Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Review: Three Years Later

[@A1craneman]

Thanks!

[@A1craneman]

thanks, thats an affordable leans that won't brake the bank and most excellent quality. I have watched a ton of videos on that lens but yours stands alone as the best I've seen.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Thank you so much. I really try to make reviews on gear involving topics everyone bypasses. All anyone wants to do is read the manual to a camera and take photos of a wall chart. And thank you for the super thanks!

[@Klobilob]

Agree 100% a really good video. Ive been looking at this lens too. Very affordable nowdays on the used market but still superb image quality what all the videos ive seen shows.

[@spirg]

Just got one , I took it out Saturday, WOW what a BEAST!!

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Its such an amazing lens!

[@spirg]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective MY favorite

[@spirg]

All I’ve been using since I got it !!!

[@heitoramos]

What a great video, man, somehow it made me feel so good I can t explain

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Thank you 😀

[@owenwilliams9582]

Many thanks from Anglesey for the review.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@owenwilliams9582very welcome ☺️

[@Mattriedl]

Great review - I especially appreciate how you addressed the focus motor “grinding” noise when shooting video. I’d previously used some F-mount glass with the FTZ (original) adapter and the noisy motors in these old lenses kinda ruins the on-body sound. Have you experienced that, if you use an external mic on the hot shoe, that you can’t hear the focusing? Picking this up would save me so much over the Z-mount 70-200 but I’m just not sure!

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

If your mic is anywhere attached to the camera you'll hear the f mount AF. It's not as bad on AFP lenses though. You can put a mic in a different place, on a boom, us lavs, record audio in a separate take or us licensed audio tracks. There's ways around it but it just adds one more step. And thanks!

[@hakamsoufan]

great photos ..good work thank you

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Glad you liked them!

[@Rburg00]

Honestly one of the best “real world” reviews of this lens. I recently purchased the lens used and while waiting for a chance to take it out trying to learn as much about it as I can. I think I’ll do like you, use z lenses but just keep the adapter on this one. Thanks!

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Very welcome! And Thanks. I try to keep it as realistic as I can. No one wants to see how a lens works in perfect studio conditions 😂

[@Kenobirino]

this lens is a total beast

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

It's so good. I definitely miss it.

[@BroScro]

Thanks man.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

You're welcome!

[@Steve33-c4o]

Thanks for sharing

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Thanks for watching!

[@RichardsModellingAdventures]

I have one. Very sharp. I just wish it focused as close as the FL ED version.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

So good!

[@dragonzjan2]

is it still worth it if i buy this lens for my z6ii? i mainly shoot weddings, portrait and sometimes concert

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@dragonzjan2 sure it would. Age doesn't make a lens less sharp. And it would be saving you thousands from buying a 70-200 S lens.

[@OsPortillo]

Was just offered a chance to buy this lens for $100. The problem is that the autofocus doesn't work. I'm learning photography and currently using a D3300, would you say this is a good deal, regardless of the AF not working? I think it is, after watching your video.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@OsPortillo if you are fine with learning manual focus on a Dslr without focas assists like focus peaking, it can be a very good deal. I might not cost to much to get it fixed either. And you'll still save money.

[@OsPortillo]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thank you for the response!

[@shawn2571]

Is it soft at f 2.8 and does it have chormatic Aberations?

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

It's well controlled and sharp at 2.8.

[@shawn2571]

Thanks

[@trippydante]

Hii sir, thank you for the video. Im curious about the support for burst shooting. Does it support 14 fps burst on the Z6ii? Really need to know. Will appreciate your answer

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

I've never owned a Z6ii camera. The Z6ii supports 14fps at 12 bit raw in single point focus. If you want 14 bit raw with tracking, its 10 fps. But you can find more information here on this review. photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-z6-ii/3

[@trippydante]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective i mean you shoot a Z9 and its capable of 30fps burst, if the lens supported that speed, it’ll for sure support 14fps Z6ii. That is my question hahaha, im sorry if my question is a bit unclear initially. Im planning on switching to Z6ii from A7iii and planning to get this lens as well for sports

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@trippydante My mistake, i read it as you asking if the Z6ii shot 14fps. Its all good. Yeah the 70-200 VR2 can handle 14fps easily. Nikon doesnt limit your camera FPS based on the lens like Sony will do. My question is why are you switching from the A7iii that has more reliable autofocus for sports? I would personally go for the Nikon Z6iii if you are switching to Nikon and want an actual worthy upgrade.

[@trippydante]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective hahahah my reason will be: 1. Ergonomics, sony grips becomes very uncomfortable when paired with heavy lens. 2. Burst speed, A7iii can only do 10fps and even im upgrading to A7IV its even worst at 6fps burst uncompressed RAW. While Z6ii capable of max 14 fps and it’ll be easier transition to upgrade to Z6iii. 3. Colour! 4. Autofocus wise, ive tested Z6ii before. My view on its autofocus is more towards like how you use the autofocus rather than what the camera has to offer on making it easier. Also sacrificing the autofocus on A7iii for better colour on Nikon actually lol hahaha.

[@trippydante]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective yes sony does offer better cameras for sports like the A9 series, but i simply couldn’t afford the body and sony native lenses (to support the full burst speed) while nikon offer more burst rate on Z6ii than A7iii + they have tons of good dslr lenses that can be adapted to mirrorless and they are way way cheaper.

[@alfredjamesdelgado2037]

can it fit to DX cropped sensor (d5200)?

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Yes, it's a f mount AFS lens. It would act like 100-300 ish lens.

[@musamailula5129]

Will it work with a Canon EOS R10?

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

No. This is a Nikon F mount lens.

[@musamailula5129]

I have a EF-RF adapter, will it work with that?

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@musamailula5129 no, F is Nikon. RF and EF is Canon.

[@DontFollowMe666]

Does this work with nikon d5600

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Yes.

[@lmglange]

Great video - very earnest 👍

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Glad you enjoyed it. I tried to keep it as legit as possible.

[@melissawilkerson328]

A great review for me I have this lens , thanks you so much. I have an adaptor to use on my Sony Alpha!!, But I have Nikons as well but older.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Thanks 😊 What adapter do you have?

[@joekelly9369]

Brilliant lens i have that and the new fl ed vr , iv took most my wildlife photos on this cropped in stupidly close , the new version iv not used yet , (its in a seperate bag with a seperate camera ,

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Which is version 4? The Z mount?

[@ruidaniro]

Is it compatible with Nikon Z6 using FTZ adapter? Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR II is the second version of this lens and how much difference from Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR?

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Never used the first Gen. Yes it is compatible.

[@freddyacosta2358]

Autofocus is faster. It's what I noticed.

[@brettgirl]

Watching this video as this Lens sits in my shopping cart at KEH 👀

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Buy buy 😂

[@brettgirl]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspectivealready bought!😂 now to hurry up and wait for it to get to me! Great video!

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Haha! @@brettgirl Thank you. Best luck! Just dont stare out the front window for 3 days.

[@joekelly9369]

10 - 20 feet ! , iv had awesome deer photos at 50 meters on my d850 , cropped in , i have the new version on another body , but im sure the older lens is sharper . So much i rarely grab the newer lens ,

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@joekelly9369 at 50 meters that deer must be 5mp once you crop in 😂

[@calebchristensenviolin]

It’s down to $500 or $600 now. Loving the drop in F mount prices.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@calebchristensenviolin buy buy buy! 😂

[@calebchristensenviolin]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective I’m upgrading soon from the 80-200 2.8d and really torn between this and the Tamron G2. Leaning Nikon though. Thanks for the review-very helpful!

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@calebchristensenviolin welcome!

[@joekelly9369]

Its a razor sharp lens and crops into ridiculously large like my 600mm equivalent , so well i dont carry the 600mm unless i need the 600mm cropping into 1000mm , d850s thrive on the g ed vr11 70-200 .

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

I want the Z 70-200 so bad 😓😅

[@voederbietels]

my VR stopped working

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Time to get that fixed 😂

[@voederbietels]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective yup have to send it to nikon