I purchased this Lens last year and after reading this review purchased the teleconverters.It works fantastically on the D500.
Hannes Rossouw
December 12, 2022 7:50 am
Hi Nasim, will this lens work with FTZ and Z9?
James Low
June 11, 2020 9:49 pm
Thanks Nassim for the thorough review. It is always a delight reading your articles despite the gear involved are not the latest in the market. There was a point you made on the heaviest lens that Nikon has ever produced. I think it is not the 600 f/4G, but the AF-I 400mm f/2.8D which weighs a whopping 6.3kg. Cheers!
Mansur A
January 13, 2018 5:03 pm
Hi Nasim Nice article, well it depends on your type of photography
I prefer the 400mm 2.8 , I have the Canon 400mm 2.8 but now prefer the Nikon D3 and lenses now, personal choice The 200 to 400mm is great for zoo shots depends on the close focus distance too Regards Mansur Lone Star State
Alun
September 28, 2013 7:05 am
Thanks very much for the comprehensive and very detailed review. I am leaning towards the 500 F4 due to weight and size and the extra reach without TC’s. In your opinion would the 500 F4 with TC20E iii IQ quality be poor even though it should focus on a D800E?
alok
August 6, 2013 1:17 am
Very impressive review Nasim. I am hoping that you come out with a review on Nikon 200-400 vr II soon.
Shawn Fitzpatrick
February 3, 2013 5:43 pm
Hi Nasim,
After reading your entire review, I must say that I am most impressed with how thorough you’ve been. I find the information to be highly useful. I just bought the 400mm 2.8 Nikkor VR and am actually returning it for a replacement, immediately upon taking possession, I opened to inspect (as one would), and sadly, the very first thing I noticed is the obvious ding in the housing close to the rim. Also, upon connecting it to my D3S, I noticed that the lens emits a high-pitch whistling as it seeks focus. Is this normal? To me, it would seem that it goes against the concept of a “super-quiet” lens. However, I am most impressed by the couple of sample images that I took (hand-held), out my kitchen window. Even through the window panes and being hand held, it managed very sharp images! I can’t wait to get my hands on the NEW new lens, and get out there for some real samples. Thanks again for the fantastic review!!
david leung
November 17, 2012 2:27 pm
My only comment is you should take the jackets off the 300mm and the 200-400mm lens in the image so they look like they are from the same family.
Veronica Edwards
June 29, 2012 3:54 am
I have a 400mm and 200mm nikon Lenses for sale. please contact me via [email protected]
Nickolas Polischuk
May 27, 2012 7:25 am
Dear Hasim;
I really am gratefulk for finding your review jutin time for my purchase. I am an avid photographer with a myriad of lenses. Primarily I use two D2x bodies and a D200 for lenses I use less often. I am going on a safari , my first, and I am wrestling with the choice between the 200-400 f/8 VR II and the 400 f2/8 VR. I like the flexibility of the 200-400 but after reading your review I am confused again. I also have the 1.4X converter and will get a 1.7X probably so what do you think? Any further input would be most appreciated. I very much admire your knowledge and skills.
I have done two African Safaris in the last year with my partner. Last year I took a D300 (Preferred over a D700 for crop factor) with 70 – 300VR while my partner had a compact. I found problems with autofocus with the 70-300 especially when tracking the great apes through a dark humid and wet forrest having to resort to manual focus for several shots. This was also difficult as a spectacle wearer and finding my specs misting up continuously in the wet and humid conditions. Autofocus was OK in the brighter savannah areas but felt the pictures lacked the last bit of sharpness at maximum zoom .
At Xmas I bit the bullet knowing I needed a better lens and bought the 300 f2.8 VR which this year I took on Safari with a 1.4x TCII converter, monopod and D700 while my partner took my old combination of D300 with 70-300 and we also took an old 24 -85mm f2.8-4.0 for general purpose and small 10.5 f2.8 DX fisheye for landscape. Definately found the new 300mm lens worked well especially on a monopod from in vehicle or boat and found the focal length length effectivly 420mm at f4 an ideal length for the larger mammals. I tried the combination on D300 also but found the focal length (effectivly 630mm) a bit too much for my purposes but it may be good for birding. I found the weight to carry quite arduous when tracking through the thick forrest with this large lens but no problems at all with autofocus. I certainly couldnot recommend tracking and carrying anything larger such as this 400 f2.8 which would have to stay mounted on a stand and used from or near the safari vehcile be it a van or boat. The 300 f2.8 can be used hand held but its not something to carry around for too long and I found no loss of autofocus speed using this teleconverter. Also found the 300 f2.8 raised no questions or problems when flying with it as hand luggage.
I’m watching these drop in price for use with my D500. Maybe someday…
Look at buying used from KEH, MPB, or B&H. I don’t think the price of such lens will ever drop.
I purchased this Lens last year and after reading this review purchased the teleconverters.It works fantastically on the D500.
Hi Nasim, will this lens work with FTZ and Z9?
Thanks Nassim for the thorough review. It is always a delight reading your articles despite the gear involved are not the latest in the market. There was a point you made on the heaviest lens that Nikon has ever produced. I think it is not the 600 f/4G, but the AF-I 400mm f/2.8D which weighs a whopping 6.3kg.
Cheers!
Hi Nasim
Nice article, well it depends on your type of photography
I prefer the 400mm 2.8 , I have the Canon 400mm 2.8 but now prefer the Nikon D3 and lenses now, personal choice
The 200 to 400mm is great for zoo shots depends on the close focus distance too
Regards
Mansur
Lone Star State
Thanks very much for the comprehensive and very detailed review. I am leaning towards the 500 F4 due to weight and size and the extra reach without TC’s. In your opinion would the 500 F4 with TC20E iii IQ quality be poor even though it should focus on a D800E?
Very impressive review Nasim. I am hoping that you come out with a review on Nikon 200-400 vr II soon.
Hi Nasim,
After reading your entire review, I must say that I am most impressed with how thorough you’ve been. I find the information to be highly useful. I just bought the 400mm 2.8 Nikkor VR and am actually returning it for a replacement, immediately upon taking possession, I opened to inspect (as one would), and sadly, the very first thing I noticed is the obvious ding in the housing close to the rim. Also, upon connecting it to my D3S, I noticed that the lens emits a high-pitch whistling as it seeks focus. Is this normal? To me, it would seem that it goes against the concept of a “super-quiet” lens. However, I am most impressed by the couple of sample images that I took (hand-held), out my kitchen window. Even through the window panes and being hand held, it managed very sharp images! I can’t wait to get my hands on the NEW new lens, and get out there for some real samples. Thanks again for the fantastic review!!
My only comment is you should take the jackets off the 300mm and the 200-400mm lens in the image so they look like they are from the same family.
I have a 400mm and 200mm nikon Lenses for sale. please contact me via [email protected]
Dear Hasim;
I really am gratefulk for finding your review jutin time for my purchase. I am an avid photographer with a myriad of lenses. Primarily I use two D2x bodies and a D200 for lenses I use less often. I am going on a safari , my first, and I am wrestling with the choice between the 200-400 f/8 VR II and the 400 f2/8 VR. I like the flexibility of the 200-400 but after reading your review I am confused again. I also have the 1.4X converter and will get a 1.7X probably so what do you think?
Any further input would be most appreciated. I very much admire your knowledge and skills.
Regards
Nick
Sorry about the typos
Just to share my Safari experiences
I have done two African Safaris in the last year with my partner. Last year I took a D300 (Preferred over a D700 for crop factor) with 70 – 300VR while my partner had a compact. I found problems with autofocus with the 70-300 especially when tracking the great apes through a dark humid and wet forrest having to resort to manual focus for several shots. This was also difficult as a spectacle wearer and finding my specs misting up continuously in the wet and humid conditions. Autofocus was OK in the brighter savannah areas but felt the pictures lacked the last bit of sharpness at maximum zoom .
At Xmas I bit the bullet knowing I needed a better lens and bought the 300 f2.8 VR which this year I took on Safari with a 1.4x TCII converter, monopod and D700 while my partner took my old combination of D300 with 70-300 and we also took an old 24 -85mm f2.8-4.0 for general purpose and small 10.5 f2.8 DX fisheye for landscape. Definately found the new 300mm lens worked well especially on a monopod from in vehicle or boat and found the focal length length effectivly 420mm at f4 an ideal length for the larger mammals. I tried the combination on D300 also but found the focal length (effectivly 630mm) a bit too much for my purposes but it may be good for birding. I found the weight to carry quite arduous when tracking through the thick forrest with this large lens but no problems at all with autofocus. I certainly couldnot recommend tracking and carrying anything larger such as this 400 f2.8 which would have to stay mounted on a stand and used from or near the safari vehcile be it a van or boat. The 300 f2.8 can be used hand held but its not something to carry around for too long and I found no loss of autofocus speed using this teleconverter. Also found the 300 f2.8 raised no questions or problems when flying with it as hand luggage.