[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP3466.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I’ve been shooting with the new 200-400VRII for a week now. This is updated version of the incredibly well loved 200-400VR has the new VR motor and Nano Crystal Coating. Since the VRII is the only version you can buy brand new, if you want this focal length, you really don’t have much option but buy this great lens. Probably the bigger question is, if you own the original 200-400VR do you upgrade to the 200-400VRII (to make it official, I have, I was told it’s my father’s day present), or if you’re waiting for the never present 600VR do you buy the 200-400VRII and use teleconverters? My dilemma is still showing you via the web any differences I might be seeing. And I am seeing a difference, the new 200-400VRII does produce cleaner images (cleaner=sharper/contrastier) which is a slight improvement on an already great lens. Well I was literally sitting over the weekend with the 200-400VRII in my lap trying to come up with a way of showing you what I’m talking about when our Beagle, Sadie, eyes flew open at the sound of a squirrel hitting the deck. So shooting handheld at 1/45 f4 focusing right on the eyeball, I made some clicks and you can see the quality I’m seeing right here.
This shot taken just shy of the lens’ MFD shows off its quality pretty nicely I think. The soft window light lets us see right into here eye, the lens capturing the detail. And, this is with the D3s and not the D3x! Pretty impressive. Stay tuned in, more to come on the the 200-400VRII.