Teleconverters...Good or Bad?

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Comments

  • MsmotoMsmoto Posts: 5,398Moderator
    I love all these high tech discussions, they are useful for providing a knowledge base, or a starting point, but, it is each individuals experience and what we find works best for us that is important, IMO.

    My next solo will be with the D800E, DX crop mode, with the 400mm f/2.8 and TC-20EIII... hopefully catching some birds about ten feet away..... ;)
    Msmoto, mod
  • sevencrossingsevencrossing Posts: 2,800Member

    My next solo will be with the D800E, DX crop mode, with the 400mm f/2.8 and TC-20EIII... hopefully catching some birds about ten feet away..... ;)
    Any chance of doing a direct comparison between that and a D7100
    in theory the D7100 should win as it has a greater mp density but I would love to see what happens in practice
  • MsmotoMsmoto Posts: 5,398Moderator
    mmmm....no D7100.... :-S
    Msmoto, mod
  • MsmotoMsmoto Posts: 5,398Moderator
    edited December 2014
    OK, here is one with the D800E, 400mm f/2.8 VRII, TC-20EIII. Now, I think it is fairly sharp, especially at an ISO of 9051 on a D800E.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/15964664597/sizes/o/

    No point is posting a small image, the above is 3000px max
    Post edited by Msmoto on
    Msmoto, mod
  • JetrangerJetranger Posts: 7Member
    edited May 2019
    I use all 3 TCs for various shots. The 2,0 I use for moon shots, long night shots, and magnified macro work. For that it is superb.

    The 1.4 an 1.7 are so good, when used with pro glass, that I have to check the EXIF to see which shots I used with them.

    They work well with the 300/f2.8VR, 300/f4 PF, 70-200/f2.8, 105/2.8 VR Micro, and the 200-500VR.

    Carrying 3 TCs, in 3 pockets, with the one 300/2.8 lens, gives you the equivalent of having the following primes with you:

    300/2.8
    420/4
    510/4.8
    600/8

    *Note: - I tried Kenko but they were junk.
    Post edited by Jetranger on
    D810, D300, 14-24/2.8, 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8VR, 300/2.8VR, 105VR Micro, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 28-300VR, TC-14II, TC-17II, TC-20III
    http://Mundy.ca

  • PistnbrokePistnbroke Posts: 2,443Member
    Put your 1.4 TC on a DX lens and you can fill a FX frame .
  • JetrangerJetranger Posts: 7Member
    I don't have any DX lenses. :)
    D810, D300, 14-24/2.8, 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8VR, 300/2.8VR, 105VR Micro, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 28-300VR, TC-14II, TC-17II, TC-20III
    http://Mundy.ca

  • TriShooterTriShooter Posts: 219Member
    If a teleconverter is absolutely perfect it will still magnify the imperfections in the lens it is used on. I thought the TC-1.7 was a marginal teleconverter until I used it on the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens which is thought by some to be Nikon's best telephoto lens.
  • PhotobugPhotobug Posts: 5,751Member
    IMHO...the quality of the image taken with a teleconverter is dependent upon the glass of the lens and the quality of the teleconverter.

    20 years ago the 2X Soligor extender was "so so" on my 135mm F/2.8 Nikon lens.

    My Nikon 1.7X is really good and 2 years ago got the 1.4X Nikon teleconverter. I have used them on my 70-200 F2.8 and my 200-500 mm lens and they are terrific. Both full frame D750 and on a DX D7100.
    D750 & D7100 | 24-70 F2.8 G AF-S ED, 70-200 F2.8 AF VR, TC-14E III, TC-1.7EII, 35 F2 AF D, 50mm F1.8G, 105mm G AF-S VR | Backup & Wife's Gear: D5500 & Sony HX50V | 18-140 AF-S ED VR DX, 55-300 AF-S G VR DX |
    |SB-800, Amaran Halo LED Ring light | MB-D16 grip| Gitzo GT3541 + RRS BH-55LR, Gitzo GM2942 + Sirui L-10 | RRS gear | Lowepro, ThinkTank, & Hoodman gear | BosStrap | Vello Freewave Plus wireless Remote, Leica Lens Cleaning Cloth |
  • FreezeActionFreezeAction Posts: 893Member
    I use the 1.4X III on both the Nikon 70-200 f4 G and 200-500 f5.6 and I see no degradation in normal size prints of 18x27 or smaller. I have not pixel peeped at poster size images and larger. I only use the extender on birds and such and they rarely are used above a 16x20. Once in eagle land I will test it on a full frame 24x36 print to satisfy my self.
  • retreadretread Posts: 574Member
    I use a Nikon TC 20E III on a 70-200 G for insects and flowers close up. Works great.
  • WestEndFotoWestEndFoto Posts: 3,742Member
    I have all three teleconverters that I use on my 400 2.8E on my D850. One test that I have performed is to compare the image with the teleconverter with the image without a teleconverter but cropped to the same field of view.

    The image with the teleconverter is always better in every respect. Even the 2.0 is obviously better.

    So in that respect, teleconverters are good. For a comparatively cheap price (relative to a 400 2.8E) you can do things not possible without the teleconverter.

    Now the superior route will be to buy longer super telephotos if you have the money and want to carry them. But there is a cost and weight issue with that approach.
  • PistnbrokePistnbroke Posts: 2,443Member
    If you are buying Kenko converters beware the MC4 which has 4 elements and go for the MC7.. Still don't think they are as good as cropping.
  • snakebunksnakebunk Posts: 993Member
    edited May 2019
    I use a 1.4x converter with my Sigma Sports 500/4 and it works ok. It gives me better resolution when I need to get close, but I think the more pixels you have the less you need converters.
    Post edited by snakebunk on
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