The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8G ED VR II was announced in July 2009, as the second iteration of the company's professional stabilized fast telezoom. It's the successor to the AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8G ED VR which first appeared in 2003, and brings to the table an entirely remastered optical system designed to match the demands of the latest high resolution FX format cameras such as the D3X, accompanied by an improved vibration reduction system which Nikon claims offers up to four stops stabilization.
The optics, as we'd expect for this kind of lens, are pretty exotic, with 21 elements in 16 groups. No fewer than 7 of these are fashioned from Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass to minimize aberrations, and Nikon's latest Nano Crystal Coating is employed to combat flare. One handling improvement is the addition of a new A/M focus mode, which prevents accidental movements of the focus ring from overriding the autofocus while it's operating. The build quality is appropriate for a professional workhorse lens, with a barrel that's made from magnesium alloy like the bodies of Nikon's pro-level DSLRs, and extensive sealing against dust and moisture.
The 'VR II' has a high expectations to live up to, as its predecessor was considered pretty well best-in-class on DX format bodies. But with the shift to full-frame 'FX' sensors, its shortcomings towards the edge of the image field at longer focal lengths became somewhat exposed, with unusually soft corners even at small apertures, and heavy vignetting wide open. So the Nikon faithful (and more importantly its professional user base) will be hoping that the new model can address these issues on full frame, without significantly compromising performance on the smaller sensor format. So let's see if Nikon has achieved this goal.
Headline features
70-200mm focal length range; fast f/2.8 constant maximum aperture
Optical image stabilization – 4 stops with automatic panning detection and 'active' mode
Ring-type ultrasonic focusing with full-time manual override
F mount for Nikon and Fuji DX and FX format DSLRS
Angle of view
The pictures below illustrate the focal length range from wide to telephoto, on FX (35mm full-frame) and DX (APS-C) camera bodies:
70mm (full frame)
200mm (full frame)
70mm (DX; 105mm equivalent)
200mm (DX; 300mm equivalent)
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8G ED VR II specifications
• 4 stops claimed
• Auto panning detection
• Active mode
Filter thread
• 77mm
• Does not rotate on focus
Supplied accessories
• Front and rear caps
• HB-48 Hood
• CL-M4 Lens Pouch
Weight
1540g (3.4 lb)
Dimensions
87mm diameter x 209mm length
(3.4 x 8.2 in)
Lens Mount
Nikon F only
Other
• Dust and moisture sealing
• Reports focus distance information to camera body
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area
Foreword / notes
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
To navigate this article simply use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).
This article is protected by Copyright and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.
Article From DPreview.com
All Images from DPreview.com
Canon EOS 5D Mark III On Preview - Article From DPreview.com
Preview based on a pre-production Canon EOS 5D Mark III
On March 2nd 1987, Canon unveiled to the world the EOS 650, its first 35mm autofocus SLR and the start of a brand new camera system. With its fully-electronic lens mount, in-lens aperture and focus motors, and reliance on electronic button and dial operation, the EOS system established a blueprint that all successive camera systems have followed. Now, 25 years later to the day, the company has launched the latest model in the line: the EOS 5D Mark III.
Up until now, the 5D series has been a dynasty of slightly unlikely revolutionaries. The original EOS 5D of 2005 was the first 'affordable' full frame SLR, and the camera that cemented the 24x36mm sensor as the format of choice for many professional applications at a time when many were questioning its continued relevance. The 5D Mark II was the first SLR capable of recording full HD video, a feature that revolutionized the market in a fashion that no one could possibly have envisaged at the time - least of all Canon. On the face of it, though, the latest model offers little that looks likely to make the same impact.
The 5D Mark III has a 22MP full frame sensor in a body that's based on the EOS 7D design, and with a 61-point AF system borrowed from the flagship EOS-1D X. From the glass-half-empty point of view, this could be seen as an unambitious update that trails disappointingly behind Nikon's 36MP D800 before either camera has even hit the shops. But for those whose glasses tend more towards the half-full, it might just turn out to be the camera that 5D Mark II owners always really wanted.
Indeed the 5D name itself is almost misleading; compared to its predecessor the Mark III is essentially a completely new model, with every major system upgraded and updated. In a way it's better seen as a full-frame 7D, with that camera's control layout, extensive customizability and 63-zone metering sensor. But it also gains a raft of additional tweaks and improvements in response to customer feedback; these range from dual slots for CF and SD cards, through a locking exposure mode dial, to a large depth of field preview button that's repositioned for right-handed operation, and can be reprogrammed to access a number of other functions.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III key specifications
22MP full frame CMOS sensor
ISO 100-25600 standard, 50-102,800 expanded
6 fps continuous shooting
Shutter rated to 150,000 frames
1080p30 video recording, stereo sound via external mic
61 point AF system
63 zone iFCL metering system
100% viewfinder coverage
1040k dot 3:2 LCD
Dual card slots for CF and SD
Most of the key specs are substantially upgraded compared to the 5D Mark II. The new sensor, coupled with Canon's latest DIGIC 5+ processor, offers a standard ISO range of 100 - 25,600 that's expandable to 50 - 102,800. An 8-channel sensor readout enables continuous shooting at 6 fps. The shutter is rated to 150,000 cycles and has been refined for quieter operation; the Mark III also inherits the 'silent' shutter mode previously seen on the 1D-series. Viewfinder coverage is a full 100%, and the 1040k dot, 3:2 aspect ratio 3.2" LCD screen has improved anti-reflection properties and a hardened glass cover to protect against scratching. And let's not forget that 61-point focus system from the 1DX - the first time Canon has put its top-spec AF sensor into a non-1-series camera since the film-era EOS 3.
Movie mode turned out to be the 5D Mark II's trump card over its rivals, and its successor naturally offers improved capability in this regard. In terms of ergonomics, the camera gains the 7D's rear movie mode/live view switch, so you no longer have to compromise your stills Live View settings when setting up for video recording. There's a built-in headphone socket for audio monitoring, and rear control dial gains touch-sensitive 'buttons' that allow recording parameters (shutter speed, apertire, ISO and sound volume) to be changed silently. The video output specifications are essentially unchanged in terms of resolution and framerate (1080p30 maximum), but Canon says the processing is improved to minimise moiré and other artefacts, and has included the higher quality All-I and IPB interframe compression options introduced with the EOS-1D X. What you don't get though, is the uncompressed output over HDMI seen in the latest Nikon models.
There's a couple of entirely new features too; the 5D Mark III becomes Canon's first SLR capable of in-camera High Dynamic Range shooting, in an unusually well-implemented and flexible fashion, and gets expanded autobracketing options too (up to 7 frames covering a vast +/- 8 EV range). It can also record multiple exposures, if you so desire. The introduction of DIGIC 5+ means that JPEG processing (finally) includes chromatic aberration correction, based on lens profiles which are stored in-camera (and therefore limited to Canon's own lenses). Last but not least, playback mode adds the ability to compare images directly side-by-side, in a number of different views.
The 5D Mark III also gains a refreshed menu system, essentially based on that of the EOS-1D X. It's not entirely dissimilar to the 5D Mark II's (so existing users will still feel at home), but it gains a completely new tab for managing its complex AF system, based on a range of usage-scenario presets. The ordering of options has been rationalized, and a number of functions that were previously hidden deep within the custom functions have bubbled-up closer to the surface as top-level menu items, perhaps most notably mirror lockup and Highlight Tone Priority.
Additional accessories - including Radio-Controlled Wireless flash
Alongside the 5D Mark III Canon has also introduced a range of accessories, most notably a new wireless flash system that's based on radio, as opposed to infrared communication. Spearheaded by the weathersealed Speedlite 600EX-RT and the WT-E3-RT wireless transmitter, the switch to radio control greatly increases the system's operational range to 30m, removes the requirement for unobstructed line-of-sight communication between Speedlites and the controller, and increases the number of units that can be used to 15 flashes in 5 groups. There's also a hot-shoe-mountable GPS unit, the GP-E2, and a WFT-E7 Wi-Fi transmitter.
Rounding off the story is a new vertical grip for the 5D Mark III, which has an almost-complete set of replicate controls for portrait-format shooting, including the all-important joystick for AF point selection (only a DOF preview button is missing). It can hold a pair of LP-E6 batteries for double the battery life, or run off a cassette full of AAs.
Hands-on review video
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.
This article is Copyright 2012 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III specifications
Price
MSRP
Body only: $3499, €3299, £2999 with 24-105mm: $4299
Body type
Body type
Mid-size SLR
Body material
Magnesium alloy
Sensor
Max resolution
5760 x 3840
Other resolutions
3840 x 2560, 2880 x 1920, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480
Image ratio w:h
3:2
Effective pixels
22.3 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors
23.4 megapixels
Sensor size
Full frame (36 x 24 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Digic 5+
Color space
sRGB,Adobe RGB
Color filter array
RGB Color Filter Array
Image
ISO
Auto, 100 - 25600 in 1/3 stops, plus 50, 51200, 102400 as option
White balance presets
6
Custom white balance
Yes (1)
Image stabilization
No
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
Fine, Normal
File format
JPEG (Exif 2.3 [Exif Print] compliant)
Design rule for Camera File system (2.0)
RAW: RAW, sRAW1, sRAW2 (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition)
Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
Contrast Detect (sensor)
Phase Detect
Multi-area
Selective single-point
Single
Continuous
Face Detection
Live View
Autofocus assist lamp
by optional dedicated Speedlite
Digital zoom
No
Manual focus
Yes
Number of focus points
61
Lens mount
Canon EF mount
Focal length multiplier
1×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Fixed
Screen size
3.2"
Screen dots
1,040,000
Touch screen
No
Screen type
Clear View II TFT LCD
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100 %
Viewfinder magnification
0.71×
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
30 sec
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 sec
Exposure modes
Auto+
Program AE
Shutter priority AE
Aperture priority AE
Manual (Stills and Movie)
Custom (x3)
Built-in flash
No
External flash
Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless plus Sync connector)
Flash X sync speed
1/200 sec
Continuous drive
Yes (6 fps)
Self-timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Metering modes
Multi
Center-weighted
Spot
Partial
Exposure compensation
±5 EV (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
±3 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis)
Videography features
Format
H.264
Microphone
Mono
Speaker
Mono
Resolutions
1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Videography notes
1080 and 720 intra or inter frame, 480 inter frame
Storage
Storage types
Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage included
None
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (HDMI mini)
Wireless
Optional
Remote control
Yes (Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-6)
