Nikon AF 55-200mm VR AFS-G2.8

[Maccattack]

Wildlife covers quite a range are there any fav topics as this will strongly influence your choice. I use a D70 and F100 with 70-200 vr plus 1.7 conv , it is OK for garden birds but won't get you close enough for " proper " bird shots .However it is a fantastic lens .As I also like macro stuff the 1.7 helps with the 105 at times. If you use a tripod the vr is not recomended . Try looking at obsessional nikon lens enthusiasts such as thom hogan bjorn rorstveld (?spelling)and as mentioned above ken rockwell. Some people use kenko , not only converters but also extension tubes (no glass so no loss of quality) although I expect nikon would warn against this.

Regards

Malcolm Mac

[AndyM]

Hi, VR was off because I'd forgot to turn it on after removing camera from tripod... Andy M.

[pressld2]

Jessops have a "30 day no-quibble money back if you're not satisfied" policy so I called in today and asked them to get me the Sigma 1.4x teleconverter, Nikon flavour. That way I can try it out and return it if I'm not happy.

That's if it ever arrives. The guy at the till says he'll place a backorder for it and takes my postcode and house number. Then he says "That's it, we'll let you know when it's in." So I ask if they're going to write to me and he says "no, we'll phone." How? You haven't taken my phone number. Or my name. "Oh right," he says and scribbles my number on a little scrap of till receipt paper. Needless to say I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for the phone to ring. I bet he threw it straight in the bin as soon as I left the shop. I thought Dixons had cornered the market in clueless sales "assistants" but Jessops are mounting a strong challenge.

If I ever do get hold of one I'll let you know how it performs with the 80-400VR...

Dave P.

[Oy]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Jessops have a "30 day no-quibble money back if you're not satisfied" policy so I called in today and asked them to get me the Sigma 1.4x teleconverter, Nikon flavour. That way I can try it out and return it if I'm not happy.

I'm pretty sure the Sigma x1.4 won't fit your Nikon lens.

I have one for my Sigma 150mm Macro - and it won't mount on my Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VR

[HowlinWolf]

I'd get the lens you have in mind, and add a TC. That way you will still have f/2.8 available as and when you need it. Faster lenses also help with AF in lower light situations, as well as giving a brighter viewfinder (it inspires more confidence). As for teleconverters, I'd also stick with Nikon. These things are part of the optical equation with compatible lenses.

In the past few months, I had been wrestling with the choice between the Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR ED-IF and the Nikkor 200-400 f/4 lenses. Last weekend, I decided on the former and bought the prime (a touch on the pricy side, buy worth every penny). With a TC (x1.4) on a D200, it gives me 630mm at f/4, but I still have the option to use the lens as an f/2.8 for lower light level shooting, and the VR makes a big difference. Used just as a 300mm, I can use it wide open with superb results (check out those backgrounds!), and the TC (TC-14E II) is all but invisible when I need to go longer (again, wide open).

It really depends on what you wish to do with your images (and what you photograph) as to which path you take, but in my experience, buy the best. In 10 years time you still won't regret it.

HW

[pressld2]

Well much to my surprise, I did get a call to say that the Sigma 1.4 TC was in and I've picked it up. It does work with the Nikon 80-400VR but...

- you have to set the lens at 105mm or longer otherwise its rear element strikes the front element of the TC which probably won't do either of them much good! Not a serious problem as using this combo with the lens set below 285 mm is pointless because that just brings you back to the 400 that you can get without the TC. Need to be very careful to avoid damage though.

- unless there is a pin-taping trick for Nikon similar to the one I've seen mentioned for Canon lenses, there is no AF, no VR and no metering available with this combo.

Hopefully I can find the time (and weather conditions to make it worthwhile) in the next few weeks to try it out and see what the image quality is like. But I suspect it will get returned before the 30 days are up. I really should try the Kenko Pro PLus that AndyM recommended.

Dave P.

[pressld2]

[quote=pressld2;136930]there is no AF, no VR and no metering available with this combo.QUOTE]

Correction! There is VR and metering, still no AF though. There is a tiny amount of 'play' between the camera body and the converter - miniscule, we're talking fraction of a millimetre - but it appears to be just enough to make/break a contact somewhere.

Managed to get out with it for an hour and a half yesterday and I think the results are a bit soft. I'll post a couple later in the week. Pretty certain now that I'm going to return it but I will give the Kenko a try. It's that or wait till I can afford a big Nikon prime and a Nikon TC - i.e. when I retire!

Dave P.

[eeyore]

the reason there is no AF is because most cameras af wont work reliably at max appertures smaller than f5.6 - and by adding the converter you have essentially created a f8 lens

the camera/converter "knows" this and automatically turns the AF off - the pin taping on the canon is to prevent this from happening and force the converter to leave the AF on

I dont know if there is a similar trick on nikons but i do know that the cheaper converters dont necessarily do this anyway - for example if you try the jessops own (79 notes i think) you may well find that you have AF - though it still wont be fast or reliable except in bright light

[pete_stew]

I have the Sigma version 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG with a sigma x2 convertor and it is excellent. I have no complaints with it whatsoever. I have had it with me in all sorts of situations and it works great with my D80.

i would recommend this lens if you cannot hit the budget of the Nikon.

There are examples on my website if anyone is interested.