Product Description

Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.PRODUCT FEATURES:Exclusive Silent Wave Motor enables ultra-high-speed autofocusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful super-quiet operation;VR operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops faster. In addition, active vibration mode selection is possible, for using in an active situation such as in a car, boat or plane;VR ON/OFF mode available;New cosmetic design;5 ED elements reduce chromatic aberrations providing superior optical performance - even at maximum aperture;Fully compatible with Nikon TC-14E II and TC-20E II Teleconverters;Internal Focusing (IF) design for smoother focusing and great body balance;M/A mode enable instant switching from autofocus to manual with virtually no lag time even during AF servo operation;No power consumption during manual focus operation;Rounded diaphragm (9 blades) for natural blur;Focuses as close as 4.9ft (AF) 4.6ft (MF);High-performance Nikon Super Intergrated Coating offers superior color reproduction and minimizes ghost and flare;Detachable tripod mounting collar is provided;Filter attachment does not rotate with focusing;New G design enables apertures to be selected from select Nikon AF SLR camera bodies;New G design incorporates distance information for flash and ambient light exposure processes.

Product Details

• Brand: Nikon
• Model: 2139
• Dimensions: 5.00 pounds

Features

• Compact, lightweight G-type fast 2.9x telephoto zoom with Vibration Reduction
• VR operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops (eight times) faster
• Holds fast and constant f2.8 maximum aperture through the entire focal range
• Built-in Single Wave Motor for ultra-fast, ultra-quiet AF operation
• Five ED glass elements for higher optical performance

Manufacturer Description
Lens-making is an art--Nikon artisans craft Nikkor optics from the finest materials, taking pride in adding their intellect and technique to bring the world's finest lenses to life. They push the leading edge of lens-making in their effort to provide the "glass" that makes the world's greatest pictures.

AF Nikkor lenses work with Nikon SLRs for optimal performance, even the very latest. The Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR is a compact, lightweight G-type fast telephoto zoom with Vibration Reduction. VR operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed three stops (eight times) faster. In addition, active vibration mode selection is possible, for use in an active situation such as in a car, boat, or plane. VR On/Off mode available.

The lens holds a fast and constant f2.8 maximum aperture through the entire focal range. The built-in Single Wave Motor provides ultra-fast, ultra-quiet AF operation. Five ED glass elements offer higher optical performance, and is protected by a dust and waterproof rubber sealing mount.

Internal-focusing design smooths focusing and has great body balance, and the filter attachment does not rotate with focusing. It also features an M/A mode that enables instant switching from autofocus to manual with virtually no lag time even during AF servo operation, no power consumption during manual focus operation, rounded diaphragm (9 blades) for natural blur, and focuses as close as 4.9 feet in autofocus and 4.6 feet in manual focus. High-performance Nikon Super Integrated Coating offers superior color reproduction and minimizes ghost and flare. Detachable tripod mounting collar provided.

The new G design enables apertures to be selected from select Nikon AF SLR camera bodies, incorporating distance information for flash and ambient light exposure processes. Fully compatible with Nikon TC-14E II, TC-17E II, and TC-20E II teleconverters and D1X, D2H, D1H, D100, D70, F6, F5, F100, N80, N75, and N65 cameras.

ED glass: An essential element of Nikkor telephoto lenses
Nikon developed ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass to enable the production of lenses that offer superior sharpness and color correction by minimizing chromatic aberration. Put simply, chromatic aberration is a type of image and color dispersion that occurs when light rays of varying wavelengths pass through optical glass. In the past, correcting this problem for telephoto lenses required special optical elements that offer anomalous dispersion characteristics--specifically calcium fluoride crystals. However, fluorite easily cracks and is sensitive to temperature changes that can adversely affect focusing by altering the lens' refractive index. So Nikon designers and engineers put their heads together and came up with ED glass, which offers all the benefits and none of the drawbacks of calcium fluorite-based glass. With this innovation, Nikon developed several types of ED glass suitable for various lenses. They deliver stunning sharpness and contrast even at their largest apertures. In this way, Nikkor's ED-series lenses exemplify Nikon's preeminence in lens innovation and performance.

Nikon Super Integrated Coating ensures exceptional performance
To enhance the performance of its optical lens elements, Nikon employs an exclusive multilayer lens coating that helps reduce ghost and flare to a negligible level. Nikon Super Integrated Coating achieves a number of objectives, including minimized reflection in the wider wavelength range and superior color balance and reproduction. Nikon Super Integrated Coating is especially effective for lenses with a large number of elements, like our Zoom-Nikkors. Also, Nikon's multilayer coating process is tailored to the design of each particular lens. The number of coatings applied to each lens element is carefully calculated to match the lens type and glass used, and also to assure the uniform color balance that characterizes Nikkor lenses. This results in lenses that meet much higher standards than the rest of the industry.

Internal Focusing
Imagine being able to focus a lens without it changing in size. Nikon's IF technology enables just that. All internal optical movement is limited to the interior of the non-extending lens barrel. This allows for a more compact, lightweight construction as well as a closer focusing distance. In addition, a smaller and lighter focusing lens group is employed to ensure faster focusing. The IF system is featured in most Nikkor telephoto and selected Nikkor zoom lenses.

Distance information
D-type and G-type Nikkors relay subject-to-camera distance information to AF Nikon camera bodies. This then makes possible advances like 3D Matrix Metering and 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash. Note: D-type and G-type Nikkors provide distance information to the following cameras: Auto exposure; F6, F5, F100, F90X, F80, F75, F70, F65, F60, F55, F50, Pronea S, Pronea 600i, D2 series, D1 series, D100, and D70s/D70. Flash control; F6, F5, F100, F90X, F80, F75, F70, D2 series, D1 series, D100, and D70s/D70 cameras.

G-type Nikkor lens
The G-type Nikkor has no aperture ring; aperture should be selected from camera body.

Silent Wave Motor
Nikon's AF-S technology is yet another reason professional photographers like Nikkor telephoto lenses. AF-S Nikkors feature Nikon's SWM which converts "traveling waves" into rotational energy to focus the optics. This enables high-speed autofocusing that's extremely accurate and super quiet.

M/A mode
AF-S Nikkors feature Nikon's exclusive M/A mode, that allows switching from autofocus to manual operation with virtually no time lag--even during AF servo operation and regardless of AF mode in use.

Vibration Reduction (VR)
This innovative VR system minimizes image blur caused by camera shake, and offers the equivalent of shooting at a shutter speed three stops (eight times) faster. It allows handheld shooting at dusk, at night, and even in poorly lit interiors. The lens' VR system also detects automatically when the photographer pans--no special mode is required.

VR operation works with the Nikon F6, F5, F100, F80, F75, F65, D2-series, D1-series, D100, D70-series, and D50 cameras.

What's in the Box:
Lens, 77mm snap-on front lens cap, rear lens cap LF-1, bayonet hood HB-29, soft pouch CL-M2.

Customer Reviews

A proper piece of glass
I recently bought this lens to get some sports shots at the Beijing Olympics, and I must say that so far the hefty price has proved to be justified. I primarily use it on a D200, and it focuses really fast, silently, and accurately. Colours, bokeh, and resolution are all great. It is, in a word, great. It is a bit big, though. It's size and weight makes it less than convenient to carry around your neck, but, that said, it is easy to support it with one of your hands while walking around, and it's quite thoroughly thought through in the ergonomics department, making it easy to use.

The VR is a big bonus, and does work quite well. It definitely makes a big difference when shooting indoor sports. I hear Nikon've made an updated version of their vibration reduction technology that's supposedly even better, but the one used in this lens is still good.

I join the already big crowd of reviewers who say that this is one good lens and definitely worth the price. I do, however, think, that if you don't shoot handheld, the Sigma 70-200mm would probably be just as good an investment.

Another fine lens from Nikon
Nikon, like Canon and other manufacturers, produces their fixed aperture zoom lenses to their highest standards of quality. This lens is no exception; most reviewers, and certainly most professional photographers, will agree.

Since you already know this is a good lens, before you buy, ask yourself how you're hoping to use it. This is not a casual walk-about lens; it is heavy, and will make your arm(s) tired. If you're not willing to lug it around, you're not going to use it; any camera lens, no matter how good it is, does nothing for you while sitting unused on your shelf.

If you plan on using this lens exclusively at apertures smaller than f/4, you're not making the best use of your money-- you can spend half as much money, and buy a variable aperture lens that provides the same fundamental imaging capabilities. While this lens is probably sharpest at f/5.6, that's not where it truly shines.

Shooting wide open at f/2.8, this lens performs beautifully. Portrait photography (especially candid photos, such as one might take as a guest at a wedding), medium-distance wildlife photography, outdoor sports photography-- these are all fabulous uses for this lens. I am always pleased to put this lens on my camera and start taking pictures, because I naturally lean towards single-subject compositions, and this lens is perfect for making high-quality images while picking out a subject against an interesting background.

That's not to say it can't take fine images stopped down-- of course it can. When taking landscape photos, I regularly make several images with this lens in addition to what I capture with a wider angle lens.

Buy this lens because you plan to use its unique capabilities, not because you feel you deserve the best. If you won't be pushing the boundaries of a 55-200mm, f/4-5.6 lens (which, for what it does, Nikon's version is a fine lens), you certainly won't be leveraging what the 70-200 f/2.8 has to offer, and would be better off with the smaller, lighter, and cheaper lens.

Great fast distance zoom!!!
Fantastic lenes..use it with my D300. For longer reach I use a Nikon 2x extension...still running only 5.6 at 400 mm. VR really helpful at that range. Note that MSRP on this lens is $1795. Do NOT get ripped off; do not pay a penny more.