don't have an older 80-200 f/2.8 to compare it to.

I must also say that I love this lens. It's my favorite and usually lives on my camera. With the TC-20e you get 160-400mm, although probably not good enough for publishing quality. I've also put a Canon 500D closeup filter on it and got reasonably good macro shots. Set at f/8, it's VERY sharp and contrasty, and shows no vignetting.

(BTW, my second favorite lens is the Nikon 20-35mm f/2.8 AF-D, which has no visible vignetting at any length or f-stop.)

-- Kristen Marie Robins (kristen@cisco.com), May 24, 1999.

Vignetting in the viewfinder doesn't necessarily mean it will vignette on the film. Among other reasons, the ground-glass screen with fresnel lens will probably be optimised for a shorter focal length lens.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), May 24, 1999.

Thanks for the comments on the lens. I am just waiting to get the money together and then place an order for the lens.

I just graduated this past weekend with my BSME and, the highlight of the rather boring ceremony was watching a pro photography manipulate-- guess what, the 80-200 AFS lens! This was my first 'in person' view of it (no, I resisted the urge to go over and talk to him before commencement). It sure is a handsome piece and the lens hood looks rather nice as well.

Please keep the comments coming...

-- Sean Haggerty (smhagger@mtu.edu), May 24, 1999.

I'd be the last person to try to talk you out of adding your name to a waiting list for the privilege of spending close to retail on this new lens, but I will remind other readers that B&H has its two-touch, tripod-ringed, ultra-fast-focusing, incredibly sharp, non-vignetting predecessor available for immediate delivery for $789 (grey-market -- at least $700 LESS than the new silent-motor version), which is one of the greatest professional photographic glass bargains in history. The difference in price would go a long ways towards helping to pay for a new F100 body or...?

-- Mark Hubbard (mhubbard@internews.org), May 31, 1999.

My 80-200/2.8 AF-S vignettes less than my two-ring, non-AFS version. All versions of these lenses have some fall-off wide-open; I have never found it to be objectionable.

-- Danny Weber (danny_weber@compuserve.com), June 01, 1999.