MSchaf7081 wrote in message <19980307160801.LAA17089@ladder02.news.aol.com>...

>I need a 300MM lens.
>
>I would only use it 5 or 6 times a year but having this length in the past I
>know
>that when I need it I need it !
>
>I currently have the 70-210 4.5/5.6D. My thought process is either to replace
>this with the 80-200 F2.8 and a 1.4X or keep the 70-210 and get a 300MM F4.
>I am leaning towards the 80-200 F2.8 with the 1.4 because this would give me
>a great lens in the 80-200 range and I work in that range quite a bit. However
>my main concern is the loss of image quality with the 1.4X.
>
>I would be willing to trade off some slight image loss with the 1.4X for the
>flexability of having the faster 80-200 F2.8 lens; as opposed to my 5.6 I have
>now.
>
>I am not interested in the 100-300 route. Budget issues aside I would be
>interested in hereing from the serious guys that do alot of long work on my
>thought process

Hmmm, the 80-200mm Nikkor f2.8 is excellent, and really fine on the
TC14/14B/14C by one stop down (f5.6 effective aperture), but the
large and heavy zoom is not pleasant for frequent use. The 70-210
f4-5.6 is slow, and not one of Nikon's better efforts even without
a converter. The TC14A works well with the 70-210 E and early AF
constant-f4 zoom, and with the 80-200mm f4 AIS. The 300mm f4 is
excellent (even on a TC14), but for the rare use, probably not
worth it (I keep selling my 300mm primes - anyone looking for
a nice f2.8 AIS? ;-). I would be tempted to try the new 70-300mm
ED zoom - it may be better (and faster around 200mm) than what you
now have, but not much larger, and not horribly expensive.
--
David Ruether
http://www.fcinet.com/ruether
ruether@fcinet.com