Tokina AT-X 840 AF-II 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6

[jann1033]

still looking for a longer zoom....

i've read some decent reviews about this one but they all mention "good for the price" so i am wondering if anyone knows how it would stack up to the 70-300 IS or 70-200 f4L...figuring the f stop is about the same as the 70-300 ( but noIS )so if i used a monopod would it be comparable( would have to use one for the 70-200 also probably) i have to go "downtown" to see the 70-200 but when i saw the 70-300 it looked like that cheap brittle plastic and i am wondering how durable it would be. the 70-200 is just a little shorter than i wanted since i have the 135 already but is very tempting... saw a used 70-200 f2.8 ( no IS)for $900 but it was pretty dinged up which made me wonder about it( looked like it had at least been dropped a time or two, scratches on the hood and chips of paint off the body so maybe not working so great) the tokina is roughly the same price as the other 2 give or take $50 so not enough to decide imo but I know nothing about tokina...

any comments on any of this would be helpful