The 80-200 mm 1/2.8 has a strange and interesting "feature": when you are at the nearest limit of focus distance (~1.5m), the resulting images are "soft". Not unsharp, but soft. Like they were shot through a soft-focus lens.

But believe me, apart from this, this is a fantastic lens.

Right now, I would say that the equally fantastic 17-55 1/2.8 DX and this lens are the only 2 lenses you are ever going to need. But then, they are expensive enough:-)