Nikon 200 F2 vs. 300 F2.8?

[Wil_Bloodworth]

So... who owns the 200 F2 VR and what do you do with it?

I was contemplating purchasing the 300 F2.8 VR but then I thought that I could get the 200 F2 VR and the 1.4x and 1.7x TCs. Then I would have a really fast 200mm lens and both a 280mm F2.8, and a 340mm F3.4 lens. This just seems more flexible to me.

There's got to be something wrong with this idea or more people would be doing it!

_/oe... Pete... Tom... Bill... Steve... ???

Thanks,

- Wil

[evil4blue]

Sorry, I own the 300 2.8 AFS-II non-vr and love it. Bill owns the 200 f/2 vr.

The 300 is nice, but the 200 is magical.

[PeteQ]

The 200/2 would be sweet! For me the issue was I wanted a long 2.8 lens and I found a good deal on the 400. Combine that with a 1.4TC and I'm doing pretty well for reach and speed. I would buy the 200/2 before the 300/2.8 because of just what you mentioned. Throw a TC on it and off you go. The lens is awesome, I haven't seen one bad review. It's big and heavy though, like a coffee can on your camera. I played with one once for a while....tough to put down. I just can't justify (and I'm good at it) the extra $$$ when I've got the 70-200/2.8VR and it does about 90% of my workload.

For your wakeboarding stuff I can imagine it would be pretty darn nice. About what focal length do you usually use? Indoor sports I kind of wonder though, I mean it's got the reach and nice speed, but even an f1.4 is a bit slow sometimes and the 200mm may be a bit long for basketball depending on your position for shooting. Again, the VR doesn't help with subject movement so it's kind of a wash for most sports situations. Like anything, it will be a star in some scenarios and unusable in others....

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by PeteQ

For your wakeboarding stuff I can imagine it would be pretty darn nice. About what focal length do you usually use? Indoor sports I kind of wonder though, I mean it's got the reach and nice speed, but even an f1.4 is a bit slow sometimes and the 200mm may be a bit long for basketball depending on your position for shooting. Again, the VR doesn't help with subject movement so it's kind of a wash for most sports situations. Like anything, it will be a star in some scenarios and unusable in others....

That's what I was thinking... that I might be able to also use it for some good indoor stuff without having to get on the court.

As for the wakeboarding, when I'm shooting from the tow boat, I always use the 70-200VR and I think most of the shots are usually around the 115mm range. It depends on the rider though. Beginners I can get tighter on because they're not going to dash out of the frame quickly. Professionals are all over the place and they're fast so you've gotta give them some room or you'll end up cutting of the board or something. Since I just got the 85 f/1.4, I think I might try using it a little in wakeboarding... dunno.

When I'm shooting from a "shooting" boat, I can use a bigger lens but it has to have VR because of all the vibrations of the boat and rough water. I don't really know if I would be able to practically use the 200F2 for wakeboarding at all. Now, I have toyed with using the 10.5mm fisheye from an inner tube that is towed about 50 feet behind the boat (about 15 to 25 feet in front of the rider) for some interesting shots.

- Wil

[PeteQ]

Cool ideas Wil, if you ever need another helping hand, drop me a line. I thought the 200 may be tight for a boat>boarder shot but easn't really sure.

The 200 will get you into the action on a court (basketball?), but you might be too tight there also. I was using a 50/1.4 and my 85/1.8 last year at high school and liked it. Granted I was under the basket, gotta love HS basketball and shooting for the paper! But I found that anyplace other than that and the shots weren't to exciting. Dribbling or long jumpers but no crashing the boards stuff. Needed the 17-35 rental for that, and 2.8 felt horrible slow!

But the 200/2+TC is a tough combo when compared to a 300/2.8. As long as you aren't trying to get into the 400mm range. I have a 1.7TC and I rarely use it anymore. Even though you will have decent speed with it on a 200/2, I think it would be soft. I know it is on my 400/2.8 I try to stay away from shooting wide open with the 1.7TC and really only break it out if I need the reach and it's a sunny day... I'm pretty spoiled with the 400/2.8. It's super sharp and handles the 1.4TC well.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Pete... will do. I am setting up a "photographer day" where we'll have several professional riders, and two or three boats. I think we would have two sessions... one early in the morning when the water is good... 7am to 11. And then another one from around 3 to 7-ish in the afternoon. The mid-day would be used to relax, eat, and discuss techniques, shooting positions, and lenses. I'll let you know when I've got that setup.

Since daylight savings time is coming to an end, we'll probably have it at the end of April 2007 when the water warms up for all the sissys.

- Wil

[PeteQ]

Sounds great! That would be a blast! I was checking out some water housings. Float around near the course with the 10-20mm or the fisheye!!!

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Pete, I was going to buy a fully-enclosed housing but they are so expensive that I just went with the AquaTech SS-600 until I get the next D2Xs equivalent body... then I'll get one.

- Wil

[PeteQ]

I was looking at the EWA-Marine housings. For the infrequent use I would give it, it seemed like it would be a decent deal. Now if I could only find people who would fly past me while I float.....

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Pete, there are several local places you can go just about any day of the week and shoot wakeboarders from the shore. I'll try to put together that list too... it's quite long and detailed. And they love to get really close to people floating in the water with cameras!

- Wil

[PeteQ]

Yeah, I'm thinking my old Petzl Ecrin Roc helmet will be dug out for those days too!

[evil4blue]

Originally Posted by ParkImaging

Pete... will do. I am setting up a "photographer day" where we'll have several professional riders, and two or three boats. I think we would have two sessions... one early in the morning when the water is good... 7am to 11. And then another one from around 3 to 7-ish in the afternoon. The mid-day would be used to relax, eat, and discuss techniques, shooting positions, and lenses. I'll let you know when I've got that setup.

Since daylight savings time is coming to an end, we'll probably have it at the end of April 2007 when the water warms up for all the sissys.

- Wil

Hey Wil,

I'd like to horn in on your photographer day if you get one set up. That would be pretty cool, fo-sho!