FYI - Nikon 200-400mm VR available at B&H

Not the 18-200mm VR, but another quite hard to find Nikon lens.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=300488&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

 

Well, it would be a nice complement to my 18-200. It would pick up just
where the 18-200 stops. But I'm not sure if the times I would use it would
justify the price!

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

 

Overpriced and easy to find. Cameta has been selling them factory sealed
new for $4995 everyday for the last six months. Did you buy one?






Rita

 

Actually they've only had a couple in the last couple of months. Nothing in
stock now. These lenses last less than a day or two in stock in most places
from what I've seen. Yes, I now have one. Bought from neither Cameta nor
B&H. It is a beast to be sure, but puts the 70-200mm f/2.8vr + tc20eii
combo to shame given my initial use. I'll still use the 70-200 +2x while
walking the dog or hiking though. This is definitely a lens you set up to
use at specific locations.

 

Congratulations!! I'm glad you got it. Did you buy it new, though I'm sure
you did? I have been keeping a watchful eye on the new and used market for
these and it seems there is no savings on buying these used. I know Cameta
has/had them listed every day one after another with a $4995 BIN. I haven't
checked them in the last three weeks so I'm assuming they still have them
available, maybe not. They'll always be available for decent pricing, if
not at Cameta, elsewhere.







Rita

 

I forgot to ask you in the last post if you had tried the TC-20E II on the
new lens yet? If so, how well did it optically perform for you? I know AF
isn't going to be a problem at f/8. Oh, Cameta just sold two on the 19th
and the 21st so their stock is back up and they should be listing more this
week at the $4995 price for the brand new factory sealed USA version if
anyone else is interested.







Rita

 

FWIW, on my D200, AF with the TC-20EII works, despite Nikon's stating it
will not. Have not tried it with my D70 yet. In is quite sluggish. More so
than the 70-200 f/2.8 VR + TC20EII. Will post some samples soon. There
appears to issue with a core line in NYC that is making connections to my
web site problematic.

 

Great! I know the TC is slightly soft on the 70-200, but nothing drastic.
The TC is killer sharp on the 105mm VR. My gut feeling is it is going to
optically suck on the 200-400mm. I might have to pick up a 1.4x







Rita

 

Unless you care about AF speed I might not be so quick to condemn....
http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/N_200-400vr/
DSC_2857-01.jpg
DSC_2864-01.jpg
DSC_2865-01.jpg
with the TC20EII. All converted with RSE, just EV compensation, all other
settings default.

 

They look like they have a lot of promise. I'm guessing with the high ISO
and a little bit of flatness the pics have you shot these in low light? I
agree, the TC does show a lot of promise with this lens, especially under
better lighting conditions. Thanks for sharing your observations.






Rita