Need dryland wildlife lens help

I would skip the 2X TC.  The 80-400mm isn't very fast and when you lose 2 stops with the TC it gets really slow.  If you are shooting anything that moves, you will have a problem.  Plus, I think you lose the VR feature, so it's like 2 stops of light and four stops of camera shake.

 

This is why I recommended the VR 80-400 over the 80-200mm with 2xTC

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I am not sure about the 2x teleconverter but as far as I know Nikon 1.7x teleconverter will allow the VR and AF function to work on the 70-200VR.

Over at Dpreview and Nikonians, there are endless debates between 80-400VR vs 70-200 VR with teleconverter. 80-400VR has an older version of VR and is compatible only with handheld mode and not when on monopod or tripod.

The only real benefit of 80-400VR that I can see is the ability to add teleconverter to it for even further reach but only with MF.

Quality of lens wise, at 70-200mm range, the 80-400mm certainly can't quite compete with the 70-200 as far as sharpness go but I am not sure how much teleconverter will degrade the image quality at longer reach but there are many fine sample of 70-200VR with teleconverter on dpreview and nikonians.

Well it turns out I can't use the Nikon 2x converter w/the AFD lens I would have to use one of 2 other brands. Even got some feedback from Ken Rockwell and it looks like I am going to Sell my 80-200 and go with the Nikon 80-400vr. It is not "perfect" but it will meet my needs and more importantly my budget. So if anyone is looking for Nikon 80-200 2.8 AF-D still under warranty, took less than 70 photos with, check ebay or email me.

NWDiver

400 may not be enough for safari, depending on which game farm you are going to. If you go to Kruger, then upping to 500 or more will make things much easier. Plus the VR isn't useful on a tripod or monopod in the 80-400VR as SSRA30 said.

I got two weeks ago a 2x teleconverter for my Sigma 70-200 2.8.

It renders shots crisp as a crispy crisp.

I guess the fact that the tele match the lens good helps a lot, the end result is very fast as well since the lens is 2.8

Hugo