Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens USA

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

Yes, it's all it's supposed to be and then some. However, you should really consider what you'll use the lens for. People buy this lens and then end up leaving it at home because it's heavy and unweildy. If you're the type that likes to walk around taking photos you'll find yourself wanting a good backpack such as the Think Tank Glass Taxi to give yourself a rest occasionally. It's the sharpest lens I've ever used and the bokeh is beautiful. However, it won't turn you into a brilliant photographer if you not one already. It takes a while to master this lens as the DOF is critical.

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

We orden the lens, B&H shipped an open item without front cap. We contacted them, they sent us a bag intead of front cap.

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

Oh well. I am just a hobbyist/enthusiast photographer. So, one (me) could debate if the expense is justified. However, before I have Wall Street gamble my money away I rather invest it into something that holds its value. No kidding. (Just don't tell my wife. Haha!)

I used to shoot a 70-200/f2.8 VRII for a while that I borrowed from a good friend (Thanks, Andy!) The 70-200 is indeed one of the finest lenses available (and so is the 24-70/f2.8, IMO). I have seen Pro's using the 70-200, but I found the 70-200 was a little too soft at f/2.8 for my taste. Plus, I don't really like using zooms.
Zooms indeed add flexibility when walking around town or shooting weddings. But for me, zooming is way too much to manage in action situations. It distracts me from what's happening in front of my lens.
I lately like to shoot action/sports in low light (evening rodeo, indoors sports, fashion runs) and this 200/f2 lens just shines in low light conditions! Sharpness, bokeh, color representation, CA and object separation are simply amazing!
If one doesn't need the low-light performance there maybe isn't really a NEED to buy this lens, I guess. To me, however, this lens has redefined my way of approaching photography. The pictures of the scenes that I took with this lens look so much better compared to what I saw while I was taking them. Sounds funny or unreal, doesn't it? But this lens just adds another artistic component to photography, IMO. And that is what I like about it most - no matter, what I shoot.

Weight aside (6.5lbs), this lens may become my favorite "walk around" lens. I added a Kirk grip and found this lens was really easy to "throw around", a.k.a., pointing to "target" quickly.
I used the lens with a gimbal-style head before, but I think it's too short (physically) to balance well on any sort of pod. Unless one has to employ very long exposures, the VRII just works fine hand-held.

Action/sports photographers surely could debate the usefulness of a 200mm lens. I prefer using as short of a focal length as I can (50, 85 and 200mm), because I want to be close to the action. If I can't be close enough to the action, I won't shoot it. (Just a personal/artistic preference. Professional shooters may not always have that degree of freedom.)
Anyway. Sorry for the long review. (Blame it on the enthusiasm of the amateur.) Seeing the few and short "Pro" reviews about this lens here I conclude Pro's really don't need to write much about a lens of this caliber. They simply know what and when they need it for. No fuzz about that.

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

So, you've viewed the Moose, read the Rock (Ken Rockwell) and analyzed the Mansurovs and even checked with Master Nikonians...but you still wonder whether you need this lens? Yeah, I know; it's difficult to say the least.

The reports all have the techie stuff so ya already know that stuff.

THIS IS A LENS like your quiver's arrows in the same way that a Formula One racing car is like the car in your garage. It's highly specialized, it goes like heck and it costs a small fortune.

What don't you know about: size.

How can you say you know French culture if you only know the language but have never tasted the food or you've never understood their perspective (the French one) of the world? The same goes for the size of this lens.

We've all seen or own a Nikon 80-200mm zoom. Set on a table now, mine measures 8.5 inches high. This is approximately the width of the lens bag cover about 8.5". Say what? The Nikon cover which covers both the stored sunshade reversed on the lens is about 6.5" as I measure it now. This is big...so, forget about quietly entering anywhere incognito...ain't gonna happen. I'm considering finding ways to cover the big Nikon letters on the lens neck strap.

Lens strap for the lens? Yes, it's so big, it needs it's own because you've neard of the possibility of damaging the cmaera-to-lens connector.

But back to the lens bag for a second. There's a nifty 1 1/8 inch padded "C" shaped piece that locks the small end of the lens in place. It's held by velcro...which acts like a hinge; very neat. Then at the other end, there's a removable 1 3/16" square pad for the wide end of the lens. But you'll never get your camera into this lens bag without removing them first. But you switch to another lens after you get to where you're shooting...hmmm, better carry those 3 pieces along with you or else your high priced lens will rattle like a pin ball in its own bag...not good.

Remove these 3 pieces and your D700 just exactly fits into the lens bag WHILE attached to the lens.

Depth of field, yes, everything you've read but what don't you know about: DOF.

Simply and directly to the point; DOF is less than a half inch at F2.0...much less. You can actually turn someone to the side and have each side of the eyeball at the edges of focus. What do you do...you have to plan to keep things flat, so when you have the post next to the model...it has to be exactly flatly parallel to the eyes and anything else you want in focus. Easy, yeah, you've got a 85mm or a 135DC; well ya ain't seen nuthin yet. But what this does is create amazing separation.

What you don't know about: Discrimination of lines (there must be a technical term but this is how I see it).

At about 3 meters, I took a set of photos of a marble horse's head at all f-stops. At all f-stops, REPEAT all f-stops, there is so much clarity in the pic that you can see things as if you were using a microscope (but you're at 3 meters remember?) This is just unbelievable. I could see the cracks in the marble and then the indvidual cracks in the cracks...details beyond belief.

What you don't know about: max DOF.

And then I looked at the rest of the pics from low to high f-stops like f22. The DOF grows SLOWLY, VERY SLOWLY. To get a full face in focus, you'd need to know to keep the f-stop way up there. f13 atleast.

What you don't know about: bokeh.

You will have to change the way you take photographs...this is a one shot pony. You can easily take crummy shots with this great lens but that's not why you bought it. You want great shots. So, you have to work backwards. You won't be satisfied unless your bokeh background is great...no broom stick handles sticking out of someone's head, etc. What you did not know is that this is a lot of work, worth it but a lot of extra work. If you don't want to do this, then stay away from this lens.

What you didn't know about: VR

Forgettaboutit! You need every bit of accelerometer data that the lens can muster if you want to take shots at 1/30 or 1/60. Just forget about these speeds when using a monopod. I suspect the same for a tripod too. Imagine that you are recording the individual cracks inside of a crack of my marble horse at ten feet...ain't gonne have a clear (non-blurry) shot unless you're up around 1/100 or 1/200. Just think about that for one minute. You are focusing on a nit on a nit on a nit. Try that with a microscpe. Well, you have a microscope at 10 feet. That's why this lens is amazing.

What you don't know about: Kirk

I never heard of Kirk, yeah, I am just an amateur. All I ever heard was Really Right Stuff over and over and over. The RRS won't mail by Fedex and they are expensive...er, more expensive. This Kirk has a secret sliding groove so that your lens (sob) won't slide off and fall onto the floor. You use an allen wrench to screw in two stops and it's done. Wow. Love it. But the smooth finish just kills me in the same way that the separation of subject and bokeh kills me on this lens.

What you didn't know about: weight.

Stick the camera onto the lens (note: you don't put the lens on this camera, you put the camera on the lens) and stick in the lens bag (ha, ha) and this weighs...well, remember going the gym and picking up a 25lb weight. You brace the back, bend the legs and then lift...same here.

What you didn't know about: a monopod.

Don't have a monopod 'cause ya got a tripod. Well, fuggettaboutit. Buy a monopod. Cheap or expensive...doesn't matter...your choice, but buy one.

BH Lens cover recommendation is way to short to cover the length of the reversed sun shade, I've returned my to wonderful BH. You don't need one because Nikon supplies one that works perfectly.

What you don't know about: white balance
You can't use your ExpoImaging White Balance...hmmm, I wonder if a 52mm one will fit into the filter holder. Hate this filter holder. Can't use warming polarizers from Singh-Ray. Very frustrating. But gotta buy a polarizer for pool/ocean shots so that's in the Wish List. Guess I have to take the white balance with another lens and then change lens...wonder if that will work? Hmmm.

There's so much more to write about...but thanks for spending your time reading this...hope you found a bit of help here. More to come...

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

I am very happy with the performance and quality of this lens. Super sharp, and fast (f/2). The way this lens renders color and contrast is stunning, as is how it renders out of focus areas. Auto focus is fast and dead on. So far I have used it for portraits (in studio) with SB-900 speedlights and Pocket Wizards remote flash triggers, and outdoors for some wildlife and garden shots.

Be prepared for its size - a monster. However, I am able to handhold it using the VRII to help with movement. The size became a non-issue once I saw what this lens can do. I will use this lens on a tripod most of the time.

The lens comes with a substantial carrying case, but I ordered a Pelican case (1514) with silica gel from B&H to store the lens, as well as to use on location and for travel. I also ordered a replacement lens foot so I could use with my quick-release system on my tripod.

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

This is the sharpest nikkor lens you could buy for money.
I Think it is well worth the investment.
Everything is Nice about this great lens.

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

I use this lens for portraits and absolutely am floored by the results. I am very impressed with the quality. The focus is fast and accurate every time-no searching. The VR2 is unbelievable. Amazing bokeh. The biggest con is that it is incredibly heavy. It is worth every penny.

Comments about Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2.0 G ED VR II Telephoto Lens:

For a f/2.0 prime lens, it's relatively small & light. Low-light capability is better than expected.