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Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Review

Published on January 8, 2013 by Nino Wong in Front Page, Lenses

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Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II.

Introduction

In year 2003, Nikon introduced its first ever stabilized telephoto zoom lens, namely the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR. It was a professional-grade lens with a constant fast f/2.8 maximum aperture across its entire focal length range, which was specially developed for professional sports, news, and wildlife photographers. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR has gained popularity very fast among Nikon DX format digital SLR camera users; however, many people have complained that the lens lacked border sharpness at its telephoto end and suffered from high vignetting when coupled with a Nikon FX format digital SLR camera. Six years later, in year 2009, Nikon finally introduced a new lens that should solve those issues, namely the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II.

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is the second and latest generation lens in the company’s range of professional-grade stabilized fast telephoto zoom lenses. Introduced as an addition to the company’s top-end FX format digital SLR camera, the Nikon D3X, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is not just an upgraded version of the already-superb Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR. It is actually a completely redesigned lens that comes with a whole new optical formula, designed to deliver sharp images all the way into the corners of an FX format digital SLR camera.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II’s lens construction.

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II’s lens construction consists of 21 elements in 16 groups, which include 7 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) optical elements for minimum chromatic aberration and sharper images. Nikon has also added its latest Nano Crystal Coating to this lens in order to minimize lens flares and ghosting. VR II is the abbreviation of Vibration reduction II, a new vibration reduction technology developed by Nikon which offers a four stops benefit over non-VR systems. Last but not least, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II also comes with a new A/M focus mode, which prevents accidental movements of the focus ring from overriding the autofocus during operation.