{"id":69941,"date":"2025-04-23T07:04:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T06:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=69941"},"modified":"2025-04-23T07:04:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T06:04:43","slug":"nikon-af-s-nikkor-70-200-f-4g-ed-vr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/nikon-af-s-nikkor-70-200-f-4g-ed-vr\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200 f\/4G ED VR"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f\/4G ED VR was Nikon’s latest enthusiast-level telephoto zoom lens with a constant aperture. Before its release, Nikon had long offered both professional 70-200mm and 80-200mm f\/2.8 lenses, as well, a prosumer-grade fixed F4 70-210 and consumer grade variable-aperture telephoto zooms. With this lens, they aimed to provide a more budget-friendly alternative to their latest high-end 70-200mm f\/2.8 VR. To achieve this, Nikon incorporated their latest advancements in coating technology, autofocus (AF), vibration reduction (VR), and optical design to create this lens by the end of 2012.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a closer look!<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp<\/a> Nikon Z7ii<\/a> (Sample images were taken with Nikon Zf<\/a> , Nikon Z6<\/a>, Nikon D600<\/a>, and Nikon D7200<\/a>)
\n\"camera-icon2\"I used a\u00a0Nikon FTZ II<\/a> F-to-Z adapter with this lens on Nikon Z cameras.
\n\"\"You can see this review as\u00a0a\u00a0YouTube\u00a0video\u00a0here<\/a>!
\n\"\"Sample images in high resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Nikon D600 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @130mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon D7200 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @70mm | F5,6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @185mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @200mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon D7200 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @70mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @70mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @200mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon D7200 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @105mm | F5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @150mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @200mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon D7200 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @200mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @200mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200\/4G ED VR | @170mm | F4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n70-200mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n\u00a034\u00b020\u2019 \u2013 12\u00b020\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n9 (rounded)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nf\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nf\/32<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.99 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n67mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nNikon F<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n850 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n78.0 \u00d7 178.5 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n20 \/ 14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Lens Construction | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F\/4G ED VR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

IMG<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong> B&H, Amazon (anywhere)<\/a> for $ (Affiliate links)
\nBuy used<\/strong>: eBay.com<\/a>, eBay.de<\/a>, eBay.co.uk<\/a> from $338<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

I purchased this lens with my own money\u2014no sponsorship. These are, as always, my honest, unbiased thoughts.<\/p>\n

Handling and Build Quality<\/span><\/h2>\n

The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F4G ED VR, as the name suggests, is an autofocus lens and features image stabilisation rated up to five stops. The body is made of hard plastic, with rubberised focus and zoom rings and a metal mount. While the lens doesn’t feel cheap at all, it doesn’t quite have the premium build quality of the newer Z series lenses.<\/p>\n

In the hand, it feels surprisingly light\u2014especially considering its length and the fact that it houses 20 lens elements. One thing that stood out to me was the overall length of the lens compared to its diameter; it looks quite long. Add the large lens hood, and it gets even longer. If you’re using it on a Z-series mirrorless camera with the FTZ adapter, the total length increases further.<\/p>\n