graxxor_anandro_vidhelssen

<p>Unless you really need the AF speed, I think you will be fine with a screw drive.<br>

Last month I bought an old screw driven ED AF 300 2.8 (New) with the solid aluminium carry case, a bundled TC-301 and several drop in filters including a rear mounted C-PL and B+W black and white filter for $1400 including postage. The lens itself is in pristine condition, including the mount. There was a minor rub mark on the lower edge of the hood, that was all.<br>

On both my D600 and D7000s, hardly the freshest or most expensive cameras out there, the thing focusses quickly, certainly and to all intents and purposes perfectly. I have already used it to capture cyclists along a riverside race track here in Tokyo and it had no trouble keeping up with their 40km+ pace. You could read the warnings on the stickers of their seat posts from 20 yards. Very impressive.<br>

Mine is enough for what I use it for ( car/boat races, cycling, marathons and my kids' sports days at school and at the swimming centre) and intend to keep it until I can find a decently priced S/H Sigma 120-300 with USB dock which will allow me to get by with one "big" lens per session instead of the two I now have to carry.<br>

I would recommend a loaner for a few days, you might be surprised at the AF. It's not as bad as the marketeers and Nikon "enthusiasts" make out.</p>

<p>I also have the push pull non-D (1st ed) in need of a service and contacted Nikon. They told me that since there are no parts, they don't handle it any more.<br>

I contacted a reputable 3rd party who said they do the standard fix, lube, calibrate and clean on the Push Pull at ¥12,000 plus parts. ($US110~) the gratis fix might includes replacing a lost screw, smoothing a (slightly) dented threads and minor repairs, like touching up silver damage spots etc.<br>

The 80-200 push pull is <strong>not</strong> the absolute finest IQ x0-200 on the market, and it's <strong>not</strong> the fastest focussing either, but it <strong>IS</strong> an absolute pleasure to use handheld. Perhaps the finest handling handheld in its class (if you like push-pull, of course). I have the 80-200 2.8D New, but I still don't want to part with this lens and would rather pay the hundred bucks to have it cleaned and have two: The push-pull for walkarounds and the two ring for sports. <br>

Hope you manage to sort something out. I just hope the internal glass is from the filter and not internal damage.</p>