Nikkor 200-400 vr1?

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Chris@sabor

Senior Member
In looking into used lenses to improve the quality of my wildlife images, there are several copies of the Nikkor 200-400 vr1 available for sub 2k.

I know the lens is heavy...no problem.

Here's my list of possibles...

Nikkor 200-400 F4 vr1
Nikkor 80-400 G (newest model)
Nikkor 300 PF + Teleconverter

I have a budget of about $2k... The 300 won't make it but...

I need the lens mostly for close up, blind work and some close action in the field.

Give me your input! Thanks!!!
 
hark

hark

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Chris@sabor said:
In looking into used lenses to improve the quality of my wildlife images, there are several copies of the Nikkor 200-400 vr1 available for sub 2k.

I know the lens is heavy...no problem.

Here's my list of possibles...

Nikkor 200-400 F4 vr1
Nikkor 80-400 G (newest model)
Nikkor 300 PF + Teleconverter

I have a budget of about $2k... The 300 won't make it but...

I need the lens mostly for close up, blind work and some close action in the field.

Give me your input! Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

The 300mm PF + 1.4x teleconverter is AWESOME! Definitely not heavy compared with the others, and it's SHARP!!! Even the 300mm f/4 non-VR lens with a 1.4x teleconverter is excellent (but lack of VR might pose a problem for you). If anything, the non-VR lens is just slightly sharper than the PF although I haven't done any AF calibrations on either. I've used both although the only teleconverter I have is the 1.4x. So I cannot offer any input on these lenses with a 2x teleconverter. And both of these 300mm lenses accommodate a tripod foot.
 
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Chris@sabor

Senior Member
hark said:
The 300mm PF + 1.4x teleconverter is AWESOME! Definitely not heavy compared with the others, and it's SHARP!!! Even the 300mm f/4 non-VR lens with a 1.4x teleconverter is excellent (but lack of VR might pose a problem for you). If anything, the non-VR lens is just slightly sharper than the PF although I haven't done any AF calibrations on either. I've used both although the only teleconverter I have is the 1.4x. So I cannot offer any input on these lenses with a 2x teleconverter. And both of these 300mm lenses accommodate a tripod foot.
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I checked out the 300mm f4 non VR and it IS a bargain! The one thing Is the focusing is quite loud and lots of reports of squeaking. I'm really leaning toward the 200-400. I love a zoom and it's a pro lens. Because I live in Mexico and returns and service is not available, I need to be careful.

Thanks Amigo!
 
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pendennis

Senior Member
If you haven't considered it, the 200-500 f/5.6 ED VR is a gem. I've owned one for around two years, and it's an excellent performer. While it's a stop slower than the 200-400, it's also quite a bit lighter, and when on a tripod, the stop loss, is negligible. I've used it with a 1.4x T/C, and it still performs nicely.

I own an older 300mm f/4 AF-S, and it still works great, but the 200-500 is my main bird lens.
 
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Chris@sabor

Senior Member
pendennis said:
If you haven't considered it, the 200-500 f/5.6 ED VR is a gem. I've owned one for around two years, and it's an excellent performer. While it's a stop slower than the 200-400, it's also quite a bit lighter, and when on a tripod, the stop loss, is negligible. I've used it with a 1.4x T/C, and it still performs nicely.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's a great lens but, ultimately I don't think it would offer much more than my Sigma 150-600 C.
 
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Chris@sabor

Senior Member
I made my decision...I just purchased a Nikon 200-400 F4 VR from KEH Camera. It was rated EX+ and sold for $1,923.00. I also picked up a Nikon TC 1,4 ii, also in EX+ condition for $248.00.

I chose these for the following reasons:

Pro Grade Nikon lens that sold for $6,000.
Optical and build quality
Weather sealing
F4 aperture
Fast AF speed
Zoom capability

I won't receive it until January but i'll post some thoughts and images after that.
Thanks for your valuable input!
 
hark

hark

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Chris@sabor said:
I made my decision...I just purchased a Nikon 200-400 F4 VR from KEH Camera. It was rated EX+ and sold for $1,923.00. I also picked up a Nikon TC 1,4 ii, also in EX+ condition for $248.00.

I chose these for the following reasons:

Pro Grade Nikon lens that sold for $6,000.
Optical and build quality
Weather sealing
F4 aperture
Fast AF speed
Zoom capability

I won't receive it until January but i'll post some thoughts and images after that.
Thanks for your valuable input!
Click to expand...

Congrats on making your decision. Just be sure to check the lens carefully. I purchased 2 different lenses thru Keh. Both had problems. The zoom would get stuck at a certain focal length on one. It was nearly impossible to slightly zoom in or out from there. The other had sticky aperture blades which caused many photos to be overexposed (blades wouldn't stop down fully). I've had better luck buying preowned thru Allen's Camera, B&H, and even Amazon sellers (yes, two excellent lenses: my Nikon 300mm f/4 PF VR and my Nikon 70-200mm f/4 VR were from 2 different Amazon sellers).
 
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Chris@sabor

Senior Member
hark said:
Congrats on making your decision. Just be sure to check the lens carefully. I purchased 2 different lenses thru Keh. Both had problems. The zoom would get stuck at a certain focal length on one. It was nearly impossible to slightly zoom in or out from there. The other had sticky aperture blades which caused many photos to be overexposed (blades wouldn't stop down fully). I've had better luck buying preowned thru Allen's Camera, B&H, and even Amazon sellers (yes, two excellent lenses: my Nikon 300mm f/4 PF VR and my Nikon 70-200mm f/4 VR were from 2 different Amazon sellers).
Click to expand...

That's a little distressing for me as its difficult to get and return items from here. Fingers crossed! Thanks
 
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hark

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Chris@sabor said:
That's a little distressing for me as its difficult to get and return items from here. Fingers crossed! Thanks
Click to expand...

Believe me - I hear what you're saying. Keh allows free returns if it doesn't suit you, but the cost of the return would be on you. I checked out used prices on Allen's and B&H. It seems the price you are paying is equivalent to one in GOOD condition, not in EXC+. So I am concerned for you. Just being honest here. Once while at Allen's, one of their employees looked up a price on Keh and wondered how they even determined such a low price.

Allen's has one (although their site lists 2, both have the same serial number). If you are interested, I could check it out for you.

Scroll partway down the page if you want to see it. It's listed in GOOD condition.

https://allenscamera.com/used/lenses/dslr/?_bc_fsnf=1&brand=64&sort=pricedesc
 
hark

hark

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Chris@sabor said:
I'm pretty lucky in general, so I'll think good thoughts! I'll keep you posted...

Thanks Amigo!
Click to expand...

No problem. Good luck and definitely keep us posted. It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the quality of that lens vs. their pricing. Maybe I just had a couple instances of bad luck (and I certainly hope that is the case since there are so many favorable reviews for Keh). :)
 
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Chris@sabor

Senior Member
Received the Nikkor 200-400 VR from KEH last evening. It was rated EX+, meaning 90-96% of Original condition and it looks like new!
Im still testing and tuning but it's pretty close.

Here's one of the first images and it was shot with the 1.4 teleconverter.
DSC_3987.jpg
 
hark

hark

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Chris@sabor said:
Received the Nikkor 200-400 VR from KEH last evening. It was rated EX+, meaning 90-96% of Original condition and it looks like new!
Im still testing and tuning but it's pretty close.

Here's one of the first images and it was shot with the 1.4 teleconverter.
View attachment 328208
Click to expand...

Glad to hear your experience with them was much better than mine! :encouragement: Kudos on your new acquisition - and waiting to see more superb photos from you! ;)
 
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Chris@sabor

Senior Member
I forgot to mention how buttery smooth the zoom ring is! That is my biggest complaint about the Sigma 150-600 C, the zoom ring is sticky and chatters and just sucks.

I would say the focus speed is about the same, pretty quick. Build quality on the Nikkor is on another level!

The tripod ring on the Sigma was also awful, so bad I couldn't rotate it to portrait from my monopod.
The tripod ring on the Nikkor is perfect, smooth with just the right amount of tension and the foot is Arca/Swiss compatible!

The VR, at least through the lens actually seems better on the older Nikon. I don't use it much anyway but it was almost imperceptible on the Sigma.
 
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