Teleconverters...Good or Bad?

Msmoto

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.....

sevencrossing

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

Msmoto

mmmm....no D7100.... :-S

Msmoto

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

Jetranger

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.

Pistnbroke

Put your 1.4 TC on a DX lens and you can fill a FX frame .

Jetranger

I don't have any DX lenses.

TriShooter

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.

Photobug

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.

FreezeAction

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.

retread

I use a Nikon TC 20E III on a 70-200 G for insects and flowers close up. Works great.

WestEndFoto

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.

Pistnbroke

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.

snakebunk

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.