Rob wrote:
The new 80-400mm costs $2700. [...]
Just looked and I would not buy one at that price.
If you don't need a lens like that, the price makes
little difference.
The 70-300 is quarter the price. Half the weight 745gms/1570 gms
If that lens is satisfactory, then you have no need at
all for the new 80-400mm lens. But the 70-300mm is not
equal to the older 80-400mm AF-D lens, and is no where
near the same as the new lens.
Here are the specification pages for each:
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens...g_if/index.htm
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens...-56d/index.htm
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens...d_vr/index.htm
Here are the MTF charts for maximum focal length at maximum aperture for each:
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens...if/pic_003.gif
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens...6d/pic_003.gif
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens...vr/pic_003.png
Some data points from those MTF charts tp show the significance:
S30 M30
70-300mm G @ 10mm 0.72 0.55
80-400mm D @ 10mm 0.72 0.52
80-400mm G @ 10mm 0.81 0.81
70-300mm G @ 15mm 0.74 0.55
80-400mm D @ 15mm 0.80 0.47
80-400mm G @ 15mm 0.73 0.74
70-300mm G @ 20mm 0.69 0.43
80-400mm D @ 20mm 0.80 0.47
80-400mm G @ 20mm 0.65 0.67
Clearly for a DX camera body the new lens is *vastly*
sharper at 10mm from the center of an image that is
24mm across. It is apparently significantly sharper at
15mm from the center too. Compared to the older AF-D
version the new lens does not exhibit the same
astigmatism (that is also present in the 70-300mm to a
lesser degree).
Given the faster focusing speed expected from AF-S
compared to the older AF-D version, plus the second
generation VR, this lens looks like a real winner. The
70-300mm of course doesn't do well with a 1.4x TC, so
there is no real comparison at all if 400mm is needed.
On top of that, it does appear that the new lens will
probably work very well with a 1.4x TC on newer Nikon
bodies that can AF at f/8, and be much sharper than the
older AF-D with a TC.
Hence, while any given photographer may not find this
lens useful at that price, there is little doubt that
many wildlife and bird photographers are going to snap
these up in a heartbeat.
--
Floyd L. Davidson
http://www.apaflo.com/
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)