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Can the Nikkor AF-D 80-200 work with a tele-converter?
#1
Does any one know if the Nikkor AF-D 80-200 2.8 lens work with a tele-converter?



The Nikon page does not say that the lens is compatible with a TC, but I do not know what that exactly means: (1) the lens does not take a TC at all; or, (2) the lens can be used with a TC, but it will loss the AF. Does any one have experience with the 80-200 + TC?



I like my 80-200 but have two points of regrets: (1) It has no VR; (2) It does not work with a TC (according to the Nikon page). Sometimes I feel I really need a longer focal length so I am looking for the possibility of the combination of 80-200 + TC. I hesitate to upgrate to the 70-200 VR since the price gap is huge. I am also satisfied with the IQ of the 80-200 although I know the 70-200 is probably better.



Any suggestions and experience are welcome.



Best regards,

Frank
#2
[quote name='Frank' timestamp='1310958483' post='10112']

Does any one know if the Nikkor AF-D 80-200 2.8 lens work with a tele-converter?



The Nikon page does not say that the lens is compatible with a TC, but I do not know what that exactly means: (1) the lens does not take a TC at all; or, (2) the lens can be used with a TC, but it will loss the AF. Does any one have experience with the 80-200 + TC?



I like my 80-200 but have two points of regrets: (1) It has no VR; (2) It does not work with a TC (according to the Nikon page). Sometimes I feel I really need a longer focal length so I am looking for the possibility of the combination of 80-200 + TC. I hesitate to upgrate to the 70-200 VR since the price gap is huge. I am also satisfied with the IQ of the 80-200 although I know the 70-200 is probably better.



Any suggestions and experience are welcome.



Best regards,

Frank

[/quote]

The current Nikon TC's are designed for AF-S lenses, and will not allow you to put them on the AF 80-200. Even if you modify them, you will not have AF.



But you can use the Kenko tele converters. A super bargain is the very good Kenko MC4 AF 1.4 DGX. It performs about the same as the more expensive Kenko Pro 300 AF DGX 1.4X. Both are very good 1.4x TCs, and will work fine with your 80-200.



2x TCs crop even more of the optics, which means the center resolution of the lens gets "smeared out" even more over the sensor, so sharpness has a bigger impact. But if you are not too much of a pixel peeper, the Kenko Pro 300 AF DGX 2X and Soligor 2x TC should work fine.



An inbetween option (more tele than 1.4x and less resolution loss than 2x TC) would be the Soligor 1.7x TC. It seems to be out of production now (not listed on the Soligor website anymore) but you might still be able to find it.



So there you have it, all these TCs should mount and AF on and with your Nikon AF 80-200mm f2.8 D. And the 1.4x TCs from Kenko will give great results.



The Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f2.8 VR is not better optically than your 80-200mm, but it gives you AF-S and VR. The new 70-200mm VR II is sharper wide open than your 80-200, but it is not better in all respects either (it has a lot of focus breathing, which your 80-200mm does not have).
#3
[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1310970091' post='10113']

The current Nikon TC's are designed for AF-S lenses, and will not allow you to put them on the AF 80-200. Even if you modify them, you will not have AF.



But you can use the Kenko tele converters. A super bargain is the very good Kenko MC4 AF 1.4 DGX. It performs about the same as the more expensive Kenko Pro 300 AF DGX 1.4X. Both are very good 1.4x TCs, and will work fine with your 80-200.



2x TCs crop even more of the optics, which means the center resolution of the lens gets "smeared out" even more over the sensor, so sharpness has a bigger impact. But if you are not too much of a pixel peeper, the Kenko Pro 300 AF DGX 2X and Soligor 2x TC should work fine.



An inbetween option (more tele than 1.4x and less resolution loss than 2x TC) would be the Soligor 1.7x TC. It seems to be out of production now (not listed on the Soligor website anymore) but you might still be able to find it.



So there you have it, all these TCs should mount and AF on and with your Nikon AF 80-200mm f2.8 D. And the 1.4x TCs from Kenko will give great results.



The Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f2.8 VR is not better optically than your 80-200mm, but it gives you AF-S and VR. The new 70-200mm VR II is sharper wide open than your 80-200, but it is not better in all respects either (it has a lot of focus breathing, which your 80-200mm does not have).

[/quote]



Thank you for your advices. I also searched the website a few minutes ago, it seems all suggest to use the Kenko Pro300 1.4. By the way, what is the real focal length at 200mm of the 80-200? If it is something like 180mm then with a 1.4 TC I will only get a 250mm FL. I hesitate to buy a Kenko 2.0 since many people say the loss of resolution is a bit serious, especially wide open and at the border.



Frank
#4
[quote name='Frank' timestamp='1310973543' post='10114']

Thank you for your advices. I also searched the website a few minutes ago, it seems all suggest to use the Kenko Pro300 1.4. By the way, what is the real focal length at 200mm of the 80-200? If it is something like 180mm then with a 1.4 TC I will only get a 250mm FL. I hesitate to buy a Kenko 2.0 since many people say the loss of resolution is a bit serious, especially wide open and at the border.



Frank

[/quote]

I don't know what the real focal length is, but it is similar to other 200mm lenses. Probably in the mid 190's. Other 200mm lenses will not give you more reach, basically... so for all intends and purposes, it is 200mm.



I know that most suggest the Pro 300, because it is more expensive. But the cheaper one does perform similar. It is not like the ones who say the Pro 300 is the one to go for actually compared it with the cheaper one...



Both will do fine, basically.



Like I mentioned before, the Soligor 1.7x TC is a nice inbetween option. If you still find one, you might want to get it (very affordable), to complement the 1.4x when extra reach is wanted.



The aperture of the whole optical system goes down one stop with the 1.4x TCs (so, f2.8 -> f4), 2 stops with 2x TCs (2.8 -> 5.6) and 1.5 stops with the 1.7x TC.



By the way, here is comparative test of TC's, note that the 1.5x MC DG from Kenko is in fact an 1.4x TC, and similar to the cheaper 1.4x TC DGX they are selling now. Confusing, I know <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />...
#5
[quote name='Frank' timestamp='1310973543' post='10114']

...

By the way, what is the real focal length at 200mm of the 80-200? If it is something like 180mm then with a 1.4 TC I will only get a 250mm FL.

...



Frank

[/quote]



To my knowledge this would be the maximum case for 70-200 VR. The 80-200mm does not have that much focus breathing.



Serkan
#6
[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1310975460' post='10115']

I don't know what the real focal length is, but it is similar to other 200mm lenses. Probably in the mid 190's. Other 200mm lenses will not give you more reach, basically... so for all intends and purposes, it is 200mm.



I know that most suggest the Pro 300, because it is more expensive. But the cheaper one does perform similar. It is not like the ones who say the Pro 300 is the one to go for actually compared it with the cheaper one...



Both will do fine, basically.



Like I mentioned before, the Soligor 1.7x TC is a nice inbetween option. If you still find one, you might want to get it (very affordable), to complement the 1.4x when extra reach is wanted.



The aperture of the whole optical system goes down one stop with the 1.4x TCs (so, f2.8 -> f4), 2 stops with 2x TCs (2.8 -> 5.6) and 1.5 stops with the 1.7x TC.

[/quote]



Thanks again! I will look if I can find a Soligor 1.7x TC to buy.



Best regards,

Frank
#7
[quote name='Frank' timestamp='1310976560' post='10117']

Thanks again! I will look if I can find a Soligor 1.7x TC to buy.



Best regards,

Frank

[/quote]

Hmm, something went wrong with editing the former post.

Here the comparative test:

http://www.traumflieger.de/desktop/telek...rtest2.php
#8
I had the AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8 as well as the AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8. I hate to say but the AF-S was optically clearly superior, especially with the Kenko TC. And the AF-S 80-200 is supposed to be about as good as the 70-200VR. I wasn't very satisfied with what I got from the AF-D 80-200mm despite being a brand new lens. I sold it very soon after I bought it.



Christian
#9
[quote name='TheChris' timestamp='1311060010' post='10143']

I had the AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8 as well as the AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8. I hate to say but the AF-S was optically clearly superior, especially with the Kenko TC. And the AF-S 80-200 is supposed to be about as good as the 70-200VR. I wasn't very satisfied with what I got from the AF-D 80-200mm despite being a brand new lens. I sold it very soon after I bought it.



Christian

[/quote]



I wonder why Nikon has chosen AF 80-200mm D over AF-S 80-200mm ... Optics were changed after AF-D and tripod collar became removable... Maybe something with the AF motor in lens, or to prevent internal competition with the new 70-200mm VR.



But between AF-S and AF-D of 80-200mm, I would definitely choose the AF-S version (if I could find one).



Serkan
#10
[quote name='PuxaVida' timestamp='1311063818' post='10144']

I wonder why Nikon has chosen AF 80-200mm D over AF-S 80-200mm ... Optics were changed after AF-D and tripod collar became removable... Maybe something with the AF motor in lens, or to prevent internal competition with the new 70-200mm VR.



But between AF-S and AF-D of 80-200mm, I would definitely choose the AF-S version (if I could find one).



Serkan

[/quote]



Many excellent lenses were discontinued by Nikon, including the 70-180/4.5-5.6 micro,the 20-35/2.8 etc.



Frank
  


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