Posted by Paul Inglis on July 22, 2009 at 12:07 PM
For those of you who shoot with the latest FX format camera (D700, D3 and the D3X) how are you getting around the loss of the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR caused by major vignetting. Is there an alterative lens available?
Any help, advice, thoughts or musings most welcome!
Posted by Rene de Heer on July 22, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Paul I don't use the 70-200VR anymore...as you stated poor on full frame cameras.
I replaced it with the 70-300VR ED, and love it.
Good sharpness, lightweight...on the 300mm side a tiny bit soft but it is really a very nice lens.
I am sure I will get a new 70-200VR version once available but for now the 70-300 is doinf well
For me!
Rene de Heer
Posted by Paul Inglis on July 22, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Thanks Rene! Looks like I'll have to get a 70-300mm to tide me over until the release of a new 70-200mm. Can't believe that they still haven't brought out a valid replacement yet!
Well you can turn on the antvignetting control in the menu to normal or low which is what I have it set to, or learn to live with it personally I ended up buying a tamron 70-200f2.8 which is optically better than the nikkor @ 200f2.8, the only real downside is the autofocus is a bit on the slow side.
Phil.
Posted by Paul Inglis on July 22, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Thanks Phil! I have been testing out the antivignetting setting as you call it but I am struggling with it at the short focal lengths! Say between 70 and 130mm. My problem is when shooting a lighter than norm background.
Maybe I should blow the dust of the primes again!
Posted by Andy Astbury on July 22, 2009 at 2:46 PM
The sky in BiF shots shows vignetting with the 200-400 too, but the vignette control upgrade in firmware v1.01 for the D3 seems to do a pretty good job of mitigating the problem.
Don't know what the severity of the vignetting is like with the 70-200 - there seems to be conflicting reports ranging from 'a little bit' to 'like shooting through a jam jar'.
I have held off getting a 70-200 because of the conflicting reports,although i do have a D300 and it would fine on that, I am thinking of future proofing so will hold out a bit longer hoping that Nikon add some more FX lenses
My copy of the 200-400mm is totally acceptable on my FX format camera. However the 70-200mm that works flawlessly and is tack sharp on my DX format cameras is as you say like looking through a Jam-Jar! Nearly all lenses need to stopped down one or two stops to clean the corners up but on the 70-200mm (well my copy anyway) is so much it become unusable!
I am finding certain primes are producing stunning results such as my old 200mm f/4 micro. Even slightly older zooms such as the 17-35mm f/2.8 is producing good sharp results. Okay I admit that at 17mm wide open at f/2.8 there, is some signs of vignetting but it clears up at f/5.6 and at 20mm it clears at f/4. I don’t mind that especially on a landscape lens.
Hi Dave,
You’re right that the 70-200mm f/2.8 works flawlessly on the D300 and produces some absolutely stunning IQ images. It’s one of my favourite lenses and was in fact my first G lens. I am finding that it is the G lenses that are causing the most problem on the FX format where as my D lenses are pretty much doing the business except for the odd one that needs to be stopped down one or two stops. Nikon have known about the 70-200mm for quite some time (2007) and there still isn’t a valid replacement on the horizon (maybe this autumn?).
The 70-200mm f/2.8 saga has continued for me over the last few days. It all started when I tried a friend’s copy of the lens and it didn’t show the same extreme JamJar vignetting that mine did, with the vignetting control OFF.
So I decided to arm myself with my D3X and try out a few 70-200mm f/2.8 in-store until I found an acceptable copy! After trying no less than 23 different lenses I found a copy that was excellent with my D3X! With the vignetting control OFF it shows an acceptable amount of vignetting when shooting wide open throughout the zoom! It clears up completely by the time I have the vigenetting control at Normal and reduced drastically on LOW with very little darkening of the corners!
If I stop down to f/5.6 it is pretty much clear in the corners with the vignetting on OFF!
So I have spent a fortune on travelling costs, spent a lot of time testing each lens, purchased another 70-200mm f/2.8 and sold my original one to attempt off-setting the cost! BUT I have a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR that WORKS with my D3X!
So if you have the time then I do recommend trying a few 70-200mm f/2.8 on your FX format body as you will find some are better than others!!!
Discussion
8 repliesAny help, advice, thoughts or musings most welcome!
I replaced it with the 70-300VR ED, and love it.
Good sharpness, lightweight...on the 300mm side a tiny bit soft but it is really a very nice lens.
I am sure I will get a new 70-200VR version once available but for now the 70-300 is doinf well
For me!
Rene de Heer
Phil.
Maybe I should blow the dust of the primes again!
Don't know what the severity of the vignetting is like with the 70-200 - there seems to be conflicting reports ranging from 'a little bit' to 'like shooting through a jam jar'.
It is one heck of a lens though.
Dave
My copy of the 200-400mm is totally acceptable on my FX format camera. However the 70-200mm that works flawlessly and is tack sharp on my DX format cameras is as you say like looking through a Jam-Jar! Nearly all lenses need to stopped down one or two stops to clean the corners up but on the 70-200mm (well my copy anyway) is so much it become unusable!
I am finding certain primes are producing stunning results such as my old 200mm f/4 micro. Even slightly older zooms such as the 17-35mm f/2.8 is producing good sharp results. Okay I admit that at 17mm wide open at f/2.8 there, is some signs of vignetting but it clears up at f/5.6 and at 20mm it clears at f/4. I don’t mind that especially on a landscape lens.
Hi Dave,
You’re right that the 70-200mm f/2.8 works flawlessly on the D300 and produces some absolutely stunning IQ images. It’s one of my favourite lenses and was in fact my first G lens. I am finding that it is the G lenses that are causing the most problem on the FX format where as my D lenses are pretty much doing the business except for the odd one that needs to be stopped down one or two stops. Nikon have known about the 70-200mm for quite some time (2007) and there still isn’t a valid replacement on the horizon (maybe this autumn?).
Thanks for you comments guys!
So I decided to arm myself with my D3X and try out a few 70-200mm f/2.8 in-store until I found an acceptable copy! After trying no less than 23 different lenses I found a copy that was excellent with my D3X! With the vignetting control OFF it shows an acceptable amount of vignetting when shooting wide open throughout the zoom! It clears up completely by the time I have the vigenetting control at Normal and reduced drastically on LOW with very little darkening of the corners!
If I stop down to f/5.6 it is pretty much clear in the corners with the vignetting on OFF!
So I have spent a fortune on travelling costs, spent a lot of time testing each lens, purchased another 70-200mm f/2.8 and sold my original one to attempt off-setting the cost! BUT I have a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR that WORKS with my D3X!
So if you have the time then I do recommend trying a few 70-200mm f/2.8 on your FX format body as you will find some are better than others!!!
Happy shooting,
Paul