Nikon 80-400mm VR Lens Reviews & Specifications

Nikon's 80-400mm high-power zoom lens. Without a doubt this lens is worth the price.  This lens performs well on the newer digital SLR cameras. There is a reason that the pro's use lenses from the manufacturer of their cameras. The same reason that these lenses cost more! Quality, durability and performance! It's heavy and not particularly quick focusing, but makes great pictures.

Most of the time this focal range is necessary when you `shoot' wild animals, e.g. birds, or butterflies, who would not allow you to get close. Another example is to shoot an alligator, where he probably would not mind, but you do. Architectural shots from a long distance also become possible. The VR (vibration reduction) is totally amazing. This lens, however, eats batteries for lunch, so I'd advise you to carry a second battery

The lens features an innovative Vibration Reduction (VR) system that allows handheld super-telephoto zoom shooting in poorly lit conditions. The VR system minimizes image blur caused by camera shake, and offers the equivalent of shooting at a shutter speed 3 stops (8 times) faster. The lens offers a natural viewfinder image even during VR operation and also detects automatically when the photographer pans. It is ideal for candid, portrait, sports photography and more.

This lens comes with a CL-M1 Ballistic nylon Lens Case

The mount is metal, the AF is the "screw type" and the lens has an aperture ring so it is compatible with all past Nikon cameras, only no AF on Nikon D40, D60, D300 or S5000.

• Result of VR (Vibration Reduction) is equivalent to using a shutter speed three f/stops faster

• VR is automatically detected during panning operation. Two modes of VR: Image plane and Viewfinder

• 3 ED glass for high resolution and high contrast even at maximum apertures

• Filter does not rotate during zooming

Zoom Ratio: 5x

Maximum Aperture: 4.5

Minimum Aperture: 32

Autofocus: Yes

Vibration Reduction: Yes

Distance Information: Yes

ED Glass Elements: Yes

Super Integrated Coating: Yes

Minimum Focus Distance: 7.5 ft. (2.3m)

Maximum Angle of View: 30° 10'

Minimum Angle of View: 6° 10'

Lens (Elements): 17

ED (Elements): 3

Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 1/4.8

Dimensions": 3.6x6.7in. (Diameter x Length): 91x

Weight: (1360g)

Mount Type: Nikon F-Bayonet

Accepts Filter Type: Screw-on

Filter Size: 77mm

Lens Attachment Size: 77mm

• Lens Hood - HB-24
• CL-M1 case
• 77mm lens cap
• Rear lens cap
*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.

Better to wait for an updated model, August 9, 2009

By L. Comer (Alabama)

I didn't want to wait and now I wish I had. I am using this lens with my D90 to take nature photos. I like to photograph birds and dragonflies and wanted to get this lens for the extra reach it would have over my 75 - 300mm lens. Like other reviewers have commented, it is noisy and slow compared to my other lens. I'm just an amateur and so I depend on the autofocus. It is hard to get this lens to focus on a flying bird and it goes out of focus faster than it goes into focus. It doesn't do well with low contrast and small subjects. It seems to hesitate between shots of a moving object. It does get closer, but I haven't gotten a shot yet that I would say made this lens worth the money I spent in buying it. At times it doesn't communicate with the camera and I have to take the lens off, rotate a ring and then replace the lens. I might have to do this twice before it works because it gives 2 different error messages that require me to rotate the ring in the opposite direction. It is a lot heavier than my 75 - 300mm lens. Because the extension is made of metal, it seems to retain the cold from inside, so that when I go outside, the lens fogs worse than my other lens. If you're impatient like me, then you will probably go ahead and buy this model since there is no telling when the newer model will be produced. If you aren't taking action photos or of small objects, then you might really like this lens.

By D. Bowers "Kestrel Hawk" (Salt Lake City, Utah)

In the early spring and into the summer, I spend most of my spare time working on a raptor nesting program. I look for the nests of various birds of prey, (hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls) gps their positions and photograph the adult and young. To get a better image of these beautiful birds I bought the Nikon 80-400mm lens. I haven't been disappointed. I get good sharp hand held photos, thanks to the VR capability. It is a little slow on the focus but nothing to stop me from getting some great shots of bird sitting and in flight. I recently bought a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 D ED lens. This lens is very, very sharp. I was surprised when comparing the two lens side by side. It is almost impossible to tell which lens took which photo. Both the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 D ED, and the 80-400mm VR lenses are a tribute to Nikon high standards of excellence.