Camera Labs

Regarding your comments about the teleconverter, are you looking to buy and test/try the new announced AFS TC20E III?
Or don't you expect it to perform better on your 70-200VRII?

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

No, I'm not going to try the new 2x TC. But regarding your question whether one could expect it to perform better: That's a tough one!
My opinion, Wout: I don't think the mediocre performance with TC was the TC's fault. I think the 1.7x magnification clearly shows the limits of this zoom - or almost any zoom to be fair.
If you have a look at the latest test of the "old" VRI here at photozone, you can see how bad that lens looked with TCs. Even with a 1.4x the center performance drops from "very good" to "good" and border-performance from "very good" to "poor" at f/4.0 (similar picture at f/5.6) - with the TC 1.7x naturally even worse.
And that was although with a TC you don't even "see" the real border/corner-performance of the lens but need only a smaller image circle due to the magnification.

I think you need a real good fixed focal to enjoy a TC...
(unfortunately the Nikon TC will not work with my Sigma fixed focals )

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Thanks for the explanation Thomas And good luck with a very nice lens anyway!

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

Thomas, I read about issues regarding the quality of some 70-200VRII's out there, have you noticed anything of these problems (see here at NikonRumors for instance)

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

I see no "chipping" in my lens

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Some tiny marks on the threads but nothing significant on mine.

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D700, 50mm f1.8D, 50mm f1.4G, 24-70mm f2.8G ED, 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II, SB-900, Manfroto055XPROB & 322RC2, Crumpler 8 million dollar home

Jus got my Lens in Malaysia and i can say that is the cheapest of all countries $2250 AUD !!!!While back home it will set me back $3k AUD,so please with it .

That was a large and long lens for a 70~200mm.
It can even beat my friends Canon 35~230mm lens!

Ouh well , i hope it gets reviewed on YouTube with Gordon

You can find the new review at Photozone here:
http://www.photozone.de/nikon_ff/511-nikkorafs7020028vr2ff
Unfortunately no tests with TC yet: "This review initially does not contain measurements with TCs, but these will follow at a later date (including the new TC-20E III)."
The verdict: highly recommended, optical quality 4* (out of 5)!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Anyone tested the lens with a TC yet?
(links to any pics, please?)

If you read my review, you'll find testshots with TC at this post. I tested with the TC-17EII at 70, 120 and 200 mm.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

But photozone hasnt yet, even though they said so in april? already

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

No. Unfortunately they didn't follow up on their promise...
Plus, I haven't found any other lab-test with comparable targets.
So, yep: Camera Labs seems the only source for this kind of information on one of Nikon's premier zooms

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Hi Thomas,

I have read most of your review about this lense.

However on page four of this thread another member (KA734) asked about a 36% drop in magnification. But I cannot see any reply, or replies from other members about this issue?

According to the author of the article on Youtube, the effective magnification is actually around 60-165mm.

Can you tell me your thoughts on this comment?

This is the link the other member; KA734 posted;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjA4lDLs ... re=related

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Nikon D700, Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

Future purchases: Nikkor 24-70, 70-200 f/2.8G ED & AF Fisheye 16mm f/2.8D

I think this post in my review should answer your question(s): viewtopic.php?p=164909#p164909
If you still have open questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses