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For many Nikon fans, the original 80-200mm F4.5 has brought many fond memories. It was once rated "one of the sharpest zoom lens ever made..." and since then, it has helped slowly changing the public perception towards poor image quality of general zoom lenses available on the market during the seventies. The picture shown here is the Zoom Nikkor 80-200 F4 version, a successor to that claimed'legendary' lens. It is one-half stop faster than the older version and close focus down to 1.2 m (4 ft) and still retaining the silky smooth one touch zoom ring design. Minimum aperture is the same as the older version at f32 and it now takes 62mm filters (the older version takes 52mm) and weighing a moderately heavy at 810g.
* While this may not be appropriate for me as a Site maintainer to 'advertise' this lens. But someone has disposed a mint 80-200 f4 to me and I had a brief 'ride' with it lately for a project. Get your level of comfort established first - I have given the lens away to my partner after it was done, So don't mail me for discussion. But I can comfortably tell you, optically at its macro setting of 1:4 is equally impressive enough when stopped down the aperture to f8 or f11. Hey, you must be asking why was I given the lens away ? Nothing specific here, because I have quite a few lenses with duplicating focal length and since I bought the lens at quite a 'bargain', why not benefiting your buddy, right ? Actually, I thought of telling you I have just found another 5 stars-performer in the new AF-D 200mm f4 ED IF of which optically, I am very satisfy with its performance (Just like any normal healthy thinking man, when you have a new gal friend, you tend to be forgetful at times that you are married...).
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Strangely, this 80-200mm f4.0 lens was not that well received after an initial article appeared in Popular Photography's lens test. What happened ? Nobody knew, some said the initial batch from the production line that was sent to the lab test could have some slight problems. Well, that certainly has damaged the reputation a little for the good image the lens built upon earlier.
Optical design of the lens compared between old and new versions. For a view of the picture of the 1st generation of the original 80-200 zoom launched in 1970 and with a separate picture of the 85-250mm, click here.
Well, after all these episodes.
Finally, when the autofocus revolution started, the ED version was introduced and came with a maximum aperture of a very fast f2.8. Eventually, the AF version was upgraded to the latest D designated version. This is a massive lens by size - sometimes, you can't strike a right balance between quality, f-stop, size and weight. But image quality produced is superb throughout its zoom range. A current clear favorite among news reporters, sports photographer and photojournalists. Obviously, the amateurs joined in and make this lens an immensely popular commercially.
Another newer version again ?
How many updates could there be ?...
I hope this is final, but there is still some room for
improvement...
With Aspherical elements, it can be made more compact and perhaps lighter in weight.
A Silent wave motor will drastically improves its power effiency and improve the
focusing speed. But hopefully, you won't read the leaflet that stated "...for
other models, turn to manual focus..", Err..
If someone complaints with size, weight of this
lens,
just take a look at this page and it will make you feel better, definately...
or click here to see the 1st zoom lens from Nikon.
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Copyright © 1999. leofooô MIR Web Development Team. This is a personal contributing article to Michael Liu's Nikon Classics Site. Credit: Ms Rissa Chan, Sales Manager of Shriro Malaysia, EEwyn© my nephew, for helping out some shooting, scanning and retouching of images in this site.Made with a PowerMac. Broadcasting with a RedHatô Linux powered server.