Thanks guys. Just before game time, I opted to NOT use the extender. Was playing around with it during warmups, and it's exactly as you said-dark viewfinder, and images that were just not sharp enough. It's hard enough to try and get a few "tack" sharp photos with my 70-200, particularly in baseball, where you're spot focusing at considerable distance from the action, and I'm used to that faster speed. Here's one of them-shot a 1/2000 F4 200mm ISO 180 in burst mode with my Nikon 7200 and a Nikkor 70-200 2.8 lens.

Fellow photogs-Am going to shoot HS Baseball, and will try a friend's Nikon 2X extender on my Nikkor 2.8-70-200 lens, which I normally shoot with my D7200. That said, I've noted that I can only get to an F stop of 5.6 using this configuration. I like to shoot baseball at around 1/1250 or 1/1000 F 2.8 to stop the action. My question is, will I still be able to use the faster shutter speeds at F 5.6? Will be shooting in sunshine. Thanks

Should read GOOD point. The 2 slots have saved my as* multiple times, particularly shooting large JPGs in burst mode.

Goid point

I purchased a 7200 last year via Abe's of Maine. Eschewed the kit lenses (offered at Costco e.g.) and bought a Sigma 24-70 2. 8, and later a Nikkor 70-200 2.8, albeit the latter was used. Have been very happy with all. I take weekly photos for two suburban Denver newspapers-mostly features and high school sports and all of this gear has served me just fine. That said, I may in fact opt to upgrade in a few years to a full-frame sensor camera, but the 7200 is pretty user friendly, and gives one options, that the lower lines simply do not have. Look at B & H, Abe's of Maine, or other retailers where you can try and acquire a new one at a reasonable discount. You won't look back.

Took my rig (Nikon 7200) plus two lenses, including a larger 70-200, filters, chargers, etc to Hawaii in February. Have a good backpack-a Think Tank, which also contained a few personal items. No problems. Packed my monopod in my checked suitcase. Not international, but still subject to a fair amount of scrutiny. We also took a hopper while there, from Maui to Oahu. Same deal, no problem.

Get a monopod, if you don't already have one. Did that last fall, when I bought a Nikkor 70-200 2.8. Sometimes you'll feel "overgeared", but it saves the muscle wear and tear on your arms and shoulders.

Very nice. We locals are appreciative of your visits and subsequent tax revenues.

Spent a few days in Hawai'i, on Maui and Oahu from Feb 3 thru the 14. Schlepped my longer (Nikkor 2.8 70-200) lens and monopod, which came in handy. For the sunbeam shot, I purposely went F20 to try and show as much DOF as possible. First two- Nikon 7200 Sigma 2.8 24-70. For the wildlife shots, I used the longer lens.

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Thanks guys, these answers seem to make perfect sense. I was playing with the White Balance in different areas of the gym which had different apparatus. And lighting for each was not the same. Unfortunately, flashes are prohibited, and I was sitting in the bleachers with the rest of the parents and grandparents. Couldn't get down on the floor, like I often do, when shooting basketball on assignment. Over the last year I've been doing the latter, and I've noticed some real differences between gymnasiums. Some schools, including the Univ of Colorado at Boulder, have upgraded their lighting to include newer LEDs. Others, not so much, and it sure as hell shows when you turn the camera on, to shoot sans flash at high speeds.

These lenses are built pretty solidly. As I was getting ready to shoot a local Veterans' Day tribute, my entire rig (Nikon 7200/Nikkor 70-200 2.8) slipped off the bracket designed for mono and tripods, as I had placed it on my shoulder. It landed on the asphalt in a parking lot. I had the bracket mounted backwards. That won't ever happen again. Anyway the lower left corner of the back of the camera incurred a couple of slight scratches, and I broke the lens hood. But like yours, all systems are functioning. It's a heart attack, that's for sure, but a colleague told me that these are made to take a beating. There is some luck involved though.

Hi Folks,
Have a quick ? Re: images. Was shooting my granddaughter's gymnastics competition the other day in a not so well lit building, with high ceilings and the typical sodium vapor gym lights. There were a few windows, which were allowing some north light into the building. Used my Nikon 7200 with Nikkor 70-200 2.8 lens in Manual/2.8 1000 and 800 shutter speeds and burst mode. Some shots revealed close to the right color balance, particularly on the gym's white walls, though others in succession, were kinda pink-ish. I've recently shot some HS hoops in not so well lit gyms, but haven't quite seen these kind of discrepancies. Any thoughts?

Very nice shots.

Sweet. Where were these taken?

Magnificent birds. Great shots.