Nikon AF VR Zoom NIKKOR 80 400mm F 4 5 5 6D ED Review | 54 Data compared

The Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR AF Nikkor offers a versatile 5x telephoto zoom range with effective Vibration Reduction (VR) technology for stable, handheld shooting in low light. It features robust build quality, minimal distortion, and uniform exposure, though the tripod mount is criticized for its forward positioning. Imaging Resource However, the lens is limited by a slow,, screw-drive autofocus system prone to hunting, making it unsuitable for fast-paced action. Additionally, chromatic aberration performance is inconsistent, ranging from excellent to poor depending on focal length and conditions.

Ken Rockwell’s review highlights the original Nikon 80-400mm VR as a compact, lightweight, and versatile telephoto lens featuring highly effective image stabilization. It is praised for exceptional sharpness, minimal distortion, and high resistance to flare, making it an excellent, portable option for travel and hiking. Conversely, the lens is defined by slow autofocus, rendering it poor for fast-action sports. Furthermore, the VR system struggles at the 400mm end, and the zoom mechanism is significantly overdamped, leading to a "heavy" feel while operating.

The ePHOTOzine review of the Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR AF notes a solid build featuring both metal and plastic, along with a convenient rotating filter mount. Performance highlights include good sharpness in the mid-zoom range, high contrast, and effective VR for handheld shooting, though the lens suffers from poor edge sharpness and high chromatic aberration at 400mm. As an earlier-generation lens, it lacks an internal motor, resulting in slow, noisy autofocus that is incompatible with entry-level Nikon bodies lacking a screw-drive system. Further, while it includes focus limiters, the large gap in focusing distances can complicate close-range tracking, making it best suited for specific use cases over modern alternatives.

The Nikkor AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR is a highly versatile super-telephoto zoom lens praised for its ground-breaking Vibration Reduction (VR) technology. The review highlights that the VR system effectively provides up to a three-stop advantage, allowing photographers to shoot handheld at shutter speeds as slow as 1/20 to 1/30 of a second at the telephoto end. Optically, the lens performs admirably on both 35mm film cameras and modern digital SLRs (DX and FX formats) without causing light fall-off in the frame corners. It delivers exceptional sharpness, contrast, and optical quality, enhanced by three Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) elements and Nikon's Super Integrated Coating to control chromatic aberrations. Additionally, its physical dimensions make it remarkably short and portable compared to professional f/2.8 telephoto alternatives.

The Photography Life review identifies the Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR as a significant upgrade over the older 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR, offering faster AF-S autofocus, superior edge-to-edge sharpness, and effective 4-stop Vibration Reduction. Key advantages of this "G" version include improved optical contrast with Nano Crystal Coat, though its high price and slight corner softness at 400mm are noted drawbacks. Conversely, the "D" version is hindered by slow, loud mechanical autofocus, weak 2-stop VR, and heavy chromatic aberrations, resulting in noticeable softness at 400mm. While the older lens is more affordable and offers a higher maximum reproduction ratio, the review concludes the G version is the superior, albeit expensive, tool.

The Shutterbug review of the Nikon AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED highlights the lens as a groundbreaking telephoto entry that introduces Nikon's first-ever Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, providing up to three stops of stabilization for hand-held shooting at 400mm. Optically, it utilizes three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements to deliver strong resolution and contrast, complemented by a versatile 5x zoom range and a detachable tripod collar. Conversely, the review notes that as a legacy D-type lens, it relies on a mechanical screw-drive, leading to slow autofocus speeds that can hunt in low light. Additionally, the lens exhibits a slight drop in sharpness at 400mm wide open and presents a heavy, 40.5-ounce footprint that may be cumbersome for extended hand-held use.

This review analyzes the Nikkor AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D ED VR lens, originally released in 2000 as Nikon's first lens featuring a Vibration Reduction mechanism. Tested on a full-frame Nikon D3x, the lens is noted for its attractive telephoto zoom range and overall good build quality, which includes a golden ring signifying a professional grade design despite utilizing several plastic parts. Notable pros highlighted in the report include an internal focusing design that prevents the 77mm front filter thread from rotating—making polarizer use easy—and first-generation optical stabilization that claims to offer up to 3 stops of compensation. However, the lens suffers from several significant cons due to its aging design. A major drawback is the lack of an internal AF motor; it relies entirely on the camera's slotted drive screw, resulting in slow autofocus speeds that make it poorly suited for sports photography, and completely eliminating autofocus functionality on entry-level Nikon DSLRs. Additionally, the zoom ring is noted to be quite stiff, and the lens extends significantly when zooming toward 400mm. Finally, the removable tripod collar is a notable weak...

The Nikon AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED, originally released in February 2000, achieves an overall DXOMARK score of 18 when evaluated on the high-resolution Nikon D800 body. The lens demonstrates its optimum optical performance at the wide end of its focal range, specifically at 80mm with an aperture of f/4.5. In terms of distinct metric advantages, it displays highly controlled geometric distortion at just 0.4% and a relatively minor vignetting profile of -0.8 EV, allowing for cleaner framing with minimal dark corners. However, the lens reveals notable technical drawbacks when paired with modern high-megapixel DSLRs. The review highlights a low sharpness score of 10 P-Mpix, indicating a loss of fine-detail resolution that fails to fully leverage the sensor's capabilities. Light transmission is also compromised, measured at a slower 5.8 TStop, which limits its efficiency in low-light environments. Additionally, a significant presence of chromatic aberration at 11 µm means photographers will likely encounter color fringing along high-contrast edges, demanding extra post-processing correction.