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Nikon 70-300mm

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Those are good looking shots,especially the snake.Maybe I must be more patient with my lens and work more at it.

Best Wishes
Bruce
Johannesburg
SA
D300
70-300VR
17-55 f2.8
18-200VR
SB800
 
Howdy Bruce,

Thank you for your comments.

I've been using the 70-300 VR since it came out but I didn't so well with it at first.

I was coming from using 300mm lenses on film cameras and the digital DX sensor's crop factor magnified my errors beyond belief. I was also new to VR and that took a bit of getting used to. This old dawg is slow to learn new tricks :)

I would really encourage anyone using a new long lens to give it some time and practice developing good technique. By doing so you'll at least be better equipped to truly evaluate your lens and its level of performance.

Good luck to you.
--
-Holmes
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/
 
My thoughts on this lens. I've come to the conclusion that there is no perfect lens for everything , and if you do know the ins and outs of any lens , you can achieve great success at optimal costs,

I've tried the great 70-200vr zoom, and had the 80-200ED , really a great lens, I'v used the 180ED , which tops them all ,in IQ,at wide appertures, but only in certain sweet spots. A photograph is not just sharpness , but many other things as well ,

I was taking a few hours stroll along the local city seaport , I had the 70-300VR on me and took quite a few images , I could never lug a 70-200vr for that without suffering , and let me tell you that the 70-200vr wouldn have given me better results than the 70-300vr , in the following image,

I am now more in favour of having the lighter , lenses , such as the 70-300vr , and complementing it with faster glass for specific things , primes such as the 105VR and the new upcoming (hope hope) 180ED VR



--
avis
http://www.pbase.com/avistar/avi_s_photographic_world
Nikon D300, 50/1.4D, 17-55DX, AF-S VR 105/2.8G IF-ED
,AFS70-300VR, Gitzo 1228, 1198 and 1226 , sb800dx , sb600dx ,
 
Many nice pictures posted!

I have used the lens on a D80 but also the D300.

My copy is as sharp than my 70-200 VR (even tried another copy of the 70-200 VR). Of course it doesn't go very wide, but it is good for the price. The bokeh is the only thing IMO that might be annoying on occasion.

I have posted some pics before, sorry if I repeat myself.

Here is at 145 mm:



230 mm:



300 mm:










http://fling.zenfolio.com
 
Thanks Holmes! Same to you, your pics are really good!

Are your pics of the bald eagle(s) taken with the 70-300 VR? The pics are really nice!

I have yet not seen any bald eagles, but I hope to see one before I move back to Europe.

Btw, I forgot that about half (the last) of the pics from the Miramar Air Show were taken with the 70-300 VR.

http://fling.zenfolio.com/p653922828

http://fling.zenfolio.com
 
Thank you.

Yes, the eagle captures were all done with the 70-300 VR. I was shooting from a kayak on the North Platte river. The current is only 3-4 mph but it's still a testament to the usability and performance of that great lens. I'd not have been able to do that with my 300/f4!

Very nice air show pictures. I'll have to come visit you and you can take me to an airshow; afterwards, you come visit me and we'll go photograph eagles :)

--
-Holmes
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/
 
I did try both 70-200/2.8VR and 70-300VR. I noticed that images taken with 70-200/2.8VR are easy to sharpen in NX2 and easy to make them looking crisp compare to the images taken with 70-300VR. The same amount of sharpening creates more noise in images taken with 70-300VR.

The images from the 70-200/2.8VR do not look harsh compare to the images 70-300VR after applying NIK tonal contrast filter which helps to bring additional details.

It would be ideal to have 70-200/2.8VR in 70-300VR body. The size and weight are the only disadvantages of the 70-200/2.8VR and all pro zoom lenses.
lac111 said:
jbear said:
It's true...sample variation is this lens is very real. I had two
and sold both...very discouraged. I decided to try another because
the concept of a sharp, portable, VR lens in with this focal length
range is very appealing to me for hiking. Well...this third one is
very sharp, and while I'm not going to say that it is 80-200 AFS
sharp, it is very good. It loses some contrast at 300 5.6, but
resolution is there.
Click to expand...
Glad you got a good one. Sounds like the third one was the charm. ; )
The 70-300mmVR is killer for the price ( good copy that is), but it
isn't a pro lens and doesn't pretend to be one. I can definitely see
the difference in overall IQ and, for example, feather detail between
the 70-300mmVR and a 80-200 or especially the 300mm, but hey for the
price. You are so right about technique. I remember not being able
to get consistently sharp shots for the first couple of weeks with
it. Besides copy variation, I think whatever dissatisfaction there is
with it has to do with user error, or expecting pro lens IQ at 1/4
the price.
--
Lora
I've been on Dpreview since June 2006. Unfortunately, some posting
history has been lost along the way...

Click to expand...
 
MIC37 said:
Even though many people consider the Nikkor 70-300vr as a bestseller
and an excellent value , it is only useful under bright sun because
to achieve an acceptable sharpness for enlargements around 11x14 you
have to use at least aperture 14 with a shutter speed shorter than
1/800. Even at 100mm it is softer than my old 100/2.8E lens.
I was considering to buy it because of this price increase and
decided do not buy it.
In addition, I do not see the reason to have a zoom range started
from 70mm.
I would be more than happy to see a replacement as 100-300/4-5.6 VRII
with a tripod attachment and, maybe a macro capability.
Click to expand...
That is nonsense!!. If that is how you shoot then that explains the problems that you are having with it.

--
Laslo
http://www.digitalexpressionsphotography.com
 
MIC37 said:
It would be ideal to have 70-200/2.8VR in 70-300VR body. The size and
weight are the only disadvantages of the 70-200/2.8VR and all pro
zoom lenses.
Click to expand...
Well, you can't have everything. If you need a smaller 70-200 VR I guess a micro 4/3 system should work.

http://fling.zenfolio.com
 
70-300VR is an excellent lens. Three disadvantages:
  • Not sharp on DX beyond 220mm. Usable on FX for full range.
  • Definitely not pro build quality; don't bang it around!
  • f/5.6 for most of interesting range means you have to rely on high ISO. Again, good match for FX cameras; marginal on D300; limiting on
AF-S and VR work very well. Center sharpness is excellent (subject to limitations above); edge sharpness is moderate, but never terrible. Subjective IQ is very good (contrast, color, bokeh). CA is typical for the class of lens, i.e., can be quite bad at the long end. Well controlled over rest of range.

I highly recommend the lens.

Samples (all D50, actually):





Very low light, handheld, D50:



Extremely low light, handheld, D50:



Doug
 
I chose to take my 70-300vr to Costa Rica instead of my 70-200vr in the interest of consolidating space and limiting carry around weight. I was quite happy with the results of my photos. The first one was shot with my D300 at 5.6 (270 mm) and the second was shot with my backup D70S at 5.6 (300mm) at a 1/80 shutter speed....

http://barbarajosborn.zenfolio.com/p104906029/h1ba42f6d#h1ba42f6d
http://BarbaraJOsborn.zenfolio.com/p104906029/e146ba91c
--
Barbara O.

http://BarbaraJOsborn.Zenfolio.com/
 
Lately I had a chance to use my friend’s 70-300VR lens and must admit that it was a sharp copy.
His lens was incomparably sharper than a copy I used previously.
It is a shame for NIKON to have a such sample variation…
 
MIC37 said:
Lately I had a chance to use my friend’s 70-300VR lens and must admit
that it was a sharp copy.
His lens was incomparably sharper than a copy I used previously.
It is a shame for NIKON to have a such sample variation…
Click to expand...
You see. I might have been lucky with my copy, but it no softer than the 70-200 VR

@200 mm. However, it can't go to f2.8, of course... This is the only reason I am not using the lens any more.

http://fling.zenfolio.com
 
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