Avoid the TC-20E if you're counting every pixel; it loses some sharpness at the largest apertures. It now is only f/5.6 wide open. An 80-200mm lens is usually a pro's most important lens. Nikon most certainly makes sure that this lens is excellent, since most of Nikon's (and Canon's) reputation rests on the performance of their f/2.8 tele zooms.

I have used it for wild life, particularly if walking through wood land with variable lighting, which at times is quite low. I have also used it at birthday parties at "disco lighting levels" both with and without flash (externally mounted flash not pop-up) I'd pitch the flat Nikon cap that came with this lens new, and get a new "pinch" type cap in 77mm. I'm not kidding: the new fatter caps are much easier to use in the field. Well I have sold my 70-300 vr because I got the hump with it (was great with the d2x but now I don't like it with the d3x) but I need a telezoom. And since I love selective focus , creamy bokeh and generally speaking I'm more of a tele person I thought a bright zoom is the right thing for me.To make things short: Get the new Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DGX 1.4x converter for the AF 80-200/2.8D EDn if you want the 'real' aperture recordet in EXIF or an older Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG 1.4x if its ok that only the used lens aperture (without converter factor) is shown. a great lens is in my photo bag again. In myopinion, itoffers everything that is important to good photography, but it has its weak spots as well. The only incompatibility is that it will not autofocus with the cheapest D40, D40x and D60, but if you focus manually, everything else works great. The D40, D40x and D60 even have in-finder focus confirmation dots to help you. Not for: I wouldn't bother with this heavy professional lens on a DX camera. I'd use any DX lens, like the 55-200mm VR, instead. This lens will not autofocus with the cheapest D40, D40x, D60, D3000 or D5000; get any AF-S lens like the 55-200mm VR or 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II instead for those cameras. This lens requires moving a switch to get between auto and manual focus; you'll need a newer AF-S model if this is important to you. The only incompatibility is that it will not autofocus with the cheapest DX cameras like the D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D3300, D5000, D5100, D5200 or D5300, but if you focus manually, everything else works great. These cameras have in-finder focus confirmation dots to help you.

I acquired a new twin ring in 2010. I have not found any issues with CA on my D300S or D7000. I do not find my copy as soft wide open at 200mm as some have reported. Certainly it sings at f4. For wild life though the focusing mechanism sort of makes the the quiet release modes on my bodies academic, as it is so noisy as it snaps into focus. You write about bad optical characteristics but give the lens a high rating. My annoyances with the lens are not based on the optical performance. I think this lens is still being produced by Nikon and is made only in Japan. Talk about legendary. people photography, but the Tokina serves me well. I used it first with my Pentax PZ1P, but I was never happy about I'm just a hobbyist photographer not a pro so I can get away without time pressure (and client expectations). But for professionals, I agree with you to opt for a better lens.Image Quality: Without diving straight into the "D" vs "G" battle for superiority, I have to say this old chunk of metal can spill out amazingly rendered, very sharp images wide open, which is a pleasant surprise given the lens' dated model.

Not for: AF is slow, so for sports I'd get the newest model instead. This lens will not autofocus with the cheapest D40, D40x and D60; get the 55-200mm VR (or 70-200mm f/2.8 VR) instead for those cameras. The maximum reproduction ratio of the 70-200 II is only 1:8.3, while this 80-200/2.8 has a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:5.9! No vignetting (well, may be "almost"), but I have never notices anything like it - may on FF it'll be more significant. When you used the 80-200 on your D800, were the corners soft and center sharp wide open or was the whole frame soft wide open? B/c if it was just corners it wouldn't matter on dx. The AF-D one touch is a good lens but reportedly slow to focus. Unlike the other two, I've never owned this version so I'll let someone else expound on its virtues.

Compatibility with digital cameras

On point. It's fairly small and, as i know now, actually lighter than the modern lenses of it's kind. I don't think it's as sharp as the VR II throughout the range. From 80mm to 150mm, maybe. But when both lenses are all the way out at the long end (200mm), I think the 70-200 VR II has a noticeable sharpness advantage. You have to pixel peep to see it, but the VR II is definitely sharper. I own the 80-200/2.8 AF-S, and got to try out the 70-200 VR II briefly. The 70-200 also has a slight AF speed advantage. Not only are the 80-200's optics stellar, it's mechanics and materials are much better than most of Nikon's even more expensive lenses today, most of which are merely plastic. The Nikon 80-200's collar never comes off, which is good, because it's so well designed that you'll never want to remove it. Flip it out of the way for hand-held shooting, and it's still there when you need it.