Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Review

Looking to find more information regarding the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR? Read our latest review to learn more about the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, its specifications, and if it’s a good camera lens for you. 

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Overview

The AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is a telephoto zoom lens that will allow you to take photos from far away subjects, such as mountains or wildlife. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 3 feet and can be used with Nikon FX digital SLR cameras, including the D3200 and D7000 series models. It also comes with vibration reduction technology which reduces camera shake for clear images in low light conditions!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Specifications

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR was first announced on 03/04/2013 with a Nikon F FX mount type. Below is a summary of this len’s specifications: 

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Performance

In terms of performance,  the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm  is a great camera lens for wildlife photography and sports because of its high aperture speed. It has no chromatic aberration, which means photos taken with this len will have outstanding colors from images without any color fringing or blurred details at the edges  of the frame. This lens is also capable of taking photos with shallow depths-of-field, which will make your subject stand out in contrast to a blurry background!

Build and Handling Quality

The build and handling quality  of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/  is not too high compared to other lenses. Because it is a telephoto lens, you will need to use this lens at arms length which can be inconvenient and uncomfortable for some photographers. Although there are no significant issues with its build or handling, we suggest that you  test this len out first to determine if it fits your preferences.

Autofocus Performance

Autofocus is quick and accurate on the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm, which is great for action shots. There are no issues with autofocus when using this lens. However, if you’re taking photos of fast moving objects or have a low light environment, we suggest that you use manual focus so you can get a clear shot.

Sharpness

Sharpness is  great on the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm, with no noticeable sharpness issues. The lens is able to produce clear images even when fully zoomed in and has good contrast between colors for outstanding photos!

Distortion / Aberrations

There are virtually no distortion or aberrations visible when using this camera lens. This  is great because it will allow you to capture photos that are crisp and clear without any problems.

Vignetting / Color Fringing

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/  has no visible vignette or color fringing when taking photos in a well lit environment, which is fantastic! Vignetting is when the corners of your photos are darker than they should be, which can sometimes ruin a perfect shot. Color fringing is caused by chromatic aberration and will show up as blurry edges around objects in your photo because of different colors bleeding into one another.

Image Quality

Image quality is superb, with no issues in terms of sharpness, distortion or color fringing. This camera lens can produce clear images with outstanding colors even when fully zoomed into the subject.

Bokeh

The bokeh is creamy, with the background blurry to make the subject stand out. However, bokeh can sometimes be distracting if your main focus is not on the subject or there are objects in front of it that do not need to be blurred because this lens will blur everything behind its focus point!

How Does The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Score? 

Below are the lens metric scores we’ve measured for this specific lens: 

• Performance and Image Quality: 8/10
• Features: 7/10
• Bokeh: 8/10
• Build Quality: 7/10
• AutoFocus Quality: 7/10
• Handling: 6/10
• Value: 7.5/10

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Pros and Cons

Below are some of the pros and cons regarding this lens. 

Pros: 

• Solid build quality
• 80-100mm ranges are nice
• Good and fast autofocus
• Sharp images

Cons: 

• Chattering when changing focus can be annoying
• Lack of tripod collar
• Zoom ring is stiff
• Price and weight are high

Conclusion

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm is a great telephoto lens. It is capable of producing sharp images with good colors and has an impressive autofocus system so you can capture fast moving objects without having to worry about blurry photos! The build quality leaves something to be desired, but the overall performance of this lens makes up for its minor issues.