Customer Reviews

Nikon 200-400mm f/4G AF-S SWM SIC ED IF VR II Nikkor Super Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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The 200-400VRII is a very large serious piece of glass. You will want a sturdy gimbal mount. I use Monfroto's. Using a D3s and this lens can be done handheld for a few shots, or a steady rest. It is easy to handle and takes very very clear pictures. The focus lock feature gets used a lot if I have something like a tree branch in the forground. The 1.4 teleconverter ( be sure you get the right one )
maintains auto focus nicely. The 1.7 loses auto focus, but reaches out further and the picture quality is very good even in lower light. This lens and camera combo is incredible.

A couple of items could be inproved with the set. It comes with a very padded case. Nikon still packages every thing skin tight and small. this is a little annoying. You have to work to get the lens out of the case! There are several lose parts and pads with in the case. These end up being stuffed back in the case when you are using the lens. Then you have to dig them all out before the lens goes back in. annoying. The lens cap is a nylon bag with a draw string which again is skin tight. I can't get it off with one hand. There is no hard lens cap. I have heard someone makes an after market cap. The hood on the lens is large and has to be reversed to fit in the case. The case is not big enought to leave the teleconverters on and get it zipped up.

To deal with all of this I plan to have some extra straps sewn on the lens cover, the case will be lenthened or rebuilt to have larger openings and longer storage. I will add acouple of pockets for the lens cap and extra filters.
I also plan to have a holster built that will hold the camera and the lens for quicker access.

This not a rant. The lens is very very good. Until Nikon fixes these nuiances or you do, plan on leaving extra minutes to get the lens out and set it up and put it away. This is all OK if you are setting up for the day. Much of my work is run and gun. I need quick access for grab shots. Be carful mounting this lens on your camera. It would be easy to cross thread it. I like to be setting down with the lens held between my knees then screw the camera onto the lens. This kit is large it sometimes scares people. Just interesting reactions.

I have only shot a few thousand pictures with the lens, so it is pretty new. So far the pictures are stunning.

I've been using the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II for a little over a month now and have been extremely pleased by the results I've had. I'm a photo hobbyist/ enthusiast and have never had as large a lens as this before but it is quickly becoming a favorite. In the short time that I have had the lens, I've mainly taken wildlife photos. What has impressed me most is how quickly the lens focuses and how spot-on the focus is. People are amazed when they see the detail the lens provides. I've actually handheld the lens using the VR II feature and the images were just as sharp as the tripod-mounted photos. Very impressive!

All-in-all, I'm very pleased with the results and have no buyer's remorse whatsoever. I would recommend this lens to anyone looking to jump into the high power zoom category.

I mostly shoot birds and this lens is perfect for shooting birds in flight. My other long lens is a 400 f/2.8 which is too heavy to hand hold, The 200-400 gives me much better flexibility while being not to heavy. I normally use it with a 1.4 tele-converter and that gives me a very workable 580. It is extremely fast to focus either with or without the TC and works very well for birds in flight. Image quality is almost as good as the 400 f/2.8 especially on close subjects, say up to 100 Yards. The VRII allows hand held shots down to about a 250th of a second and slower if I can brace against something when shooting.

I have gotten some fantastic shots with it that I would have missed with the larger lens because of the time required to set up a tripod. The lens is very sharp and easy to use it also provides some interesting features such as memory focus that is excellent for shooting birds coming and going from a nest or other set spot.

I normally carry it with a Black Rapid R-strap and find this allows easy carrying and use.

Overall I am extremely satisfied with this lens. It has become my main wildlife lens.

I'm reviewing this after 3 weeks among wildlife in the Australian outback, often at waterholes, where many of the birds (such as finches) are very small and easily frightened. I used this lens with a 1.4 times Nikon teleconverter, behind a Nikon D700.

This is a top quality lens that takes extremely clear shots and auto-focusses quickly and accurately even with the 1.4 times teleconverter. I knew it had a big reputation before I decided to spend so much but I am pleased to say that it exceeds my very high expectations.

Yes, it's heavy and bulky but if you want a professional tele lens then that goes with the turf. I was surprised how quickly I got used to the weight and was able to take remarkably good shots, hand held, even on the first day. Of course a tripod gives better results where possible but don't ignore this lens for hand held shots, too. The VR does a great job in stabilising the image.

I'm reluctant to refer to trivia with such a superb piece of equipment, but I felt uncomfortable with the lens cap and would have preferred an easy to use hard cap. The carry bag was a bit tight, too, and I didn't feel entirely comfortable stuffing the lens into it each time. However there was (just) enough room to leave the teleconverter on, which was pleasing.

If you think you can justify buying this lens but have not done so yet, get past the sticker shock and buy one. You'll have something that can capture, to a level where you will always feel satisfied, those special photo opportunities that come up every now and then and which you may really regret if you do not nail them!

This was a lens that I had decided to purchase for a long time after several recommendations from other photographers. It is fast glass! Accepts Nikon teleconverters (current series only) and has a built in filter holder. Holder is same size as the 600 mm lens one and therefore you can interchange filters, including the circular polarizer. It is large and heavy but reasonable sharpness obtained with fast speeds when handheld and with VRII turned on. Great sharpness when utilizing a sturdy tripod/bullhead/gimbal and also when utilizing a rifle stock (Bush Hawk)! The case is good and protects lens AND camera (Nikon D3).

I am very happy with it at this point!

Just got it after 1 month wait and it was all worth it!!!!Lens is built like a tank super sharp and af is lightning fast.I use it with 1.7 teleconverter and can not see any image degradation.It is best for sports and air shows, do not wait get yours asap!I am soooooo happy to have this lens in my drawer...Cons???None Expensive??Not really 7gs might sound expensive but what you get is beyond imagination.Amazon delivered without a problem,love you soo much.