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HANDS ON: Nikon's
first vibration reduction (VR) lens is about 15
percent larger and heavier than comparable non-VR
tele zooms. But it's of comparable size to the
competition's 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 Image Stabilizer
optic, and surprisingly over half a pound lighter.
Attractively finished in semi-crinkle black paint,
Nikon's VR lens has amply sized zoom and focusing
rings clad in broad bands of pleasingly grippable,
matte-black ribbed rubber. Flush-mounted controls
include a focus range delimiter that, in the "Limit"
mode, recognizes if the user is shooting nearby
or distant subjects and sets focusing range accordingly.
(For subjects between 11.5 and 16.4 feet, "Full"
range is recommended.) Other controls include
a Manual/Autofocus switch (with locking positions)
and a three-position VR control: Off/On/Delayed
On. In order to save battery power, the latter
"Delayed On" activates VR only when the shutter
opens.
Manual-focusing action is smooth and well damped.
Zoom action is somewhat stiff, but completely
free of creep. Autofocus action is somewhat
slow and noisy. The very legible distance scale
is recessed under plastic. It shows feet in
yellow and meters in white. You can see the
English (feet) scale while holding the camera
at eye level. The zoom scale is adequately marked
with 80-, 105-, 135-, 200-, 300-, and 400mm
settings. The infrared focus-correction mark
is for the 80mm focal length only. There's no
depth-of-field scale on lens barrel, but the
instruction manual has a two-piece scale that
can be photocopied and attached to the lens
as needed. The sturdy, detachable tripod collar
has registration marks on three sides, allows
for 360-degree rotation, and, in a pinch, can
substitute as a grip for handheld shooting.
The outer barrel ring has a rubber-lined bayonet
flange, presumably for extra firm mating with
accessories. The large, 4-inch, reverse-mounting
lenshood is lined with matte-black flocking.
IN THE LAB:
Due to the upgrading of Popular Photography's
optical bench, SQF and Field Curvature data
for this lens will be published at a later date.
In the interim, we offer the accompanying lines-per-millimeter
resolution data. It indicates overall average
optical performance with optimum performance
coming at wide-angle and large- or middle-aperture
settings. At small apertures, diffraction knocks
down resolution to below average levels in some
cases, which is normal for this class of lens.
There was minimal barrel distortion at 80mm
(0.40%), minimal pincushion at 135mm (0.45%),
slight pincushion at 200mm (0.65%), and noticeable
pincushion at 400mm (1.25%). Exposure at the
film plane was very accurate at 80- and 400mm
(1/5 stop underexposure), except at maximum
aperture where there was about 1/3 stop underexposure
due to light falloff.
At the closest focusing distance of 7 feet,
3/4 inches at 80mm (1:22.5), center sharpness
was excellent from f/4.5 to f/16, and very good
from f/22 to f/32. Corner sharpness was excellent
from f/4.5 to f/22, and very good at f/32. Optimum
performance was at f/5.6. At closest focusing
distance of 7 feet, 4 inches at 200mm (1:9.2),
center and corner sharpness were excellent from
f/5.3 to f/11, very good at f/16, and good from
f/22 to f/38. Optimum performance was at f/8.
At the closest focusing distance of 7 feet,
4 1/2 inches at 400mm (1:5), center and corner
sharpness were good from f/5.6 to f/11, acceptable
from f/16 to f/22, and below average from f/32
to f/38. Optimum performance was at f/8.
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