[cyclohexane]

Max, I've had less-than-fantastic experiences with Kenko products. Also, I've read reports of the Kenko teleconverters snapping off with the 80-400mm Nikkor attached (improper lens technique employed in one example, but still scary), and it's about the same size as my 70-200 when not extended.

The TC-20E is the old 2x teleconverter; the new one is the "TC-20E II" which has revised cosmetics and small refinements (new coating, I think). I hear it fits "tighter", but seeing as this one fits really tight I don't know how you'd get a tighter fit. Supposedly, the new one works better with certain telephotos.

Paul, I agree on the first one being soft, but I'll admit I was expecting worse. The not-so-tight tripod I was trying to figure out how to use and slow shutter speed probably didn't help.

...speaking of tripods, anyone know if the built-in three-way section in the tripod base can be replaced with something else? I removed the center column already, but I'm convinced the three-way pan/tilt base is still a detriment to stability.