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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR Review

Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR Review

By Nasim Mansurov 159 Comments
Last Updated On July 2, 2020

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Table of Contents

  • Overview and Specifications
  • Optical Features
  • Lens Comparisons
  • Summary
  • More Image Samples
  • Reader Comments
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159 Comments
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Robert John
Robert John
May 13, 2024 4:39 pm

Interesting that the 70-200/f4 and the 300/f4 PF together weigh about the same as the 70-200/f2.8. And on the used market they cost pretty much the same.
Add in a 1.4 TC to each and I’d suggest that one’s camera bag is better off with the f4 pair than the f2.8 alone. After all, with an aps-c camera the f4s will deliver between 105 and 630mm efl compared to 105 to 420mm. And the 300/f4 PF will out perform the 70-200/f2.8 at equal focal lengths.
That’s a lot to give up for occasional use of f2.8 over f4.
Obviously it’s different with the Z mount 70-200/f2.8 given its amazing sharpness – and the absence of f4 lenses from Z mount!!

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NeoCon
NeoCon
December 21, 2023 8:19 am

I considered other options in this zoom range before purchasing this zoom. Had to wait a number of months for it become available. Glad I waited; it is exactly what I expected. The F2.8 models were both more expensive and much heavier. Rarely do I miss shooting wider than F4. Using ISOs of 3200 and up, post processed in PureRaw2 gives me sharp, noise free results.

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Riccardo
Riccardo
November 12, 2023 12:48 pm

Which body/sensor was used to get Imatest/MTF plots?
I could not find this info in the review. I guess it’s a 36+ Mpix camera, but I’m not sure.
Thanx.

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Hayden
Hayden
Reply to  Riccardo
November 16, 2023 9:16 pm

Yes curious to know this also, As numbers seem a bit lower than I’d expect from this lens.

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Noshir Mody
Noshir Mody
July 4, 2022 1:16 pm

Hi Nasim, in your opinion, how does the lens perform in low light wildlife (not birds) photography before sunrise and after sunset. I am planning on using it on a safari to the Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa. Thank you.

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Robert Klarić
Robert Klarić
June 11, 2022 2:23 am

Hi Nasim, can you please help me with decision, I have D750 with 24-120 plus 85, 16-28 and 50mm, also Tamron 70-300 VC USD.. Few weeks ago I managed to buy Z7 with 24-70mm f4 and FTZ adapter, and I don’t like Tamron 70-300 on Z7, I think it’s not that sharp for 45mp sensor. What to do, should I go with used Nikon 70-200 f4 or Tamron 70-210 f4 or buy new 24-200 which is on sale for 800 USD here in Croatia? I do landscape most of the time. Thanks :)

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Russ Butner
Russ Butner
January 31, 2022 4:59 pm

This tripod collar works perfectly on this lens.

www.ebay.com/itm/T…632-2357-0

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Russ Butner
Russ Butner
January 31, 2022 4:38 pm

This is a fantastic lens. I cannot recommend it highly enough. And every bit as sharp as the f/2.8 version.

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JOHN MOTZI
JOHN MOTZI
March 8, 2020 11:06 am

I use this lens and tripod collar for landscape photography using the D850 and Z7 cameras. I shoot 1:1 aspect ratio primarily, so I don’t need to fiddle with lens rotation. My old Nikon AF NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D ED has a superior lens rotation feature to change orientation, but it is old and heavy and the AF is not as good as this new f/4G lens.

Overall it’s a great lens. I know that Nikon is soon introducing a 70-200 S version for the Z camera, but considering that new lens will be much longer and much heavier than this f/4G, I see no reason to part ways with this great lens. Quite satisfied!

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Tim S
Tim S
December 19, 2019 10:45 am

A useful review. I have the lens, and it is very good. However, I notice that a lot of the the sample images in the review, specifically of the model, state (when hovering the cursor over the photo) that they were taken with the 70-200 f2.8. Is that an error in the labelling of the photos?

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Nasim Mansurov
Nasim Mansurov
Author
Reply to  Tim S
December 19, 2019 11:09 am

No, they are all taken with the 70-200mm f/4G. It was an error on my end when I uploaded the files with the wrong labels.

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Thomas Herren
Thomas Herren
August 23, 2018 1:10 am

Hi Nasim, thank you very much for your great review! I have had this lens for several years now but don’t use it often. Astonishingly, my old 70-200mm f/2.8 VR I is equally sharp in the center for portrait shots taken at around 100mm with f/4 j. At 200mm though, the old lens is clearly inferior, I considered selling both 70-200mm lenses and replacing them with the current Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL, but this one is expensive and I found that my portrait lenses (85 f/1.8 G and 105mm micro VR) and the 70-200mm f/4 from 135mm – 200mm do a great job.

Did you have the chance to compare the f/4 with the current f/2.8E FL?

All the best
Thomas

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