Which VR lens to pick?

[Niccon]

After much thought & info sorted from the forum, I am planning to start saving for a VR Nikon lens but cant decide which to pick.

70-200 f.2.8 VR AFS + 2X TC or
80-400 f4.5-5.6 VR AF

Let not talk about subject I will be shooting but advise base on the following :
I will be using them with D70 only since VR & G cant work on F90X .

AF speed when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400
Picture sharpness, resolution, contrast when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400
VR performance when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400
Any advantages or disadvantages when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400?
Any thing else I have missed out, please share.

The reason I am inclined to 70-200 + TC because I believe it is a more versatile combination. But I have not had any info, review or see pictures on direct comparison of these lens performance.

So please give your valuable advice or experience.

Thanks.

 

[glennyong]

After much thought & info sorted from the forum, I am planning to start saving for a VR Nikon lens but cant decide which to pick.

70-200 f.2.8 VR AFS + 2X TC or
80-400 f4.5-5.6 VR AF

Let not talk about subject I will be shooting but advise base on the following :
I will be using them with D70 only since VR & G cant work on F90X .

AF speed when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400
Picture sharpness, resolution, contrast when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400
VR performance when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400
Any advantages or disadvantages when using 70-200 with 2X TC compare to 80-400?
Any thing else I have missed out, please share.

The reason I am inclined to 70-200 + TC because I believe it is a more versatile combination. But I have not had any info, review or see pictures on direct comparison of these lens performance.

So please give your valuable advice or experience.

Thanks.

70-200 !! hahahahahahahaha :sweatsm:

 

[justarius]

Go check out this thread here and other similiar threads in the Nikonians forum. The end concensus seems to be that the 70-200mm is way faster in focussing, but adding a 2X to make it comparable to the reach of the 80-400mm results in soft pictures. Thus if you need the 400mm end most of the time and don't need fast focussing, the better picture quality should be the 80-400mm.

 

[gooseberry]

Check out some of these photos shot by this Regit guy with the 70-200 VR + TC20.

http://www.pbase.com/regit/birds

For example this photo here....

http://www.pbase.com/image/27696730/original

From the photos I've seen, I wouldn't call this combination soft.

 

[clive]

take the 70-200 and 2x if u r the type who need f2.8 speed for more than half the time u shoot

 

[espn]

I would prefer the 70-200 and a 400/2.8 rather than stacking TCs, TCs really cause a bit of image degradetion.

 

[majere2sg]

I would prefer the 70-200 and a 400/2.8 rather than stacking TCs, TCs really cause a bit of image degradetion.

Buy Buy Buy !
Get the 1.4x instead of 2x.. ;p

 

[james m]

I will be using them with D70 only since VR & G cant work on F90X

Yes you will lose VR with both and the 70-200G can be used in S and P modes on the F90x

so both can still be used on the F90x ....

I know 2 people who only own AI-S lenses and both have purchased D70's knowing they can only use manual mode and have no metering.

 

[KNIGHT ONG]

Highly recommend you to take the 70-200mmf2.8 VR, and the price is higher than the 80-400VR ... :bsmilie: