Nikon 70-200 mm AF-S, VR Review

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Build Quality and Durability

It's difficult not to sound gushing when describing the build quality of this lens; it's probably as good as it gets from Nikon (that is to say - superb).

The material selection is based on function and hasn't been scrimped on for the sake of economy; the barrel is die-cast magnesium alloy for strength and weight-saving and gives a very robust feel to the lens (although it does get chilly when the weather's cold).

The paint finish is the usual speckled black as used on modern Nikon camera bodies. This finish feels very comfortable to hold and forms a good contrast in texture to the rubberized focus and zoom rings.

A minor criticism of the zoom and focus ring design is that Nikon have used textures that are not easy to differentiate by feel alone. Fortunately this isn't likely to be a real issue as they are sufficiently spaced apart to prevent confusion.

The zoom and focus rings below the rubberized coating are also metallic and made to a very fine tolerance so as to allow precise control. My lens does show slight play in the rotation of the focus ring but not sufficient to worry about.

Rock solid build with feather-light ease of operation defines the external construction of this lens

The lens features a rubber rear seal which demonstrates the careful attention to detail that's gone into the design. The solid build and sealing make dust and water penetration far less likely - the optics of my lens don't show any sign of dust after continued use since June 2007. This is doubly reassuring given the amount of electronics Nikon have included in the lens. The front filter ring is also surrounded by a rubber ring, presumably providing protection from rain and dust and should minimize the impact of knocks. Nikon claim the lens is resistant to rain to the same extent that their pro camera bodies are - certainly the rubber sealing instills confidence!

The rear rubber seal does mean however, that there's considerable friction when mounting the lens - quite unlike any other lens I've used. This can be initially disconcerting until you develop conviction that you're not doing something wrong.

It's reassuring that Nikon have made the effort to engrave the focal length numerals on the lens but slightly disappointing that the focus settings and VR settings are just printed on.

The filter thread is 77 mm which is the same as my other lenses and it's useful to have this consistency on the occasions that I use additional filters. In common with all my lenses I keep a UV filter on the front of the lens so I can clean it regularly without scratching the front element. I chose a Hoya HMC Pro 1 UV filter due to its slim profile. Thanks to the metal front filter thread of the lens the filter feels very securely attached with less risk of cross-threading.

The lens features Internal Focusing (IF) and doesn't physically change length during zooming so the lens is a solidly sealed unit with less possibility of dust penetration. There's also a strength benefit because of this. By contrast, my 28-70 AFS lens does physically lengthen during zooming so there's a chance dust can enter.

The weight of the lens is considerable at around 1430 g but this does help to dampen vibration when hand holding (even before the VR kicks in).

Despite regular use since June 2007 without the use of "kid gloves" my lens shows no visible signs of wear.

This is the first lens I've ever purchased new. Although I did find a second hand one when I was shopping around - the 10% price difference was insufficient to persuade me to take a risk on a lens with this level of electronic sophistication. I was happy to pay the full price for a new lens with a full warranty and piece of mind.

Despite the engraved focal length numerals - those that select between focus and VR mode are only printed on. You could argue that it's unnecessary but it would have been reassuringly unnecessary

Front and rear rubber seals prevent water and dust penetration