Questions: Nikkor AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D ED VR

[Nolan]

Hello,

At the moment I am debating on adding the AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D ED VR to my camera bag. I hope to use this to capture wildlife, birds, whales, and nature for a up coming to trip to the Gwaii Haanas and for use back in suburbia. However I am unsure of the lens. I don't want to sink in $1800 for nothing.

-so what do you think of it?
-past experience with it?
-do you think it will work for what I want it to do?
-any useful reviews?
-do you think it will complement my 18-105mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR well?

I have researched this to no end, a second opinion would help a lot.
Thank you for the help!

 

[pdq5oh]

A friend of mine used one to photograph HS football. Pictures were very sharp and contrasty. Colors were also good. Low light was an issue. That's to be expected given the max aperture. It seems it should work ok for your use. It isn't an overly bulky lens, either.

 

[TerribleWone]

I have never used it but I did look into it for a short bit. I would ask yourself the same question I asked myself,"do I need 400m or will 300mm be ok?" For a lot less money you could pick up a 80-300mm VR and it will be a lot quicker at focusing and far more compact/light.

 

[Snyder]

I didnt much like the lense, its way to slow at auto focusing making it diffacult to capture action. That was my biggest complaint of the lense.