AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
This versatile, compact and lightweight zoom is ideal for wildlife and action photography, and includes Nikon’s VR image stabilization technology.
$1,849.95*SRPSRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
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Supplied Accessories
- HB-24 Hood
- CL-M1 case
- 77mm lens cap
- Rear lens cap
*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
75
75
A good lens but not the best in this range
Not all lenses can be top notch winners and I must admit this is one of them, don't get me wrong when it was introduced it was a decent lens but it has it's short comings to todays VR2 companions.
Lets cover the positives in that this lens for it's focal length is very compact and light when used at the 80mm length and the lens collar and shoe works great to rotate the lens mounted to a tripod and still to get a portrait style view all you do is loosen the lens collar knob and rotate the lens with body mounted on the lens axis.
The Lens is very sharp in most of it's range but you need a good steady hand or tripod that is robust to keep vibration to a bare minimum, and in manual focus can create Tack Sharp images.
The 9 radial shaped aperture leaves create a decent Bokeh when shooting at more wide open aperture settings and also eliminate those harsh spiked light bursts when shooting in the city at night.
Overall I think it has good operation qualities that keeps it in my arsenal of lenses but my concerns in todays Nikkor Line up is that a VR2 version of this would be great as well as on board auto focus instead of using the camera body to focus it would speed up it's reaction to fast action sport shooting, then take the mechanical Auto Focus cut out ring to place the lens into manual focus is cumbersome and slow to activate compared to the micro slide switches on more up to date lens barrels.
I have replaced the stock Lens collar shoe mount with an after market one from Really Right Stuff and this has also made the lens more ridged on a tripod but this is a minor fix to a good lens.
I would like to see this lens equipped with there Nano Crystal coated lens to cut flare down in brightly lit arenas.
All in all it is still a good lens but improvements would turn this into a great lens and I would rather see this in an f/4 across the focal length and it takes a little practice with this lens but it is a good cary lens for sports, nature and some landscape photography, if you have a source locally that rent's lenses I would recommend you trying this out for a weekend to see what it will produce, it has a great focal length span that will cover a vast array of needs for the price, and team this up with a 24-70mm and you can have bare minimum equipment that you will need to traverse a days shooting experience without lugging around extra equipment.
February 4, 2012
Tiger Picture
The 80-400 is no spring chicken. My 18-200 runs circles around it 9 times out of 10. Most snaps with the 80-400 are not too good, but 1 in 10 is sharper than sharp. Stopped down to f/8 i don't think you can get much better for color and contrast, at least on my D7000.
That one of ten is good for a lot of mega pixels, probably a lot more than the 16 mp of the 7000 DX.
January 18, 2012
A good lens but a bit overpriced.
After reading all the reviews,pro & con,I decided to give it a try. At first I was dissapointed & almost sent it back. It is slow focusing & at first I had trouble with sharpness, but I kept at it.
Handheld,you need a fast shutter speed, at least
1/400 @ 400mm,preferably faster.
Turn off the VR on a tripod period ! get used to the "Auto-Manual focus ring" I don't like it. Use the focus limiter & in dificult situations,use manual focus.
Its a good lens, not great. It has it quirks. I will keep mine.
Buster on the Oregon coast.
December 1, 2011
Extremely useful on the move
Most reports on this lens indicated slow focusing and average image quality, and my first hand-held shots of flying birds confirmed it at relatively high shutter speeds (1/800 and more) with VR on.
I then took a series of hand-held shoots of still subjects at 400mm from my balcony and I discovered that the images where very sharp at relatively low shutter speeds (around 1/400 and no more than 1/600). That appears to indicate that the VR system needs such a time window to average its effect.
On the other hand, this lens does not have a built-in focusing motor, and autofocusing relies on the camera (only Nikon cameras with a focusing motor are compatible with the feature). Autofocusing is indeed slow. Nevertheless, the lens allows for the selection of autofocus ranges, and I found that, with the proper range, and when it has little tracking to do (for example, following a bird that took off from a standing point), the success rate is surprisingly high at 400mm, with very sharp images (DX format).
Around 200mm, the images are comparable to best obtained with my other lenses.
Although not light, this lens is very well balanced for hand-held shots on a D300 with its power grip, it offers a 12x magnification in the DX format, and the whole set can be comfortably carried, ready to use, in a backpack with a 18-200mm zoom and a flash unit.
November 25, 2011
Unuseable for Sports
Doesn't matter how hard I tried, could not focus sharply at all on subject when zoomed between 3 and 400mm. This lens is essentially unuseable.
October 3, 2011
18 Questions | 29 Answers
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Is there a telecoverter that will work with this lens on a D3X or D7000 ?
9 months ago
by
Anonymous
3 Answers
Answers
Answer:
I just want to add to the Staff answer about TC-201, which you can get from the manual of that lens on page 21:"Optional accessories"
Teleconverter TC-201 (Vibration reduction mode is not effective and only manual focus is available.)
Apr 14, 2011 by
by
Yevgen
Watertown, MA, 02472
Location :
Watertown, MA, 02472
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Professional photographer
Answer:
I will not suggest use any teleconverter to the lens with aperture 1/5.6, because all AF sensors on Nikon SLR and DSLR are limited with aperture 1/5.6.With 1.4X teleconverter aperture of that lens will change from 1/5.6 to 1/8
With 2.0X teleconverter aperture of that lens will change from 1/5.6 to 1/11
As more bigger aperture changes as more slow and not accuracy will be AF and in low light conditions it will be too bad.
Apr 14, 2011 by
by
Yevgen
Watertown, MA, 02472
Location :
Watertown, MA, 02472
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Professional photographer
Answer:
This lens is only compatible with the TC-201, but there is occasional vignetting.10 months ago
by
Anonymous
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
This lens is not compatible with teleconverters due to the rear element which would contact the teleconverter lens.Jun 4, 2011 by
by
Anonymous
Age: Over 65
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
Answer:
I will not suggest use any teleconverter to the lens with aperture 1/5.6, because most AF on Nikon SLR and DSLR is limited with aperture 1/5.6.AF with 1.4X, 1.7X or 2.0x will be mush slow and not accuracy.
Mar 9, 2011 by
by
Yevgen
Watertown, MA, 02472
Location :
Watertown, MA, 02472
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than 20 years
Role: Professional photographer
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
Will the AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED work properly with all it's functions with my Nikon D60
10 months ago
by
Dave
San Antonio, TX
Location :
San Antonio, TX
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 0-1 years
Experience: 6-12 months
Role: Just getting started with photography
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
Yes but you really should grt a more proffesional body to use like a 300 s or even a used d-300.Apr 16, 2011 by
by
Anonymous
Answer:
Hi DaveI think it is not for D60
Lenses type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor: All functions supported except autofocus
Mar 9, 2011 by
by
Yevgen
Watertown, MA, 02472
Location :
Watertown, MA, 02472
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than 20 years
Role: Professional photographer
Has staff answer
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
Will the AF on Nikon AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED work on a D50 Camera?
Will the AF on Nikon AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED work on a D50 Camera?
10 months ago
by
JT
FL
Location :
FL
Age: 45-54
Nikon Family: 11-20 years
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
I am very sorry, but Staff answer is not correct at all.You can use this lens, but AF will be limited only in very low light situation, where with standard lenses you usually need to use AF assist illuminator function.
And the reason why is very simple:
In D50 "TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module with AF-assist illuminator have range approximately 0.5–3.0 m / 1´8˝–9´10˝ "(see page 130 (Technical Notice-specifications).
And shooting distance scale for VR Zoom-Nikkor ED 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D lens "graduated in meters and feet from 2.3m (8 ft) to infinity "(see manual page 21, specification).
So theoretically D50 AF assist illuminator with VR Zoom-Nikkor ED 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D lens can work only in range 2.3m till 3.0m, if the body of the lens will not block the light from AF assist illuminator.
By the same reason in D50 manual (Page 107) you can find that:
"AF assist is not available with the following lenses:
• AF-S VR ED 70–200 mm f/2.8G
• AF ED 80–200 mm f/2.8D
• AF-S VR ED 200–400 mm f/4G
• AF-S VR 300 mm f/2.8G
• AF-S ED 80–200 mm f/2.8D
• AF VR ED 80–400 mm f/4.5–5.6D
• AF-S VR 200 mm f/2G"
But this lens is not for too low light conditions, where you can not see the object without AF assist illuminator function.
Good luck., I think you will love this lens
Apr 16, 2011 by
by
Yevgen
Watertown, MA, 02472
Location :
Watertown, MA, 02472
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Professional photographer
Answer:
Yes, you can use this lens on the D50, but it might block the AF-assist iluminator at ranges under 1m. Note that the camera may not be able to focus using the autofocus if the AF-assist iluminator is blocked.Has staff answer
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
Will this lense work with a D5000? Will it autofocus?
10 months ago
by
Anonymous
Age: 35-44
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 0-1 years
Experience: 6-12 months
Role: Just getting started with photography
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
Sorry, you can can use this lens with D5000 only in manual AF mode.D5000 do not have internal autofocus motor and AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR
80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED do not have it also.
If you need lenses with AF function for your D5000, you can use Nikkor lens starting from "AF-S ... ", which have internal AF motor.
Good luck
Apr 14, 2011 by
by
Yevgen
Watertown, MA, 02472
Location :
Watertown, MA, 02472
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Professional photographer
Answer:
Yes, absolutely.AF-S lenses offer the highest level of compatibility with new Nikon DSLRs.
Please see this link for more info:
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans...
Has staff answer
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
Will this lense (AF VR Zoom 80-400mm) work with a D5000? Will it autofocus?
The reason I ask this question again is because the kind person who answered it earlier mentioned that AF-S lenses work with the D5000. However, if I read the above description right the lense is an AF not an AF - S.
10 months ago
by
Anonymous
Age: 35-44
Favorite Subject: Landscape
Nikon Family: 0-1 years
Experience: 1-3 months
Role: Just getting started with photography
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
Although I do not have any experience with the D5000 body I'm guessing that the issue is that it does not have a focus motor built in. This lens should still work with a body that does not have a focus motor as the motor is built into the lens. The issue of AF vs. AF-S is speed. The old AF system is just slower.Apr 15, 2011 by
by
JBS
Anacortes, Wahington
Location :
Anacortes, Wahington
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 11-20 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Semi-professional photographer
Answer:
Nikon offers two types of autofocus digital camera bodies: those with a built-in focus drive motor and those which require a lens to have a motor. Cameras such as the D5000 do not have a focus motor in it so they require the lens to have the focusing motor – an “AF-S” lens. While these bodies can use a lens with no focus motor (an “AF” lens) you would have to manually turn the focus ring to bring the subject in to sharp focus.Has staff answer
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
FX format lens with a DX format camera,
Although the focal length will change using a FX format lens with a DX format camera, is there also a photo quality reduction. For example, I want to shoot wildlife with the AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400MM F4.5-5.6 ED lens using a D40x or a D7000, With the 1.5 increases, do I lose clarity?
9 months ago
by
Anonymous
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
Theoretically it can happened, if the resolution of the lens is poor,but AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED resolution is very high and with DX camera with the same image size or bigger (I think till 24 MPS) you will only win in details.
On DX format at 400mm this lens will have sharper corners than on FX.
Just take a look on MTF charts for 400mm and keep in mind that the max diameter corner in DX format is ~14,4mm.
Blue broken Meridional line for FX format corner ~0.13,
for DX format ~ 0.5.
That is much, much better.
With this lens on DX format you will win twice: second one - you will be closely to the wildlife, but use D7000 (it is better).
Apr 14, 2011 by
by
Yevgen
Watertown, MA, 02472
Location :
Watertown, MA, 02472
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Professional photographer
Answer:
Please click on the link below for more information:Answer Title: Please explain FX sensor size, DX sensor size, and the angle of view.
Answer Link: http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans...
Has staff answer
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
Will this lens FIT and WORK well and OK with my Nikon D80?
May 3, 2011 by
Has staff answer
9 months ago
by
Josh
Iloilo City, Philippines
Location :
Iloilo City, Philippines
Age: Under 18
Favorite Subject: Portrait
Nikon Family: 0-1 years
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
In a word, Yes! This lens will work well with any Nikon DSLR no matter the size of the sensor. With your camera and its 1.5 crop factor this lens gives you the field of view of a 600 mm lens.Sample Photos & Videos
Jun 4, 2011 by
by
Shootsalot
Age: Over 65
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
Answer:
Yes, this lens is compatible with the D80.
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
Will the VR feature of this lens work well with my Nikon D90?
8 months ago
by
sarahw
Vancouver
Location :
Vancouver
Age: 35-44
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: Less than a month
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
and on every other body made by Nikon.Answer:
yes, it will
AF VR Zoom-NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
2 Answers
Will the AF VR Zoom Nikkor 80-400 fit and autofocus on the D5100?
Doesn't seem to even allow full zoom range.
7 months ago
by
Larry
Chicago suburbs
Location :
Chicago suburbs
Age: Over 65
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: Less than a month
Role: Professional photographer
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
It does focus full range but is slow to focus from long range to short.Aug 15, 2011 by
by
Anonymous
Answer:
It will fit but wont autofocus.
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