Teleconverter advice?

davemangham · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 04:11 PM

I've just had to replace my Sigma 80-400 OS with a new lens, and opted for a Nikon 70-300 4.5/5.6 VR ES, being used on a Nikon D200, but I'm really feeling the loss of 'reach'.

I'd like to slot in a teleconverter, preferably a 1.4, but can't be sure whether any will work with this combination of kit (the Nikon 1.4TC certainly isn't compatible, in any variety).

I don't know anywhere where I can actually try out a decent TC before committing to buy, so I'm very wary!

Can anybody out there offer any advice?

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 04:34 PM

I seem to remember that Nikon say it is not compatible with converters?
Having said that my 1.4 Kenko pro has all the necessary pins so it could be a rear element proximity problem.

Geoff F · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 06:40 PM

It seems to me, Dave, that you need to visit a camera shop to see if one of the third party converters will physically fit. But even if you do get something which fits you may well suffer a substantial loss of quality.

The Canon 70-300 lens, for example, won't physically accept a Canon converter and a third party alternative produces poor results.

I once tried inserting a 12 mm extension tube between a Canon 70-300 and the converter. It sort of worked, for macro use only, but I soon rejected the idea; as soon as I saw the images which I shot.

Incidentally, I also use that converter as a spacer trick to attach my Canon 1.4x converter to a Sigma 180 macro lens. In this case it works OK because that is a high quality prime lens.

nightshade · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 07:53 PM

I think electrical connectivety is the main problem.

davemangham · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 08:01 PM

Thank you both!

Nightshade - You may well be right about the rear element proximity problem. Having said that, I've read all the reviews and tests of the lens I can find on the Interweb, and been through Nikon's own websites (both Europe & US) with a fine toothcomb (is there any such thing as a coarse toothcomb??) and can't find anything that states non-compatibility with TC's! Wish I'd known when I bought it!

I guess that the only thing I can do is improve my stalking technique!

Every cloud has a silver lining!

Geoff - I do appreciate the quality issue, I suppose that's primarily why I opted for this lens in the first place, and I was prepared to fork out for a TC14E MkII to ensure I maintained my quality as much as possible. As far as I see it, the only possible alternative (given the quality requirements) is the Kenko 1.4 Pro 300. Unfortunately, Burton-on-Trent isn't exactly endowed with anything, let alone photographic retailers, and our 1 local outlet doesn't even list Kenco TC's among it's available items.

Thanks for the help.

pressld2 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 08:06 PM

I have a Kenko Pro 1.4 TC which I use mainly for macro work with my Sigma 150mm. I have tried it with the Nikon 80-400. It does fit and the electrical contacts work but it still won't autofocus very well. This is because you lose a stop of light so your max aperture drops from f5.6 to f8 and there isn't enough light getting through for the AF to work in anything but the brightest conditions. There is also a noticeable drop in image quality. I think to get the best out of a teleconverter you really need to be using it with a good quality prime lens.

Dave P.

jaybie · #7 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 09:23 PM

I have the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR Nikkor and Kenko DG Teleplus 1.5x with D5000/5100. This combination will not autofocus on either camera but will meter, the problem is that the lens chatters when focusing because of loss of light. Nikon TCs will not work with this lens.

Although you can manually focus the images are soft especially fully open at 300mm so I don't use it.

JohnB

davemangham · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2012, 10:33 AM

Thanks Dave & John for your additional excellent advice!

Looks like I'm stuck with 300mm until I win the lottery. Might just consider a TC to go between the camera and my Sigma 105mm macro though. I wonder what would work with that combination? Here we go again......

nightshade · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2012, 11:14 AM

I use my 105 Sigma macro with 1.4 Kenko converter and/or Kenko tubes

jaybie · #10 (**permalink**) 12-02-2012, 02:06 PM

Hi Dave

This is with the Nikkor 105mm rather than Sigma but will give you some idea of IQ, worth looking at the larger image.

This is taken handheld using AF and VR so everything works ok but the AF is a little bit slower. Main gain is a bit more lens to subject distance.

JohnB