that it appears that the 80-200AFS does not do very well with the newest 2x teleconverter (TC20E-III). See the chart that says the optimum AND acceptable sharpness is reached at f/11, while the newest 70-200VR is at f/5.6 and f/8.
Before I plunk down $500+ on this TC does anyone have any direct experience using this specific teleconverter on their 80-200AFS - if so what's your opinion?
John, this can be copy variation. I did not have time to read the review right now, but the guy af-tuned the lenses+body sensor?? Reviews are interesting, but for me only really reliable when at least 3 copies are evaluated, that is, almost never!
For example, according to MTF charts in the fifth post of this thread: http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18158
it seems that the 80-200 AF-S version is slightly sharper than the others 80-200, and almost matching the new VRII version.
Though I have not the newer 70-200mm VRII (I dont like the excessive focus breathing and the overpricing), I bought an used 80-200 af-s and are more than satisfied with the performance together the TC20EIII.
please see these 3 samples with the TC20EIII: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&message=37436022
in the 5th post of the thread, click one and then other time in the photos to see feather detail this combo produce.
I have used f/8 and f/9 in these samples (that is f/4 and f/4.5).
Thanks Asiostygius! That was exactly what I was looking for.
My 80-200AFS works extremely well with the TC14E and was looking to get a little extra reach with the TC20EIII in certain situations.
You are welcome. In fact I dont have extensive experience with this combo at long distances, but for less than 15m (portraits, stalking birds) it is very good.
I'ved tried my 80-200AFS with a new TC20EIII and I was a bit disappointed with the results - I knew there would be image degradation, but I had not expected to see as much as I have at the 200mm end of the zoom. Stopping down a stop did not significantly improve things unless I stopped down two stops to f/16, which is kind of pointless.
I did not know if it was my 80-200AFS (which I find to be excellent even with the TC14E) or the TC at fault.
So, this morning I had a chance to try my brand new TC20EIII with a new 70-200AFS VRII and my 80-200AFS. The TC20EIII + 70-200VRII was very very good wide open and excellent stopped down 1 stop. It was way better than my 80-200AFS + TC20EIII at both near (10 meters) and far (1,000 meters).
So it appears that my 80-200AFS is not getting along well with my new TC20EIII. So either it's a fundamental incompatibility or I need to get my 80-200AFS fixed.
Either way I was very very impressed with the 70-200VRII + TC20EIII combination. I bet it would give my excellent 400/5.6 ED-IF a run for it's money.
As a follow-up - I had noticed what looked like decentering in my 80-200AFS + TC20EIII images - the top of the frame was noticeably worse than the bottom. So today I checked out my 80-200 at f/2.8 and I could not find any noticeable difference in sharpness, etc. from top to bottom or left to right.
It seems my 80-200AFS just does not like the TC20EIII like the 70-200VRII does.
Could be by design, but it could just be a tolerance issue. There was a very good explaination I read a while back, I think it was on lensrentals.com about things like this.
Manufacturing tolerances are +/-. When the body is + and the lens - it's a great combo. When the body and lens are both + (or -) it looks real bad.
Could be that your TC just "fits" the 70-200 VRII better. Could also be a design thing as I'm sure they are designing for max compatibilty with the 70-200 VRII over the 80-200Afs.
