NIKON AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR ￡2239 versatile and feature-packed premium-quality telephoto zoom

摘要

As its ￡2,500 list price suggests, there is a lot of technology packed into Nikon's latest 80-400mm telephoto zoom. With 20 elements (including four with ED glass and one with Super-ED glass), AF-S focusing, four-stop VR and technical test results that are consistently high, this version is not to be confused with the previous-generation AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR lens. The new AF-S, G-series zoom is nothing short of imposing. There is a very generous zoom ring towards the front of the lens but, almost inevitably, the deep cylindrical lens hood obstructs most of this when stored with the lens set to its shorter focal-lengths. Towards the rear of the lens is a narrower manual-focusing ring that is just about within reach of the user's fingers when the camera is palm-held using its tripod-mounting ring. The zoom mechanism feels a little heavy but the focusing collar turns with just the right amount of resistance.