Expected Quality from Nikon

Yes, we expect quality from Nikon and get it here with the 80-400. But there are enough mixed reviews out there from people who just don't know enough to write a proper review, so let's address that first.

1) The 80-400 is NOT FAST GLASS. Instead it aims for small size and light weight with considerable reach. This means that it's NOT going to be very good in so-so lighting. VR will not freeze action. There's NO substitute for fast glass, folks. But in ANY light the VR will allow slower shutter speeds of STILL subjects.

2) The usability of the 80-400 in real world shooting is amazing. Period. It's small and compact. With PRACTICE you can achieve pro results, which is why every pro Nikon shooter I know owns this lens. Read the pro reviews and you'll see that this lens is a serious optical set.

3) Performance is very good to excellent. No, it's not quite as good as my 70-200VR, but it does more and I can actually carry it around with less trouble. Frankly, unless I'm expecting poor light conditions, I never bring the 70-200VR with me anymore. The 80-400 on my D80 returns images that are sharp and contrasty, but you'll need to practice for best results. That could mean days, weeks or months for less experienced shooters. I can't stress this enough. You can't work with a high end lens and expect top notch results without working with it. Have a look at what people are doing with this lens and see for yourself.

4) Focus of the 80-400 is very accurate but NOT FAST. On the D80 body it's better than my D70, but this is not a lightning fast focus machine. That makes it a so-so choice for most sports and some wildlife applications. That's not to say you can't shoot sports, but you'll work harder with the slower optics and focus. Higher end bodies tend to be faster focusing with the 80-400, so if you own a D2X, it will be less of an issue.

5) Value of this lens is arguable. Do you need a 400mm lens? Most people don't. I tend to prefer my 18-200VR for all around fun shooting and my superb Tamron 90 DI Macro for macro and portraits. For low-low light I also have the 50mm 1.4. I only bought the 80-400 for shooting sailboats from my own boat. That means bright light and faster shutter speeds...right where the 80-400 lens is great. So buy it if you need it, and move along if you don't!

Capt RB