NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: Michael Erlewine on October 11, 2020, 20:34:15
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After a long wait my copy of the new Nikkor-Z S 70-200mm f/2.8 finally showed up. Here is a quick iPhone photo of it. It has a Kirk Enterprise tripod foot on it that gives me Arca-Swiss coupling.
And here is a short stack of images and a single image. So, far… looks very good. Quite the lens.
I wondered if it is as good a lens as all the hype. Looks to be that good. Better than I expected and I expect a lot.
More to follow…
I include a stacked image and a cropped single image (NEF) focused on the tip of the near flower. VERY sharp.
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Nice photos Michael. Last Thursday I got my copy of this lens and tried to get acquainted with it. here are some shots.
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Nice photos
What do you think about the lens?
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Relatively fast AF and accurate. Very sharp. I have not exploited all its tech possibilities yet, but seems to be a very good lens, as most in the S line. The only drawback is that I had to trade in my Df.
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Another shot with the 70-200mm f/2.8 S
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Very nice rendering, looks really good! The transitions and the back ground Bokeh seems to behave very nicely
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Very nice rendering, looks really good! The transitions and the back ground Bokeh seems to behave very nicely
This lens has the build of the NOCT 0.95 as anyone can see. To my eyes, this lens also is as sharp and perhaps sharper than the Noct95, as well. Of course, it is not as fast and its bokeh as interesting as the Noct.
To me, this new 70-200mm S lens is worth every penny it costs. I have had most all of the earlier 70-200mm f/2.8 and I still have one of those. I use my 70-200mm lenses for family, outdoors, etc., never in the studio. But with the closer focus of this new version, I can see using it the studio as well, especially for projects that have many varying sized subjects. The ability to separate the foreground from the background, so far, is one of its best qualities.
And it is, IMO, way better corrected than any of my earlier version of Nikon’s 70-200mm. There is so little CA, etc. that I can use this in the studio. I have to put it through its paces to see if there is a Gotcha’ in it, and I will.
I am more than just impressed by the IQ of this new lens. I am amazed that Nikon will give us this quality at this price. And the AF is very good and fast.
This is going to be an instant classic, IMO, at least in my world.
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Congratulations on the lens! Will be interesting to see outdoor images as well ;)
Several of the new Z lenses are remarkably good -Did you try the 50mm f/1.8 S? I'm thrilled with it, one of the sharpest most well corrected lenses I have ever owned or used. Highly recommended and extremely affordable.
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Congratulations on the lens! Will be interesting to see outdoor images as well ;)
Several of the new Z lenses are remarkably good -Did you try the 50mm f/1.8 S? I'm thrilled with it, one of the sharpest most well corrected lenses I have ever owned or used. Highly recommended and extremely affordable.
Of course I have the 50mm f/1.8 S. It is wonderful, but IMO this new 70-200m is sharper and seems to have a unique "style" to it. Both are great.
On the other hand, I am not impressed with the Z 24-70mm f/4 lens. Nothing special, IMO.
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OK ;)
Yes, count me in as not fan of the 24-70 f/4 S
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On the other hand, I am not impressed with the Z 24-70mm f/4 lens. Nothing special, IMO.
It's really an on-the-go lens for when one needs a compact, lightweight zoom. As such it's a nice balance of size, weight, quality, and price. That means that ultimate quality is sacrificed to some extent. Lenses like that have their place and it's not in the studio.
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It's really an on-the-go lens for when one needs a compact, lightweight zoom. As such it's a nice balance of size, weight, quality, and price. That means that ultimate quality is sacrificed to some extent. Lenses like that have their place and it's not in the studio.
Agreed, and I have used it for family snapshots, but don't use it anymore, preferring the 50mm S f/1.8. I should sell it.
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Last Thursday I got my copy of this lens and tried to get acquainted with it. here are some shots.
I love the Moth in Flight in your selection Elsid
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Thank you Colin for commenting. The speed for this shot was 1/6400 and, still, the wings are not that sharp.
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Seeing the images and reading the initial impressions of this lens, it might be the lens to replace my Zeiss 135mm f2 lens.
Thanks for sharing
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Michael, I neglected to compliment you on the photos you've posted here. Very, very nice results and impressive for a zoom lens.
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Nikon has a history of making very good 70(80)-200mm telezoom lenses, starting with the more or less legendary 80-200/4.5. Luckily no surprises here.
From my experience with the 24-70/2.8S; an indented control ring would be much more useful (IMHO it is now useless), and the small OLED display on the lens should not turn off after a few seconds after camera switch-on and just follow the display on top of the camera. Also, IMHO linear MF is much preferred over the (turn-) speed dependent MF...
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Close ups of a Danaus chrysippus with the Z6 and 70-200 S.
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Fantastic!!
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Great detail and clarity.
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i think that VR is redundant...but maybe not all Z cameras has IBIS??? :o :o :o
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i think that VR is redundant...but maybe not all Z cameras has IBIS??? :o :o :o
I've heard that the in-lens VR is more effective than IBIS for the longer lenses.
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i think that VR is redundant...but maybe not all Z cameras has IBIS??? :o :o :o
The DX Z50 has no IBIS.
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good point guys :o :o :o
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I've heard that the in-lens VR is more effective than IBIS for the longer lenses.
Yes, I have seen quite impressive VR results from this lens! They work together body and lens VR
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The DX Z50 has no IBIS.
I recently made some small videos of little birds with z50 plus 200-500 +1.4x tele hand held and the Lens VR plus electronic stabilization worked great :)
Elsid great results with this lens!
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Andrew and John, thank you for your comments.
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Hello Nasos, it is a very good lens.
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Elsid, great images to show the lens!
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Thanks Paco, the lens is worth the money and, with the TCs and Z50, can be used for wildlife also.
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My feeling as of now, after using the new Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 S, is that this is a very exceptional lens. About the only thing I can add, from my use of the lens, is that this lens has a special IQ or style, whatever a few great lenses have. I find myself really liking the “grab” or way the lens feels, enough so that I look for ways to use this lens just because the result is so pleasing.
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Some say for what it is worth, that the last f-mount the E version is very, very close in IQ etc.
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Got a sample that likely has my name on it.
Will run it through my ways of lens testing and will report here accordingly.
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Nice! Looking forward to the images ;)
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First test: LoCA, here at 200mm. Upon very fine inspection there is a very very amount of LoCA but nothing worse than the Lanthar 125 (from memory). Truly exceptional construction by Nikon!
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Here at 70mm. Same result.
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Hogan's assessment, and a fairly detailed review of the new Z Teleconverters on the 70-200 f2.8S
https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/z-mount-adapters/a-teleconverter-quick-asses.html
https://www.cameralabs.com/nikon-z-tc-1-4x-tc-2-0x-teleconverter-review/
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APO? why Nikon doesnt call it APO?
Thanks for the samples, and show some more!
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Couple of "real" shots, at portrait distance. Both at 200mm.
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Here at full blast at 70mm. A little vignette correction applied.
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Couple to illustrate lack of bleeding and LoCA issues on water reflections.
These have been processed via Capture NX-D with all optical corrections turned off.
The inserts are 100% (sorry for the black outline entering into the crop along the edges)
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Corner performance at night.
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Hmmm. I have no 70-200 lens ....
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Hmmm. I have no 70-200 lens ....
Surprising...but then again you can probably cover every mm focal range via your vast selection of lenses Birna
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I got [too] many of the Z native lenses at present, but have no intention of getting all of them. Doubling or even tripling options of focal lengths is not my priority these days. I do await the arrival of the Z Micro 105 as soon as it's released, but apart from this optic, no more Z's on my list.
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I got [too] many of the Z native lenses at present, but have no intention of getting all of them. Doubling or even tripling options of focal lengths is not my priority these days. I do await the arrival of the Z Micro 105 as soon as it's released, but apart from this optic, no more Z's on my list.
I am also waiting for the Z macro, but the Z 70-200 is amazing, IMO.
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A few more shots, all at f/2.8.
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Still 2.8.
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Another of my most willing model, again full opening.
For full size, click the file lower left.
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Beautiful picture. Vignetting seems quite high, is it straight out of the camera/lens, or was it added?
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Beautiful picture. Vignetting seems quite high, is it straight out of the camera/lens, or was it added?
Thanks Roland,
vignetting is about the only drawback I can find with this lens. Mostly not an issue for me as the in-camera vignetting control (if turned on) reduces this quite effectively. The other optical qualities means more to me. Besides, I also happen to like vignetting in some of my photos.
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Very good image!
I like vignetting, perfectly fine for such lenses, choose another lens type for less vignetting and/or stop down the aperture ;)
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Warning: there appears to be issues with the tripod collar on the 70-200mm f/2.8s; link is from fm,
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1677969 (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1677969)
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A few more shots, all at f/2.8.
The colors are stunning! Too good for test shots.
Warning: there appears to be issues with the tripod collar on the 70-200mm f/2.8s; link is from fm,
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1677969 (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1677969)
Ilkka is ubiquitous and right.
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Warning: there appears to be issues with the tripod collar on the 70-200mm f/2.8s; link is from fm,
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1677969 (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1677969)
I carry the lens via the tripod foot...no issues so far.
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My foot seems secure. I have replaced Nikon's foot with the one from Krik Enterprises witch is Arca Swiss and generally better.
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Here is the pincushion effect at 200mm and "infinity" focus.
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All impressive stuff. Michael, the lighting on your plant photos is just wonderful.
Owning the 70-200 FL, and cross-referencing with tests and reviews, I have to say the "S" looks to me as though it:
1. improves slightly on the FL in the corners at far distance at the 70mm end, and at close distance at the 200mm end
2. Does a little better in general close up and at wide apertures than the FL toward the long end.
3. Focuses closer at the short end, close enough to forget about primes unless macro or you absolutely need the 1.4 or 1.8
In other words the few weaknesses the FL has are corrected. But the FL for me was a very big improvement on the VRII, to say nothing of earlier models.
Presumably the S also shares with the FL the greatly simplified construction, which for the FL yielded for LensRentals a tripling of the average duration between repairs relative to the VRII.
A fair assessment?
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I'm enjoying the Z system also.
Although I've spent a small fortune on Nikon glass, I'm still not ready to commit to the Noct. f/0.95 just yet.
How would you compare the Z Nikkor 58 f/0.95 Noct. to the Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 65mm f/2 SL?
Curious to read your thoughts.
AS good as the CV125 is, there is no comparison, IMO. The Noct95 is probably the best lens I own, provided you need fast and highly-corrected.
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I meant compared to the newer, 65mm CV f/2
I have that lens too. Not anywhere close. The 65 is nice, but not compared to either the CV125 of the Noct95...IMO
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Thanks.
So you rate the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S over both Voigtländers, parallel to the Noct?
Oh no. The Noct95 is superb. The CV-125 is great. The CV 65 is good.
The new 70-200 is very sharp, well enough corrected, and useful because it has auto focus and reach. I have had about all the early 70-200s, of which the FL version was the best. This never S version is better than the FL, IMO, but close. I have almost all primes, with few zooms. The 70-200 is about the only zoom i always want to have around because it is so handy. This new one is also very good, as mentioned. I don't meant o mislead you. I am mostly a close-up photographer.
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The new 70-200 is very sharp, well enough corrected, and useful because it has auto focus and reach. I have had about all the early 70-200s, of which the FL version was the best. This never S version is better than the FL, IMO, but close.
it better be, it costs almost $300.00 here new :o :o :o
the tamron and sigma costs 2x less ::)
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it better be, it costs almost $300.00 here new :o :o :o
the tamron and sigma costs 2x less ::)
I take two then :-) ...even with import tax etc.....it would be a good purchase......
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It has been my opinion for a while that the new Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom is a most remarkable lens, sure to make its place as one of the all-time great Nikon lenses.
This lens takes the TC-1.4 without blinking and the same goes for a small extension tube (11mm), or both at once. I am sure there is some degradation, but so far I can’t see any effect I would worry over.
I am most interested to note that this lens has a “style” to it that I like, as opposed to what I call clinical-like no-style lenses. Yes, its big, heavy-ish, and it likes a tripod, but I know people who are using it hand-held for nature photos and getting great results.
Given the availability of extension and TCs, I can get as close as I want and it also doubles for a decent telephoto lens. I guess my main point other than satisfaction is that here is the Swiss-Army Knife in my lens collection. I can do most everything and well, close-up, portrait, and distance with a certain grace. I really like it.
The Nikkor Z 70-200mm f.2.8 _ TC-1.4 + 11mm Extension