The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is a professional-grade telephoto zoom for Nikon F cameras that covers portrait, sports, wedding and wildlife shooting with a constant f/2.8 aperture, built-in VR II image stabilisation, and Silent Wave Motor autofocus across the 70–200mm range.
Key Specifications
- Focal length: 70–200mm zoom range
- Maximum aperture: f/2.8 constant (wide and tele)
- Minimum aperture: f/22
- Image stabilisation: VR II (Vibration Reduction)
- Autofocus motor: SWM (Silent Wave Motor) — near-silent AF
- Lens mount: Nikon F-mount with built-in CPU
- Filter thread: 77mm
- Minimum focus distance: 1.4m
- Aperture blades: 9 (rounded)
- Weight: 1540g
Who is the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II for?
This lens is built for photographers who need reliable, consistent performance in demanding conditions. If you shoot weddings, the constant f/2.8 aperture keeps you shooting cleanly in dimly lit ceremony halls without touching your ISO ceiling. Sports and wildlife shooters benefit from the fast SWM autofocus and VR II stabilisation — you can track moving subjects at the long end without camera shake turning sharp moments into soft misses. Portrait photographers get beautiful background separation thanks to the f/2.8 aperture at 200mm, and the 9-blade rounded aperture produces smooth, circular bokeh. At 1540g it's a serious piece of glass, so if you're looking to travel light, that's worth factoring in — but for anyone shooting professionally on DSLR bodies like the Nikon D850, D500 or D780, the optical performance more than justifies the weight.
Buying a used Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II
Picking up a pre-owned Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is one of the smartest moves in the Nikon F ecosystem — this lens holds its optical quality extremely well over time, and a second-hand copy that has been properly inspected gives you professional-grade glass at a fraction of what it cost new. Every used lens on Camera-tweedehands.nl is individually photographed and comes with a minimum 12 months warranty, so you can buy with confidence. Always check the variant listing for the specific warranty period on your chosen copy. If your budget is tighter, the earlier Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR (VR I) is a solid alternative; if you shoot mirrorless, the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is the native Z-mount option to consider.
