I recently got the Nikon 80-200mm F2.8 AF-D and found it backfocussed quite much. But anyways by dialing -20 (max) AF tuning into my D7000, the pictures seem to be acceptable. because of the storm I didn't have a chance to take well lit outdoor shots yet. All test shots were done indoors with flash in M mode at 1/250 sec and F 2.8 - 8.
The 80-135mm is considerably sharper and then softens comparatively upto 200mm.

Any one using this lens have any comments? Also the -20 dialing to extreme also concerns me.

Thanks for your inputs.

Hmmm, I don't own that Nikkor but it seems you could have a poor copy, you shouldn't have to dial in that much correction for it. Everything I've read about it is that it is the more affordable cousin to the 70-200mmVR(sans VR of course)

When that lens first came out it lacked a focusing motor; then they revised it and added the "S" to denote "silent wave" motor.

The copy I have is the one without the motor; but the F5 I used it with most has a dandy motor, so the thing gave me excellent service; I've heard the one with the internal motor is a bit faster to focus, but it would have to be "quick" to be any faster !

For what it's worth, the lens in either config, is known to be a "brute", very few problems; I've used mine a lot, even use it now and then on my 300s with great results. I guess anything that's made to such precise tolerances internally can get "gummed up", possibly by dust infiltrating ? Im thinking, I'd try contacting a few repair places, describe the "issue", see if if they can give you a "ballpark" estimate to have it "looked at".

I bought a LOT of pre-owned lenses back then, had extremely good luck with all but one of them; I bought an old manual focus f4/105mm Micro Nikkor from this "schmuck"........"like new" it was ! ("supposed to be"); when I received the thing, it honestly looked like someone had used the front end, "around the objective element" to drive nails with ! even has a damned visible chip in the objective ! This was all back way before I ever even thought about digital, and had to buy my Velvia 10 rolls at a time from B&H, so I never even tried to take a picture with the poor beat up thing; went "round and round" with "the schmuck", via eBay, finally got something back, (can't even remember now what).............here's the funny part; after I had the 300s for over a year, I was telling someone about my ONE "bad deal" on ebay, and he ask me, "does it even work" ? It got me to thinking.........hell, I've never even tried to take a picture with the thing ! So a day of two later I spotted a bald eagle circling around over the neighbors pasture, ran in grabbed the 300s and the 80-200, and the damned "door stop" micro was in the bag; the eagle got too far away, so because I wasn't "doing anything", I decided to satisfy my curiosity, mounted the micro, set the body to "M", and shot some leaves, pebbles, etc................the pictures are "tack sharp" ! I was dumfounded ! (still am)

What I'm trying to point out..........it's actually much easier than most would imagine, to get good lenses, buying used; 99% are honest about condition.........if you get a BUNCH of great deals, and you get them cheap enough, you can save so much, compared to new prices, that a "bad egg" now and then don't matter so much. ( At least that's the way I think about it ) There IS very definitely a WHOLE LOT to learn about buying stuff on eBay, (or anyplace else "used") overall, I've had great luck.

(BTW........when I got my f2.8 / 80-200.........the Chinese guy I got it from left a brand new Heliopan 77mm circular polarizer on the thing ! (I even offered to send it back to him ! ) "No no.....no send back" ! So eBay isn't all bad ! (neither are most sellers)

Hope you get that lens straightened out........good luck !

Charley

I have the 80-200D as my back-up to my 70-200VR. I don't use it much as it stays in my house down south, but when I do use it on my d7000, d3S, and F5 it works really well - I don't input any back focus correction.

Perhaps as noted the lens is a bad copy.

Quoting Geezer (Reply 2):

I bought it new and has 5 years Nikon warranty. I didn't return it because it is not easy to exchange it as stocks are low and have drive to distant different location and it works just fine with the -20. I find that 200mm does better for distant object than nearby closeups. I might take it Nikon service for the to have a look since it is on warranty. I even got one picture accepted here with that lens. Also, I tried a Kenko teleconvertor and was amazed at the focusing speed with no hunting. The same teleconvertor never locks focus on some of my other non 2.8 AFS lenses. There is some loss of sharpness but better than i expected with convertor to be fair.