With the introduction of Silent-Wave Motor, Nikon rises to the challange of the Canon USM. In addition to the long prime Nikkor lenses, the highly regarded 80-200 f/2.8 Nikkor-Zoom has been optically redesigned and outfitted with the new AFS motor. Even the designation has become quite a mouthful - try saying it in one breath: AF-S Nikkor ED 80-200mm f/2.8 D IF ED. Phew !! So, putting aside all the technological terminologies and marketing hype, does the newest carnation of  this legendary lens meet up to expectation ?

For those familiar with the Nikon lenses, you will know that the original one-touch Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-D was an awesome lens that had many loyal followers, especially among the professionals. The first verson of the lens came out without the distance technology (denoted by the "D"), and was subsequently upgraded to the "D" version in the early 1990s, while the optical construction remained unchanged. However, one of the criticisms about the lens was the lack of a tripod mount. Then a couple of years ago, Nikon released the new version of the 80-200 AF-D. The new version  is now a two-touch zoom. It also features a tripod collar. The changes were mostly welcomed by the photographers. Both versions of the 80-200 AF-D attained their legendary status among loyal users, for producing absolute top-class results. Some argued that the 180mm f/2.8 AF-D Nikkor gives even sharper results than the zoom at the 200mm end, but the flexibility and quality of the 80-200mm f/2.8 zoom assured its place in history.

In late 1998, Nikkor released the latest incarnation of the lens - the Nikkor AF-S Nikkor ED 80-200mm f/2.8 D IF ED. Not only does this lens feature a new optical construction (with 5 ED elements!), it also features the new exciting AF-S motor. It was exactly what the pros wanted, and the demand totally overwhelmed the supplies. For the next few months after its release, photographers had to wait for months to get their hands on one of these gems.
 

What is AF-S ?

With conventional autofocusing, the camera body has a motor which drives the autofocusing of the lens through a shaft which connects to the lens. But with Silent-Wave Motor technology, there is no direct physical drive connection between the body and the lens. Instead, the camera sends a series of electrical impulse through the electrical contacts. These electrical impulses gets translated into movement through the expansion and contraction of piezo crystals. When electical impulse is directed to the piezo crystals, the crystals expands and creates an impulse of movement. Innovative arrangement of the crystals in an efficient structure creates this silent-wave motor, with high-torque drive and precise starting and stopping movement. The end result is an extremely silent, fast and precise autofocus motor. This superior technology is also widely applied in Epson (C) inkjet printers to control the ink output with unrivalled quality among any inkjet printers.

The Silent Wave Motor technology has been incorporated in a series of Nikkor lenses, namely the longer lenses such as the 400mm f/2.8 AF-S and 600mm f/4 AF-S. Two professional-calibre zoom lenses, the 28-70mm f/2.8 and the 80-200mm f/2.8 have also received the AF-S technology. It is widely expected that Nikon will incorporate the AF-S motor in a wider range of lenses in the future.
 

First impressions (build quality)

I must admit it is difficult not to be overwhelmed by emotions and awe when one gets a chance to test drive such a expensive lens with legandary reputation. Even taking the lens out of the box is an event in itself. For the price you pay, you do receive a nice hard case (CL-73) which the lens comes in. The weight of the lens is evident as I lifted it out of the hardcase, though surprisingly the lens feels very balanced in the hand.

The mechanical construction of the lens is absolutely first-class in nearly all aspects. Not only is it typically professional Nikon quality, the heft and smoothness of the controls make it feel superlative. Like the other pro-calibre Nikkor lenses, this lens feature the crinkle-finish on the surface, making it easy to handle. The wide rings for focusing and zooming are generously covered in ribbed rubber, and silky smooth in operation.  Of course, being the priviledged few lenses to incorporate the AF-S motor, the 80-200 f/2.8 has the Silent Wave Motor metal logo together with the distinctive gold ring at the tip of the lens signifying its AF-S status.

The size and weight of the lens comes immediately to mind, after one has finished slobbering over it. The 80-200 f/2.8 is relatively big and heavy, weighing in at 1580g. However, the lens is extremely well-balanced and there is ample room for hand-holding, making the size and weight less of an issue. One really has to handle the lens to appreciate its quality, because the specification of the size and weight on paper does not do the actual handling justice ! Simply put, it does not seem as heavy like it looks. However, the bulk is real - but I had no serious problems since my hands are not exactly that small. All in all, it makes for comfortable handholding if you're not intending to use it continuously for a few hours straight.
 
 

The 80-200mm f/2.8 AFS is placed next to the smallest lens in the AF Nikkor lineup - the 50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor. Although it seems big in comparison to the tiny dwarf, the handling is good enough to make using the AFS a joy. (Compare this with the  picture of a stripped-down lens)

 

Except for the filter attachment ring, the lens is completely metal in construction, covered in the crinkle finish. All markings are clearly denoted on the lens, while a clear acrylic window displays the focusing range. I popped off the rear lens cap and the AF contacts immediately caught my attention - there were 10 contacts on this lens, more than the usual number. Out of curiousity, I checked the Nikon F100, and found there were only 8 contacts on the F100. Perhaps there are undocumented functions for the lens, or perhaps some new bodies could make use of the extra contacts ?
 

The window showing the focus range	The 10 electrical contacts of the AFS lens.

This was one of the rare lenses which I had to read the instruction manual to figure out the functions. Other than the usual lens stuff like the aperture, focusing and zoom rings, there were 2 buttons on the lens which I later found were focus-lock buttons. You have to note that the AFS feature only works on F5,F4, F100, F90X, F90, F70 Pronea 600i and Pronea S; while you can mount it on other Nikon cameras (except for F3AF) for manual focusing. Compared to the Canon USM 80-200 f/2.8 which I briefly handled a few months ago, this lens handles and feel pretty much the same way, except that this is a Nikkor of course.
 

Handling/Features

Like I mentioned previously, the lens handles very well. The focusing and zooming rings are silky smooth, and while manual focus (AI/AIS) lenses do have better focusing feel, this lens is very close to the manual feel. You'd really be splitting hairs to find fault with the minor differences. But when you try the autofocus, you will know that hell has to freeze over before you use manual focusing on this lens ever !

The aperture ring is wider than than of the non-AFS , making for easier changing of aperture via the aperture ring. With the modern models of Nikon cameras such as the F5 and F100, you can also change the aperture via the dial on the body itself. Some people found the aperture ring on the non-AFS version slightly too slim, but the AFS version has ample room for the average fingers to change the aperture with ease. The aperture ring has nice assuring clicks, but the test model's ring is a bit stiff, though it might be easier to turn after some use. The tripod collar is also easily removable, making it more convenient to handhold. The use of the tripod collar is essential when using a tripod, since the weight of the lens will put a lot of stress on the camera lens mount if the camera's tripod mount is used instead of the lens' tripod mount.

Because the 80-200 AFS features internal focus technology, the focusing ring doesn't rotate when focusing. This means that you can hold the entire lens without worrying about hindering the AF operation like conventional lenses. This is especially important for this lens because I found that you need to hold the front of the lens to support it adequately. In addition to the extra hand-holding area, the internal focus also offers the additional advantage that the lens will not extend its length when focusing. It also means that the front element does not rotate when focusing, making it an ease to use filters such as polarizers and graduated filters.
 

The 80-200 f/2.8 AFS also features a AF/MF switch and focus limiting switch, usually found on the long lenses like 300mm f/2.8 and above. The AF/MF switch allows the user to switch from AF to MF simply by turning the focusing ring while half-depressing the shutter release. This feature is very useful because it allows you to switch seamlessly from AF to MF, without having to press any buttons or operate any switches. If you are into sports photography, this feature is invaluable for overiding the autofocus. The focus limit switch narrows down the range for the camera to search for focus, saving you the milliseconds which makes the difference between a clear winner and a blurred shot. In conjunction with the speed of the AFS, you are virtually ensured of sharp images in every frame!

The lens is nicely balanced, and the handling is superb. You cannot really fault the lens about handling (unless you have small hands) but the weight gets objectionable after a couple of hours of continuous holding. Like all 80-200 f/2.8 lenses out there, this is a relatively heavy lens, but it is definitely handholdable. In fact, it gives you a good workout at the same time ! Potential buyers of this lens should probably try handling it at the shop to check if it fits into their style of working. The lens is supplied with a really deep lenshood which makes the lens look much larger than it really is ! The lenshood is reversible for storage, and it clicks neatly into place. One very positive aspect of the lens hood is that it allows the user to remove and replace the lens cap without any problems at all. It's a small but thoughtful feature, which will save you a lot of frustration in the field.
 
 

The 80-200mm f/2.8 Nikkor AFS is really bigger than it looks. Stripped of its deep lens hood and tripod collar, the lens is really only slightly bigger than a SB-25 Speedlight flash. This makes it much more manageable if you intend to use it for handholding. Compare this stripped-down version with the fully-equipped version in the comparison with the 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor AF.

Other details include the circular aperture blades. The 80-200 f/2.8 AF-S features 9 aperture blades which merge into a nearly circular aperture to render out-of-focus areas more pleasantly, presumbly because one of the expected uses of this lens is for portraiture. The aperture ring also feature a lock for minimum aperture when using the lens in Program or Shutter Priority mode. Finally, there are three buttons on the lens for focus lock, which is pretty conveniently located just in front of the zoom ring, so you can lock focus by simply pressing the button instead of sliding the AE-lock switch on the camera. Again, this feature was probably made with sports photography in mind.

 
Minor Irks

No lens in this world is perfect, and this incredible lens is no exception, though it is probably pretty close ! I have just a couple of minor irks about this lens, and you should probably take note of them if you are intending to purchase it:

Firstly, the lens did not fit flush with the test F100 provided. It could still wriggle ever so slightly when mounted, but it did not seem to affect operation of the lens, or the optical performance, so it probably does not matter. Secondly, the tripod collar is slightly difficult to turn when new, but it should get smoother through some usage (as some other users have noted). Finally, the lens does not fit into my Domke F2. I had to refit my compartments to allow the 80-200 to sit into the bag, but for those users with Lowepro bags and others which allows customized settings through movable foam paddings, this lens should be able to fit into your bag. But just to be on the safe side, bring your most commonly-used bag with you during your purchase.
 

Autofocus

One word decribes it all - incredible.

The autofocus was totally smooth and silky, and the lens locked on  instantaneously to the various subjects and conditions. It was swift to lock focus, and there was virtually no hunting at all. By rough approximations, it takes less than a second to go from minimum focus to infinity focus and back, which is excellent for a zoom lens of this range. All  tests were performed with a Nikon F100 and Nikon F90X.
 
 

Generally, it is difficult to fault the lens for the excellent performance it put up. Across the range of 80mm to 200mm, the lens locked on to most subjects effortlessly. There were some subjects which gave rise to hunting of focus, such as a closeup of a bright red hire-hydrant and some dark conditions, but those could be attributed to the AF of the camera more than the lens itself. But for the majority (up to 90%) of the subjects, AF was instaneous and silent.
 

The prowess of the AFS does not lie solely in its ability to lock on to targets fast. Rather, the ability to follow-focus on rapidly moving subjects in erratic motion will prove whether a lens is worth its salt. Most AF lenses can lock onto targets pretty fast, but they are moderately jerky in motion when tracking fast-moving subjects.The Silent-Wave lenses in comparison, are much better in this aspect because they offer smooth and continuous focusing, resulting in better tracking through smooth and minor adjustments in focusing. Rather than jerking the focus forward an inch or so, the AF-S lens is able to glide through the focus range to keep the subject in absolute focus, resulting in more efficient focus tracking.

So efficient and silent is the AFS than you actually wonder if the lens is focusing at all, since the subject always remain clear and sharp in the viewfinder! The focus tracking is incredible, especially on the Nikon F100. When switched to Dynamic AF mode, there is a slight pause after half- depressing the shutter release, as if the camera is deciding which AF indicator to use. According to my knowledge, this happens in the EOS 3 too, which I initially thought was a design flaw of the F100. But once the camera snaps into action, it locks on to the subject in the focus bracket selected and tracks it across the viewfinder, passing on to the next focus bracket when the subject changes position in the viewfinder. All this is done without the user's interference and seamless in operation.

When you have such an incredible lens, you might like to extend its focal range. The following teleconverters are useable with the 80-200 f/2.8 AFS:  TC-14B, TC-201, TC-14E, TC-20E. However, I did not try the lens with any converters, so I shall reserve my comments about the performance with teleconverters. You should probably note that the following equipment is not compatible with the 80-200 AFS : Auto extension ring PK-1, PK-11/11A, Auto-ring BR-4, and K-1 ring.

As mentioned previously, the AFS lens is able to switch to MF mode seamlessly when interupted in autofocusing mode. Full time manual (FTM) override is activated by turning the focus ring while half-depressing shutter release in AF mode on the camera.
 
 

The Nikon F100 was used in the Dynamic AF mode, with the nearest-focus acquisition mode disabled through the custom-function setting. The left focus bracket was selected and the camera tracked the boy as he was running towards the ball. Overall, the focus follow is commendable, and the AFS represents the best in AF in the Nikon line of autofocus lenses.

If you are a Canon EOS user, you'll probably be laughing your head off at this moment. You're probably thinking, "Look at this silly Nikon user gushing praises on this supposedly new lens. We Canon users have been using USM lenses years ago !". I am not about to discuss the Nikon versus Canon issue, because it inevitably leads to senseless flame wars. What I am trying to say is that Nikon users can now have the option of having the best of both worlds - Nikon-body toughness and Canon's speed and silence. I am not disparaging Canon or any other brand, but just highlighting the fact that Nikon users now have the choice of Silent-Wave Motor technology open to them.
 

Optical Quality
 

So how is the optical quality of the lens? In this section, we will review the optical quality of the lens, evaluating the contrast, distortion, bokeh, sharpness, light-falloff and vignetting.      On the left, you can see a picture taken by the 80-200 AFS at f/2.8. The shallow depth of field was used to isolate the red fire-hydrant against the field of greens.

The sharpness of the lens is commendable. From f/4 onwards, the lens produces sharp images which are acceptable on a 8X10 print at least, while the f/2.8 is slightly soft (more so at the edges) it is still a very good performer compared to other lens of the same specifications. The lens reaches its best performance at f/8 according to tests done by scientific measurements, according
to some magazines, but in actual use you should be able to use the lens at all apertures and get back razor edge images.

Like all other Nikkors, the colours were vibrant and clear. Check out the colours of the soccer players' jerseys and the reds and greens in the picture above. With slightly higher contrast, you get the impression that the lens is even sharper than it is, and the colour rendition is slightly on the warm side, but I'd doubt if it will be visible at all. There are very slight distortions at the extreme ends of the focal range, which will be visible if you are shooting grids, but I can bet my last dollar that you will never notice anything for 95% of your images.

The lens has good flare control, especially when you take into account the numbers of lens elements utilized. The deep lens hood provided with the lens ensures that no stray light finds itself onto the lens surface, and using it makes the lens seem much bigger so you can feel more gung-ho! Even when the lens hood was not used, the lens was still quite flare-resistant. Because I was doing street-shooting, I went without the lens-hood to keep a lower profile. There was no evident flare in most of the pictures, unless you were standing in the bright sunlight and shooting with the sun just outside your image.

However, there was slight light fall-off at f/2.8. The corners of the images taken at f/2.8 were slightly darker when the image is composed of clear featureless areas, such as blue skies or white wall. When stopped down beyond f/4, the light coverage is even. You will not notice the f/2.8 fall-off in most of the cases, but it is worthwhile to take note of it in case you want to use the lens at f/2.8 with featureless subjects.
 
 

The lens features good bokeh, probably due to its construction and the circular aperture. Although not as good as the DC Nikkors or 105 f/1.8, the lens exhibits great defocused areas, with smooth graduations between highlights and shadows. The bokeh is quite unique when the lens is used at f/2.8, and it is difficult to explain it in words. It is a personal perference, so you'd have to see it for yourself. In the picture on the left, the lens was used near the minimum focusing distance for the close-up of the leaf. Due to its internal focusing, the lens can go closer for such shots, and the quality is indeed commendable. See it for yourself.

All in all, the lens is a superb performer. It is not a perfect lens, and it has its own share of slight distortions and light fall-off, but it is as close to perfection as it can be. That said, you'd really need to want the AFS to justify its size and bulk. But if you require the fast focusing performance of the AFS, there is nothing out there to touch this lens.
 

Competition and Conclusion

What's the competition for this lens ? Mainly Sigma's HSM, Canon USM and the non-AFS Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 AF. The Sigma received mixed reaction from users, with feedback ranging from mediocre to quiet-but-none-too-quick. Priced slightly above the Nikkor non AF-S version, many users instead went for the Nikkor since the original focuses pretty fast when coupled to a F100 or F5, and commands a higher resale value. Personally, I have not tried out the Sigma HSM version which is supposed to work the same way as the AFS and USM, so I can't comment on it. But I'd really think hard about spending more for a Sigma than a Nikkor ! As for the Canon USM version, I have only fleeting experiences with it. Few users actually have sufficient experience with both the AFS and USM, so many of the so-called comparison are often hearsay. And finally, the non-AFS version of the 80-200 actually cannibalizes the sale of the AFS version, being 2.5 times cheaper and nearly as fast on a F100 or F5. However, the AFS version is noticeably faster and much quieter, so photographers who value the two attributes of speed and silence will not mind forking out the premium for this very special lens in the Nikkor line-up.

At 2.5 times the price of the regular 80-200 f/2.8 Nikkor, the 80-200 f/2.8 AFS really needs to justify the price difference with vastly superior performance. So is it worth the money ? Unfortunately, that is a question which one has to answer for himself. The perceived benefits of the AFS varies from person to person, and it is hard to justify the price tag on the improved performance. Without doubt, professional photographers involved in high-speed photography such as sports will have no problems justifying the higher price-tag, given that the AFS will vastly improve their success rate and increase their income. The regular version of the 80-200 f/2.8 AF probably satisfies 90% of the uses that an average photographer needs, but the AFS version provides the extra edge that offers split-second precision which gets the image in fast moving conditions.

As for non-professionals, the chances are that you will probably never earn back the investment in the AFS lens. But that does not mean that you shouldn't purchase it. It is difficult to justify many of our purchases through rational means alone, and many times we buy an item because we enjoy using it. As the saying goes - the quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten. Personally, the lens is such a joy to use that if I had the budget, I'd get it in a jiffy ! You will have to weigh your needs against your desire for this lens, but one thing is for sure - it is not a lens you will ever regret owning.
 

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