Posted by Paul Inglis on July 22, 2009 at 12:09 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!
Secondhand info, but a friend reports great happiness with his old 80-200 f/2.8D. It's a big, heavy lens, but ultrasharp. We have kept ours and continue to use them on an assortment of DX bodies when image sharpness is most critical. Just a superb lens if you can live without VR.
Posted by Paul Inglis on July 22, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Thanks Hank! VR I can live without it the Vignetting I can't live with! I will check out the lens!
Paul - I have that lens listed in the classifieds of these forums currently. Let me know if you're interested, but I can only comment on it's excellence for DX use.
I hope Jesse S. doesn't mind me adding his two cents from a recent thread ("Is Full Frame Really Better?")
...and an 80-200 (great corners), and you are set for the next generation of full-frame.
Hmmm...you're right...that would probably make things a lot less cost effective for one or both of us. Maybe you could stop by on your next Alaskan getaway.
I wouldn't mind a trip to Alaska! Always wanted to see the eagles that gathered in the masses! But the last I heard the lady that looked after them passed away and the future is in turnmoil.
Maybe you could have a trip to the Isle of Man and drop it off!
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
7 repliesAny help, advice, thoughts or musings most welcome!
I hope Jesse S. doesn't mind me adding his two cents from a recent thread ("Is Full Frame Really Better?")
Maybe you could have a trip to the Isle of Man and drop it 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!!!
Happy shooting,
Paul