Learn & Explore Tip of the Day

May 22, 2013

Planning to take a vacation by the beach? Look for a compact digital camera that’s waterproof, such as the Nikon COOLPIX AW100, AW110, S30, S31 or get an underwater housing for your camera. You’ll be able to take your camera under water and capture what goes on below the surface.

May 21, 2013

When shooting nighttime landscapes, use a low ISO (400 or below if possible) while working from a tripod. Open your aperture to F/4 or F/5.6. This will allow you to have a shot full of detail and of good quality. Remember that night shots need a subject, just like day shots.

May 20, 2013

Don’t forget to bring your camera to holiday barbeques so you can capture all of the fun. Take pictures of the food being grilled, games being played, as well as groupings of friends and family.

May 19, 2013

Wait until the camera has finished writing the photo(s) to the memory card (green light is off) before turning off the camera or removing the card. You can lose pictures if you do either before the camera has had time to download the file(s) from its internal memory to the card.

May 18, 2013

You should format the memory card in your camera on a regular basis. By using the camera’s built-in “Format” function, found in the menus, you lessen the chance of having card problems in the future. Doing so is better than just deleting the images using the camera or the computer.

May 17, 2013

When you’re at a parade take photos of the parade goers, especially your children and the looks on their faces. You’ll see a lot of smiles and excitement.

May 16, 2013

Take a self-portrait each day for a week or month (or a year). It’s harder than you think to take an attractive photo of yourself, and if you do it for long enough you’ll have an interesting series that shows how you’ve changed over time.

May 15, 2013

Everyone loves a parade. For more interesting photos, look for details like the band’s uniforms, a cheerleader’s colorful pom-poms or a bright red fire engine.

May 14, 2013

When shooting groups of five or more people, make sure you stagger them. Put tall folks in the back and the shortest ones in front. It may seem simple, but blocking out just one face can ruin a group portrait. Always tell them, “If you don’t have a clear view of me, the camera can’t see you.”

May 13, 2013

Posing a bride and groom for photos is sometimes difficult. Concentrate on close shots of just the two of them, with clean backgrounds. Then create a fun group shot having them in the center, with others gathered around them. Just make sure no one gets in front of them. After all, it’s their day.

May 12, 2013

Take plenty of photos during your Mother’s Day celebrations. Remember to print multiple copies, so everyone can have their own photographs of mom to cherish.

May 11, 2013

Use a polarizing filter to lessen or eliminate reflections from glass. This works really well on windows of stores or cars. But the trade-off is that your exposure will be a bit longer, as the light is cut down by almost two stops.

May 10, 2013

Capture the hustle and bustle of the city at night. Place your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure (slow shutter speed) to blur the movement of cars and people. Try shooting for about 10 seconds first, and then adjust creatively to catch the motion of the lights and the feel of the city.

May 9, 2013

Make a great team picture. Get the team together in front of a nice background—maybe the goal, the net or the team logo on the field or floor. Shoot the ordinary, and then let the kids have some fun, making faces or funny poses. That’s the one they will always remember.

May 8, 2013

Try shooting panoramas if you’re at a sport stadium, beach or park, for more interesting images. Some Nikon Digital Cameras have an Easy Panorama mode or a Panorama Assist mode, which make these photos easy to shoot.

May 7, 2013

When photographing animals of any kind—pets, birds in flight, animals at the zoo—try to zoom in as close as you can or use a longer lens to isolate the animal from its background. By getting a close-up view you have a greater chance of capturing a wonderful expression on the face of the animal, which will give you a more interesting photograph.

May 6, 2013

Want a unique video of sports action? Use the slow-motion mode that many Nikon digital cameras offer. By shooting the action faster than normal and played back at normal speed, your subject’s movements are slowed down and look more deliberate.

May 5, 2013

When celebrating Cinco de Mayo, take plenty of photos of the colorful decorations in addition to candid photos of everyone having a great time.

May 4, 2013

Change your white balance during a sunrise or sunset. Take your camera off auto white balance and switch to Cloudy or Shady white balance. This will add more strength to the reds, oranges and yellows. Auto White Balance tries to keep colors neutral.

May 3, 2013

To get a shot of someone at sunset, turn on your flash and place the person with the beautiful sunset behind them. With the flash on, they will be illuminated. With the flash off, they will be silhouetted.

May 2, 2013

Spend a day capturing images only in black and white. You have to look at the world differently to take a good-looking photo in black and white, and that will help sharpen your artistic skills.

May 1, 2013

May is National Photo Month! Celebrate by taking photos every day. Give yourself an assignment such as taking a self-portrait each day of the month, or photographing an object every day.

April 30, 2013

If your camera can capture images in both RAW and JPEG format, do so even if you don’t work with RAW images now. These RAW files have the highest image quality possible, so you can edit them years from now and be sure you’re getting the best looking image possible.

April 29, 2013

Set your Speedlight to Rear Curtain Sync. This fires the flash at the end of the exposure, not the beginning, and can create interesting streaks and effects in moving subjects. Experiment with the different flash modes your camera and Speedlight offers.

April 28, 2013

Pick a day and use a fixed focal length lens instead of a zoom (or only one focal length on your zoom, like 35mm). By practicing moving you and the camera to re-frame your images you’ll become more engaged with your subject.

April 27, 2013

If you are photographing out of the window of a plane be sure to keep from touching the window, walls, armrests or other parts of the plane. The vibrations caused by the engines are transmitted through the fuselage and can make your photos blurry. Instead, sit up in the seat and hold the camera as still as you can, close to the window.

April 26, 2013

Arbor Day, which celebrates the planting and caring for trees is celebrated across the USA at different times of the year. Some states celebrate in February while others celebrate the holiday in April, so we decided to celebrate it twice! Use this holiday to take some cool photographs of trees.

April 25, 2013

Frame your storm photograph before it happens. Remember that the sky is your subject, so dramatic clouds are what you’re framing for, and then you hope that lightning will happen in that space. Keep the horizon in the lower third of the frame with the sky the top two-thirds.

April 24, 2013

Shooting a lightning storm can be exciting. Use a tripod and set you camera to record a long exposure. With D-SLRs, 15 seconds is a good start, but you may have to use up to 30 seconds, or bulb setting (where the shutter stays open as long as you hold down the shutter button). Because you never know when the lightning will occur, keep shooting for best results. And don’t forget the tripod! Otherwise you’ll have blurry photos.

April 23, 2013

Try different kinds of framing with your flower shots. Instead of centering the flower, try placing it off to the left or the right of the frame. This will allow for you to be creative with the negative space (areas without the subject). Look for the patterns of other out of focus flowers in the background.

Nikon Product Support

Learn more about your product, download user manuals, find answers to frequently asked questions, log into MyNikon to ask a question of your own, contact Nikon and more. Just tell us what product you own, and we'll connect you with everything you need.

Corporate Profile

Nikon is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance. The unique strength of the Nikon brand attributable to the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, performance, technology and innovation. Nikon Inc. markets and distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights…

AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR
200-400mm f/4G IF-ED

This powerful and versatile super telephoto features VR image stabilization and incredible image quality for serious sports and wildlife photographers.

Compare

AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED2146

Enlarge

Archived Product

Product Number: 2146

Visit Product Support for additional product information

Key Features

The world's first AF-S VR super-Telephoto 200-400mm zoom lens.

Nikon VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization, engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens, enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper still images and video capture.

Automatically detects when photographer is panning and compensates.

Exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables ultra-high-speed auto focusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful super-quiet operation.

Minimum focus distance of 6.2 feet at all focal lengths.

Compatible with TC-14EII (AF/MF), TC-17EII (MF), TC-20EII (MF) and TC-20EIII (MF) Teleconverters.

No power consumption during manual focus operation.

Nikon D-type design provides precise distance information for flash and ambient light exposure processes.

G-design enables apertures to be selected from select Nikon AF SLR camera bodies.

Combines four fixed focal length super-Telephoto lenses into a single compact super-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor lens.

Two VR Modes: normal or active for taking pictures with extreme movement.

Compatible with Nikon TC-14E II, TC-17E II and TC-20E II (III) Teleconverters. AF operation only with TC14E II.

4 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements minimize chromatic aberration and provide higher resolution and superior contrast.

Internal Focusing (IF) design for smoother focusing and great body balance.

M/A mode enables instant switching from auto focus to manual with virtually no time lag even during AF servo operation.

9 blade rounded diaphragm for natural blur.

Detachable tripod mounting collar provided.

Specifications

Mount Type

Nikon F-Bayonet

Focal Length Range

200-400mm

Zoom Ratio

2.0x

Maximum Aperture

f/4

Minimum Aperture

f/32

Format

FX/35mm

Maximum Angle of View (DX-format)

8°

Minimum Angle of View (DX-format)

4°

Maximum Angle of View (FX-format)

12°20'

Minimum Angle of View (FX-format)

6°10'

Maximum Reproduction Ratio

0.27 (AF)
0.28 (MF)x

Lens Elements

Lens Groups

Compatible Format(s)

FX
DX
FX in DX Crop Mode
35mm Film

VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization

Yes

Diaphragm Blades

Distance Information

Yes

ED Glass Elements

Super Integrated Coating

Yes

Autofocus

Yes

AF-S (Silent Wave Motor)

Yes

Internal Focusing

Yes

Minimum Focus Distance

6.6 ft. (2.0m)

Focus Mode

Auto
Manual
Manual/Auto

G-type

Yes

Filter Size

52mm

Accepts Filter Type

Screw-on

Compatible with Nikon AF-S Teleconverters

Yes (refer to the product manual for details)

Dimensions

(Approx.) 4.9 x 14.4 in. (Diameter x Length)
124 x 365mm (Diameter x Length)

Weight

(Approx.) 115.52 oz. (3275g)

Supplied Accessories

HK-30 Hood
CL-L2 Soft Case
Front cover
Rear lens cap

*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.

**Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
***Refer to the product manual or the Compatible Lenses Specification for additional details.

HK-30 Slip-On Lens Hood$342.00

CL-L2 Ballistic Nylon Soft Lens Case$186.00

Front Lens Cover$53.00

52mm Screw-On NC Filter$49.00

LF-1 Rear Lens Cap$13.50

52mm Screw-on Soft Focus Filter$77.00

52mm Slip-in Circular Polarizing Filter$398.00

Filter Case$21.50

{%= nikon.tmpl_queue.add(function() { YAHOO.ksv.relatedProducts.normalizeProductTileHeight({ "id": "ProductDetail.ProductTabs.Accessories_product-list-3", "region": "product-details" }) }) %}

AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED 4.9 5 18 18

I am utterly happy with this lens I am super happy with the lens. I should have bought it years ago. October 10, 2011

Great lens for wildlife. Having graduated from the 80-400 mm Nikkor to this lens, I can say that the speed of focus and lower apeture over the entire range make it ideal for photographing wildlife. Coupled with a DX SLR such as the D300, it enables the photographer to shoot in low-light conditions. It's worth the added expense. June 8, 2011

Tack Sharp and Fast This lens is my go to lens for sports. The clarity and detail of images produced far exceeds the bulk and size of the 200-400 lens. It is fast, sharp and easy to shoot with using a monopod. I shoot primarily alpine ski racing during the winter months and in all kinds of weather. This lens was consistently the best gear choice for me. April 14, 2011

I can't get along without it. Works great for the soccer, football and softball games I cover. September 22, 2010

Outstanding Lens!! This lens is fantastic. I saw another photographer using this lens on the sidelines last year and decided I had to have one. Very fast AF and tack sharp images. Was rather disappointed to find out ten days after I purchased the lens they were coming out with a new improved version. Hard to believe they could improve on this lens. August 13, 2010

Page: 2

next>>

1 Question | 1 Answer

Product Q&A

Ask your questions. Share your answers.

Clear Search

Search Q&A

1 Question | 1 Answer

Have a new question?

Ask a new question

Search the Product Forum

All Questions

1 of 1

All

Has staff answer

AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED

1 answer

Best lens choice for youth sports?

Mar 30, 2012 by

Lax Dad

Mystic, Stonington, CT, USA

on AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED

Has staff answer

0points

0out of 0found this question helpful.

Was this helpful?helpful0unhelpful0

Report as inappropriate

I use a D90 with a monopod and have been capturing photos with the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED. I would like to upgrade.

Which would be the best single choice?
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f2.8G ED VRII
AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f4G ED VRII
AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f4G IF ED

Any other good alternatives?

3 months, 2 weeks ago

Lax Dad

Mystic, Stonington, CT, USA

Location :

Mystic, Stonington, CT, USA

Age: 45-54

Favorite Subject: Sports

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: More than a year

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

1 answer

Answers

0points

0out of 0found this answer helpful.

Was this helpful?helpful0unhelpful0

Report as inappropriate

Staff

Answer:

Please click on the link below for the lens simulator; it will help you to make the decision on what lens you need.
http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Produ...
Please click on the link below for sporting events:
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans...

Mar 30, 2012 by

NikonStaff

Staff

1 person is following this questionFollow This Question

Answer this question

1 of 1

Policies & Guidelines

Ask a new question

Product Q&A

1 Question | 1 Answer

Read all Q&A

1 of 1

Product Registration

Registering your Nikon product allows us to send you (with your permission) important updates, service information and helpful hints, and it makes it easier should you ever need to call in for help.

Nikon Answers Site

We store all resolved problems in our solution database. If you can’t find a relevant answer, feel free to submit a question to our technical support team.

View Questions & Answers

D-SLR Cameras

COOLPIX Cameras

Film Cameras

Software

Film Scanners

D-SLR Lenses

Speedlights

Nikon Product Support

Product FAQs

Contact Us

Corporate Profile

Sponsorship Support

Corporate Gifts and Rewards

Buy direct and save

Save on refurbished products

View special offers

AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED

Supplied Accessories

Product Q&A

Ask your questions. Share your answers.

Answers

Product Q&A

AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR
200-400mm f/4G IF-ED