Razor sharp optics build quality optical perfermance with TC 20 E II

None. You get what you pay for

Move over canon the Joker, you have only been keeping the seat warm for the return of the king. The King being the 200mm AFS VR f/2. A legend in the making. I have never seen images sharper than ones produced from this lens. Great for inddor sports and portraits. Attach a Nikon TC 20 E II (teleconvertor) and you have a 400mm f/4 that rivals the Nikkor 200mm-400mm VR f/4 optically. Use it as a straight 200mm and you have a fast, razor sharp lens, perfect for those low light situations were you need to keep your shutter speeds up to freeze the action. The VR really does work. I can handhold at a 15th of a second with or without the TC and produce a sharp image. All the more sweeter. All in a package that focuses down to 1.9 meters at 400mm. What more could you ask for. Worth every penny and the most versatile lens I own.

Customer Service

Have not needed so wouldn't know.

Similar Products Used:

300mm AFS f/2.8 II 80-200mm AFS f/2.8 135mm AF D DC f/2

Sharpness! Sharpness! Sharpness! Ability to isolate. Fast f2 aperture. Fast AF.

A little on the heavy side, mainly from the lens hood. Awkward tripod collar.

A great addition to the Nikon lineup. This lens is tack sharp at f2! Focusing is very quick on a D2H (firmware updated). The lens is the similar in design to the 200-400 f4 AF-S VR, with custom settings for the buttoms on the lens, AF-L, AF-On or Memory Recall. VR switch is now a ring type design, and 52mm filter holder comes out on the side and no the top. The lens hood HK-31 is big and rather heavy, seems like Nikon is going back to the more heavy duty design rather than the lighter carbon fiber type. The hood is wider than normal, made to fit the tripod collar when stored in the reverse position. Older lens hood HK-19, HK-22, HK-26, and HK-30 will fit the lens if you prefer a slimmer profile and lighter weight (HK-19 is just as heavy as HK-31). Shooters who are use to the 300mm AF-S will find this lens a little different. The tripod collar is very close the lens (like the Canon 200mm f1.8L EF), makes it almost impossible to pick the lens up by the collar. One buys this lens for that extra stop, if you don't need f2, the 70-200mm f2.8 VR will be a nice choice. I shot some high school football at f2 1/500 at ISO 800, and the images look great, high school volleyball (without strobe) at f2, 1/200, at ISO 1600, couldn't have done it with a f2.8 lens. By the way, the lens works great with the TC-14E II, have not have a chance to try the TC-17E or the TC-20E II. Can't wait to get the D2X and use this lens as a 400mm f2!

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 200mm f2 MF, Canon 200mm f1.8L EF