Hi, guys, if someone is following the forum regularly Im sure he knows that I asked about tele zooms lately for my "new" F4. well after taking great care into looking the zooms, I reached 2 conclutions:

1. No variable aperture zooms for this camera due to the DAR so I cant know what F stop Am I actually on. 2. Although I cannot test the Tamron lenses optically, their mechanics did not impress me much, so its either the Nikon or the Sigma. (the tokina cost almost as much as the Nikon)

With this I dont want to start a figth between makers and third party lenses.

My view is as follows, I'll try to get a F4 aperture 70-210 as another poster propused, but Im looking into old 2.8's I think there are about 4 diferent models being the AF-s the latest, most expensive (and biggest? when I tried it on it was BIG and the sigma was more confi).

So I would like to know a few thing and I would be very happy if someone could shade some light on it:

A. What are the varios models of the 80-200 2.8's and how do I tell them apart?

B. Any impretions from the Old and New Sigma 2.8?

C. Anyone has any experience with the Nikon 70-210 F 1:4?

thanks in advance Diego K.

-- Diego K. (Heuristica@mailcity.com), December 15, 1999

Answers

1.0 Why is it so necessary for you to know which precise f-stop you are on as long as the camera/meter is making correct exposures?

a.) The first models of the 80-200 have a combined zoom and manual focus control and no tripod mount.These were upgraded along the way until replaced with the 80-200mmD version which has a two ring (segregated) control for focusand zoom AND a tripod mount. And as you said there is now the AF-S version. Unless you need the AF-S focus speed, get the straight forward "D" version. A great performer.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), December 16, 1999.

Have a look at this page; http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/speciallenses/80200mm.h tm

-- Ivan Verschoote (ivan.verschoote@rug.ac.be), December 17, 1999.

Actually, there is one version of the manual-focus 80-200mm/f2.8 Nikkor followed by four versions of the AF 80-200mm/f2.8 ED. The original manual-focus version from 1983 was a huge lens and seems to be pretty rare.

The first AF version was introduced in 1988, which was the pre-D lens era. This is a one-touch zoom with the same ring for manual focus and push-pull zoom. It has no build-in tripod collar, but several thrid-party collars are built to fit this lens. Its front element rotates (along with any polarizer attached) while focusing. I bought one back is 1989 and still own it.

The second AF version was introduced in 1992 as a "D" lens. Otherwise, it is similar to the first version, but Nikon adds an outer shell around the front so that any polarizer attached won't rotate while focusing.

The third AF version was introduced in 1996 as a two-fouch zoom with a permanent tripod collar. That is, it has separate zoom and focus rings, and you rotate to zoom. It is also a "D" lens. As far as I can tell from the corss-section diagrams, the first three AF versions are optically identical. This lens is still in production.

The fourth and most recent 80-200mm/f2.8 is the AF-S version introduced in 1998. It is also a two-touch zoom but the tripod collar is removable. It has more elements than the previous design and, of course, has a built-in motor for focusing. I just bought one recently.

Hope this helps.

-- Shun Cheung (shun@worldnet.att.net), December 17, 1999.

I handled a 70-210 f4 AF in a shop once. I was concidering trading my 200 f4 AI for it, but couldn't really afford it at the time. I didn't run any film through it so I can't comment too much about it's optics. It's better built than my 35-80 4-5.6 AFD and not quite as solid as my 35-70 f2.6 AF (this should not be news to anyone).

If you don't mind manual focus lenses, you may want to take a look at the:
75-150 f3.5 Series E
70-210 f4 Series E
80-200 f4.5 AI
800-200 f4 AIS

The 70-210 f4 Series E has the same optics as the 70-210 f4 AF.

-- Geoffrey S. Kane (grendel@pgh.nauticom.net), December 17, 1999.

Try to go for the Nikkor 80-200 f 2.8 with the tripod mount. These are widely available used at a good price, since the folks who have to have the latest toys are trading up to the AF-S.

But if you can't, I have read strong reviews of the latest Tokina and Sigma models of this lens. Both also have new teleconverters that folks have liked -- the new Kenko pro models and the new Sigma models -- that preserve AF as well as give good performance with either the Nikkor or the Tokina/Sigma lenses.

I'd be tempted by the Sigma, which is supposed to be very fine optically. The Tokina is supposed to be superb optically too, but I find Tokina's MF/AF switching awkward -- IF its the same on the 80-200 as it is on their 20-35 f 2.8 lens.

One issue is the difference in price between a clean but used Nikkor and a new Tokina or Sigma.

The Nikkor 70-210 f 4 is also a great lens, and you ought to be able to get a clean one for about $250 if you are patient. It is sharper than the variable aperture 70-210. Some say its as sharp as the 80-200 f 2.8 over their common range. I'd say its very close but not identical.

The 70-210 AF's a bit slower on the F4 than the 80-200 does, but at the price differential that might not matter to you. I find that the F4's AF system works better with wider aperture lenses. The 70-210 also takes 62 mm filters, which means you don't have to pay for the extra cost of 77 mm filters, which runs up, especially when you look at Nikon's 77 mm circular polarizer.

There are no ideal solutions -- all inolve trade-offs -- but there are some great lenses out there in this range.

-- John Wall (john_wall@ncsu.edu), December 17, 1999.

Thanks for all the answers, About AF, Yes I have hear about those wonderfull manual lenses, but I have an old tokins (at the time made by Minolta I belive) that has served me well for 6 years that im into photography, till now I worked with it in the studio and little more, so even though I had my new N90 I kept it, but now With the F4 I want to go outside and Had a really enlighening experience doing some fashion, 1/3 of the fotos blured! So Ill keep the MF Tokina for my ald and faithfull FE, and Ill get an AF to get out on the streets with the F4. (The N90 goes out the window).

Now, About the aperture: I want the F1:4 for 3 resons: Cheaper, lighter and if it has the optics of the 70-210 series E then I have nothing to worry about.

If I can get a cheap 2.8 from a guy like the one I got the camera from, one of those rich must have latest photographic toys.

I tried on the camera diferent 2.8 lenses and I must said that if I have to go around with that monster atached to the F4......... who knows what can happen........

Thanks alot for your help and I will sit and wait for that lens to come around.

Thank you. Diego K.

-- Diego K. (heuristica@mailcity.com), December 17, 1999.

Latest development in this issue is: A guy offered me a new out of box! 180 2.8 IF-ED for my old N90 (not S) wich I've been trying to sell for a bout a year without sucsess, and he'll throw some cash as well, about 80$. I've been told that this is a great lens. so the zoom quest will be held for a while.

Thanks to all. DIego K.

-- Diego K. (Heuristica@mailcity.com), December 23, 1999.