New Nikkor 80-400VR lens test

Hello everybody!

It has been a long time I haven't posted anything in this section because I don't have the toy to play with :-D

I had a chance to try the new Nikkor 80-400VR for birding last Sunday. All shots were taken handheld on maximum zoom setting (400mm and it was 600mm effective focal length on a D300s body).

Here some keepers to share with you.

Banded Woodpecker

iso 400 | f/5.6 | 1/125s | -⅓ EV 

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iso 400 | f/5.6 | 1/250s | -⅓ EV

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Preening Gold-whiskered Barbet

iso 400 | f/5.6 | 1/160s | -⅓ EV

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iso 400 | f/5.6 | 1/200s | -⅓ EV

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iso 400 | f/5.6 | 1/250s | -⅓ EV

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And here is the test for the lens to determine lens focussing accuracy and the VR effectiveness. Shot taken between the foliage opening and the lens seems know how to pickup the correct focus spot despite being blocked by the leaves. VR also worked flawlessly as some of my handheld shots is usable even at 1/15s

iso 400 | f/5.6 | 1/50s | -⅓ EV

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iso 400 | f/5.6 | 1/15s | -⅓ EV

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Not bad wei…..!!!!!!

Handheld??

yahh.. all pegangtangan shots...

focus distance is ranging around 15m away

Great!!  You'v got steady hand…

sudah karat oledilah boss. so long I haven't holding a bazooka except lifting car gearbox... haha

Cantik juga!!!!

I was surprised with the lens resolving power. Although it is just a telezoom, look at this:

original shot:

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crop kaw-kaw although with D300s, cropping so much won't get a good detail due to less MP on the sensor...

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Pretty sharp for hand-held set up. I have shaky hands, getting old I guess, total disaster when I tried to take bird pictures with a 400mm on tripod recently.

Good lens and good skill

expensive lens