Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens Review / Test shots II (7-25-10)

I tested the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II outdoors for the first time this weekend and was happy with the results overall, though I really don’t have anything to compare them too.  All shots were handheld.  There are a combination of shots both with and without the Nikon 1.7x teleconverter.  If the new series III 2x teleconverter ever gets back in stock then I plan on buying it and will post my results.  Overall the autofocus does well with the 1.7x teleconverter…it is slower as one would expect, but very usable.  Autofocus is lightning fast without the teleconverter!  I found that the lens produces decent and some usable shots with the 1.7x teleconverter “wide-open” at 510mm f/4.8, however there were several from the group that I would not brag about.   Stopping down to around f/8 with the 1.7x teleconverter on made considerable difference with more quality shots (again all handheld).  Stopping down even more to f/11 gave mixed results as the lighting was not superb and thus the shutter speed had to drop to compensate (as I had ISO locked)… so I saw more camera shake artifact.  I have posted the best from the f/4.8 and f/8 groups with the teleconverter and several different f-stops without the teleconverter.  Unfortunately my subject would not maintain the same “pose” in all the photos but it’s good enough to get an idea since he did not change his distance (~20 feet).  View at 100% crop in order to really see the differences between the different f-stops (apertures).   ALL PHOTOS IN THIS TEST SHOT HANDHELD WITH “NORMAL EDITING/SHARPENING”.                

***Double click or use expansion window to view images at 100% crop***                   

Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II WITHOUT teleconverter                  

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II (300mm at f/5 and 1/1250 sec)..This poor pelican had a fishing hook in his bill that you can see on 100%   

     

 (BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II (300mm at f/5 and 1/1250 sec)     

   

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II (300mm wide open at f/2.8)                   

                   

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II (300mm at f/4)                   

            

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II (300mm at f /6.3)                   

                   

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II (300mm at f /8)                   

                   

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II (300mm at f /9)                   

                   

  

 

 

       

                   

  

 

 

       

                 

 

       

 

       

               

 

       

             

 

       

           

 

         

 

       

 

     

 

   

Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II WITH 1.7x teleconverter                   

***Double click or use expansion window to view images at 100% crop***                   

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II WITH 1.7x teleconverter (510mm wide open at f/4.8)                   

                   

                     

(BELOW): Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II WITH 1.7x teleconverter (510mm at f8)                   

                 

                   

Below are additional photos that I took with this lens over the weekend…                 

     (BELOW) Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VRII WITH 1.7x teleconverter (510mm at f/6.3 , shutter 1/1000 , ISO200)             

             

 (BELOW) Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VRII WITH 1.7x teleconverter (510mm at f/7 , shutter 1/640, ISO200)            

           

 (BELOW) Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VRII WITH 1.7x teleconverter (510mm at f/6.3 , shutter 1/1000 , ISO200)          

         

 (BELOW) Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VRII WITH 1.7x teleconverter (510mm at f/11 , shutter 1/250 , ISO200)         

        

Don Zeck Lens Cap Review

 Don Zeck Lens Caps

After purchasing the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VRII lens, I couldn’t help but feel nervous about having the front-most glass element of this investment exposed to the world.  The  black bag-cover thingy that Nikon provides with the lens,  is bulky and I find myself not wanting to lug it around and keep up with it when I am out shooting.  Plus it takes too long to take off and put back on again in a pinch.  So I looked online for a product to solve this problem and found the Don Zeck Lens Caps at http://www.donzecklenscap.com/  .  I read a few positive reviews about these Don Zeck lens caps and since there are not a ton of options in this particular market, I decided to take a chance.  I bought mine on B&H website at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ .  I will be honest that I was a bit reluctant to spend over $50 on what I assumed would be a flimsy plastic lens cap….boy was I pleasantly surprised!!

The lens cap arrived and I was immediately impressed by the thick and durable, though still lightweight (2.9 oz), construction of the plastic cap.   The handle is securely attached and I even gave it a few firm tugs to make sure it was properly fixed to the cap.  You can see this sturdy handle in the photos below.  The lens cap surface that faces the len’s glass has six round soft-plastic/rubber O-Rings that securely hold the cap in place (seen below).  No worries about these O-Rings, as they do NOT touch the surface of the lens glass when in place.  As mentioned the lens cap fits the end of the lens (make sure to get the correct size for your lens) and is easily removed.  The best quality about the lens cap besides the construction, is the fact that it fits on the lens even while the lens hood it on.  This is extremely convienent if you leave the lens hood on and facing forward the majority of the time (like I do).  All you have to do if reach in to remove or replace the cap….take only a couple of seconds.   Overall I am very satisfied and feel that the lens cap was well worth the investment!   Highly recommended!

 

-KSQ

http://ksqphotography.zenfolio.com/

 

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens Review / Test shots

Below results from a lens test with the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens  that show results from the lens alone and with the Nikon 1.7x teleconverter.  These photos were taken indoors, so the lighting was not the greatest and as a result there were long shutter speeds.  I would suspect that future outdoor results with even decent lighting would be even better…that is if it ever stops raining long enough here near the coast of Texas for me to to some outdoor photos! 

Test below was indoors using a tripod and cable shutter release and with the watch located about ~10 feet from the lens.  All photos are straight from the camera without editing except for those that state otherwise. I wanted to show the difference in results with and without mild sharpening & editing.    You can click on the photo twice to look at them at 100%. 

*****Nikon70-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens WITHOUT Nikon 1.7x teleconverter*****

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/2.8 – No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/4 – No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/6.3 – No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/8 – No editing- straight from camera

  

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/8 – sharpening & autocorrect

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/11 – No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/16 – No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 200mm f/22 – No editing- straight from camera

*****Nikon70-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens WITH Nikon 1.7x teleconverter*****

Watch- Nikon 340mm f/4.8 (200mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 340mm f/6.3 (200mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 340mm f/8 (200mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 340mm f/11 (200mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 340mm f/16 (200mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

 

Watch- Nikon 340mm f/16 (200mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  sharpening & autocorrect

Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens Review / Test shots

 Since I have had my Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens, I have had the chance to do some brief tests with the lens alone and with the Nikon 1.7x teleconverter.  I will add to this review as I have more results and field tests.  Thus far I am pretty impressed with the lens both with and without the teleconverter.  The autofocus is lightning fast without the teleconverter and still very respectible with the converter.  Also remember that these photos were taken indoors, so the lighting was not the greatest and as a result there were long shutter speeds.  I would suspect that future outdoor results with even decent lighting would be even better…that is if it ever stops raining long enough here near the coast of Texas for me to to some outdoor photos! 

Both lens tests below were indoors using a tripod and cable shutter release, with the “watch” test done at ~10 feet from and “Yoda” at ~15 feet .  I have photos with the lens alone and in combination of the Nikon 1.7x teleconverter.  All photos are straight from the camera without editing except for those that state otherwise. I wanted to show the difference in results with and without mild sharpening & editing.    You can click on the photo twice to look at them at 100%. 

From my non-scientific results, the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens was sharpest between f-stops f/4 – f/6.3 without the teleconverter AND between f-stops f/6.3 – f/11 with the teleconverter.

*****Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens WITHOUT Nikon 1.7x teleconverter*****

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/2.8 – No editing- straight from camera

 

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/4  – No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/6.3  – No editing- straight from camera

 

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/6.3 -  sharping & autocorrect

 

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/8 -  No editing- straight from camera

 

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/11 -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/16 -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 300mm f/22 -  No editing- straight from camera

  

*****Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens WITH Nikon 1.7x teleconverter*****

 

Watch- Nikon 510mm f/4.8 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

 

Watch- Nikon 510mm f/6.3 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) - No editing- straight from camera

 

Watch- Nikon 510mm f/8 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

 

Watch- Nikon 510mm f/11 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 510mm f/11 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  Sharpening & autocorrect

Watch- Nikon 510mm f/16 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Watch- Nikon 510mm f/22 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

  

*****Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens WITHOUT Nikon 1.7x teleconverter*****

Yoda – Nikon 300mm f/2.8 – No editing- straight from camera

 

Yoda- Nikon 300mm f/4  – No editing- straight from camera

 

Yoda- Nikon 300mm f/6.3  – No editing- straight from camera

 

Yoda- Nikon 300mm f/8 -  No editing- straight from camera

Yoda- Nikon 300mm f/8 -  sharping only

Yoda- Nikon 300mm f/11 -  No editing- straight from camera

 

Yoda- Nikon 300mm f/16 -  No editing- straight from camera

Yoda- Nikon 300mm f/22 -  No editing- straight from camera

 

  

*****Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED AF-S IF VR II Lens WITH Nikon 1.7x teleconverter*****

Yoda- Nikon 510mm f/4.8 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

 

Yoda- Nikon 510mm f/6.3 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) - No editing- straight from camera

Yoda- Nikon 510mm f/6.3 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  Sharpening & autocorrect

 

 

Yoda- Nikon 510mm f/8 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

 

Yoda- Nikon 510mm f/11 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Yoda- Nikon 510mm f/16 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

Yoda- Nikon 510mm f/22 (300mm plus 1.7x teleconverter) -  No editing- straight from camera

 

-KSQ

http://ksqphotography.zenfolio.com/