camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I have owned my Nikon 80-200 f4.5 manual focus lens since I bought it in 1974. The lens has traveled with me practically around the world and it has given me gorgeous images full of details at high resolution.From lanscapes to portraits it has seen lots of use and has always performed as a champ. It is heavy with all metal construction, big and suffers of cripping. I decided to replace it and I found a gentleman selling the Nikon 70-210 f4-5.6 D lens in brand new condition for a mere $69.

The lens is practically brand new. It is shorter and lighter than the old 80-200 f4.5 with a plastic barrel. No cripping and the zoom is smooth like it should be but, what about the images it is capable of producing? I was curious when I fit the lens to my Nikon D610. Camera and lens were supported by a carbon fiber tripod with a Linhof ballhead. To get the best that the lens can offer I shot with the mirror up. Due to the quarantine I was confined to my backyard and my front porch. I have found plenty of time to play with my cameras and lenses although I always photograph similar subjects which to me is boring. I will do better when this crisis we have right now is all over.

I just wanted to show you the quality of the images to expect from a $69 lens when using good techniques. Original RAW data edited with Nikon View NX2 with enhancements made by Topaz Adjust.

The first image made in my backyard is from the leaves of a mango tree. I darkened the image to taste and used a soft Gaussian blur for the effect. Shot at 210 mm wide open, ISO 200.
The second image comes from a flower my wife planted in our front yard. Focal length set to 210 mm at f22. ISO 800 to be able to use a decent shutter speed since there was a light breeze. I had some softness in the final file due to refraction, easily corrected with low sharpening.
The third image is part of my neighborhood to the right as viewed from our porch. Notice the golden color of the late evening light. Shot at a focal length of 80 mm at f16 to keep foreground and background in acceptable focus.

Finally the street number of our home here in Miami. I shot this at f22 and 210 mm focal length, ISO 200. I did not mean to shoot at f22 I simply did not pay attention, I wanted to shoot it at f8 but for now I am happy with the results and lets call it "a happy accident."
All in all I am pleased with the performance of the lens. I have never used a lens that did not do its part when I did mine.

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StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I’ve never heard the term “ cripping” .... what is that?

Stan

angler Loc: StHelens England

Nice shots.

ELNikkor

Great that you have gotten an autofocus lens for such a good price! Turns out, you may have paid only $69 for it, but its value is much higher. It sold new for around $300 20 years ago, but it may just be one of the best lenses of that range ever built. Look up Ken Rockwell's review of that very lens; he raves about it!

uhaas2009

Look up ken Rockwell about this lens.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Canon's least expensive lens is the 50 1.8 at $125. It is very sharp.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I bought a 150mm/3.5 many years ago for 12 dollars, still to this day, that is one of the sharpest lenses I owe!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The processing and compositions are all excellent.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

A lens is said to creep when placing the camera upside down the zoom begins to slide down to other focal lengths from that originally set by the operator.
It is corrected, for those who care, with a simple rubber band.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Thank you gentlemen for the kind comments. I was not after "works of art" although the first one inspired me a little bit. All I wanted was to evaluate the quality of the results and I am very pleased with the lens.
Speters, Nikon manufactured a zoom lens, series E, I believe released in May 1980 in Japan that many professionals fell in love with it. It was the 75-150 f3.5 That lens was very sharp and excellent for an all purpose lens at the time. Still some photographers use it and it has a reasonable price in the second hand market.

There are so many of these manual focus lenses available at reasonable prices. I was aware of the review on the Nikon 70-210 f4-5.6 by Ken Rockwell and although many people do not like him I never had an issue with any of the products he has recommended. Proof of that is my cheap $45 Dolica aluminum tripod that has served me well in the short years I have had it. Ken loves oversaturated images, Pete Turner style while I prefer pastel colors and nothing wrong having a particular taste and style.

Once again, thank you for the comments.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Oh! Creeping I know about! Thanks!

Stan

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I made a mistake with my spelling, I apologize.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I just apologize for mine at the end of all my posts! - Dave

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nice set. The lens is sharp and your technique is quite good.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Very nice shots William - what a lens bargain! Have fun with it.