nikon 80-200mm 2.8 ed 1 touch review

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Average Ratings

Sharpness	10/10
Value for Money	9.8/10
Overall rating	10/10

100% Recommended4 out of 4 Reviews

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By chorizoman. on 12th Dec 2001

chorizoman.'s Ratings

Sharpness	10/10
Value for money	10/10
Overall value	10/10
chorizoman.'s recommendation

Good Points

Fast aperture and easy zooming. Sharpest lens I ever tried

Bad Points

Price for new one..shop for good used one unless you got $1100

General Comments

I have been back into photography after a 20yr break and wanted to get Nikon equipment this time around instead of the old pentax screwmount stuff I had used years ago. I bought a N70 and N90s a few months later and a battery of Tamaron, Vivitar and Sigma lenses from 19-35mm zooms, two mid range zooms to a 400mm APO. I tried to save money and avoided Nikon lenses because of the price but found I was starting to get paying part-time jobs that needed higher end equipment and faster apertures. When I would shoot bands in nightclubs and some clubs frowned on using flash, I was stressed using long exposures with my f3.8/4 wide angle and f5.6 telephotos. I finally decided to get a Nikon 80-200 f2.8 since I needed the zoom and fastest aperture available.

I shopped for 3 months on Ebay and most of the prices for used 80-200 f2.8 AF seemed to be between $640 to $800 and was going to get a Tokina or Sigma MF lense when a friend told me about a camera store near him that sold new and used Nikon equipment. I called and asked about those lenses and the saleman told me he had 2 in stock starting at $499. When I got there I expected to find beatup used junk with scratches and pieces missing. To my pleasant surprise I found both Nikons to be in near mint condition with hoods, caps and case. I tried the lenses out on a N90s they had available and the image was stunning. Sharp, clean, smooth Af and not as heavy as I thought. I bought it and rushed home. This lens is unbelievably sharp and fast for its size. I had a shoot that night and it was the greatest night of club shooting I had. I never realized how much contrast, clarity and speed I was missing. The next day I shot this same band in a warehouse recording studio with minimal lighting and got some great shots as well without using my sb-28 flash in some shots to gave the gritty atmosphere of the hard working musicans prepping their next album. Though I had my 19-35 f3.5 wide angle zoom, I used the 80-200 for 80% of the photos. I am sold on this lens and highly recommend it to anyone for almost any occasion from sports, portraits or indoor events. I have sold off all my lenses except for my wide angle zoom and this one and I am saving for a 20-35 Nikon f2.8 zoom.

view my photos with this lens at www.echoes.ws

Total Respect: +6