daniel_binkard

I ordered that D200 from Newegg, and it appears to be a Hong Kong model -- gray market in any event. Didn't come with the Nikon USA warranty cards. On a side note: Does Authorized Photo Service or a similar company service gray market Nikon equipment?

Capture One includes generic profiles for the E-10 and E-20. You can download a 30-day trial and test the profiles, which are located in the Windows color folder (do a search for *.icm and *.icc files after you install the program). I just use AdobeRGB for my color space and everything looks OK.

You can use the HB-17 (AF-S) hood on the AF-D 80-200. However:<br>

- You have to shave off a bit from one of the hood's locking protrusions, which probably makes it less than adequate for future use on an AF-S 80-200.<br>

- For the best fit, the hood must be rotated a bit off from center. This is only a slight rotation and doesn't vignette on DX bodies, but the whole setup isn't exactly solid.<br>

- The hood only fits one way, so you can't reverse it for storage or travel.<br>

I use the HB-17 hood in situations where I won't change lenses, such as football games or telephoto work on a tripod. For other situations, I use the HB-7 hood, which is made for the lens and actually fits in my camera bag. My HB-7 appears to be a Nikon China hood, and was about $15 on an auction site.

I have used the Nikon 80-200 AF-D on a D70 since 2004. It is fantastic as far as image quality goes. At f/2.8 there is some softness, but properly focused areas are still sharp. At f/4 in-focus areas are sharply defined while out-of-focus areas are nicely blurred.

The build quality of the lens is excellent with one exception: the AF/MF ring can crack and break with regular use -- see <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00ErFl&tag=">this recent thread</a>.

The tripod mount is adequate, though a bit small. It balances well with a D70 mounted, and should with your N80/N75.

Autofocus speed with the D70 is actually pretty fast and accurate, given proper focusing technique. I shoot a lot of football in the daytime with mine and it keeps up with the action. As light levels fall it gets less accurate, though still respectable.

Hope this helps.

Was your free repair simply under warranty or did Nikon make an exception for this particular problem? I just checked my 80-200 and it's got a crack in the same place as Calderon's, so I guess it's only a matter of time before the ring breaks.