A little confused regarding teleconverters.

Yonut

I've recently come into the world of photography and love my Nikon D610. I recently purchased a Nikkor AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED lens and it's amazing. But I'm interested in extending the capabilities past 200mm.

I've been looking at the Nikon AF-S TC-20E III teleconverter, but I'm unsure from my research if it's compatible with this lens.

The Nikon website:
http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-Teleconverter-TC-20E-III.html
Under the 'Compatible with' tab', does not list this lens at all. But it also seems to only list AF-S lenses as well.

I'm curious if Nikon is just trying to push the AF-S lenses and not mentioning all compatible lenses. I'm fine if the AF is disabled while using this lens, I just don't want it to cause damage to my lens.

Can I use this teleconverter safely with my lens?

Sorry for the newbie question.

proudgeek

Here's a great article on teleconverters. It covers not just compatibility issues as well as the physics (and resulting limitations).
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2009/01/teleconverters-101

Based on the link you provided, you should be ok with the current TC20.

PB_PM

Older Nikon AF-D (non AF-I or AF-S motor equipped) lenses are not compatible with Nikon AF-I and AF-S teleconverters.

Ironheart

Yes, do you have a AF, not an AF-S or AF-I it will not work. Give us the model number (i.e. 1985) to be sure. The TC you are looking at has no screw drive passthrough to drive the AF, and it will not physically mount on AF lenses.

haroldp

I believe Nikon has older TC's that will work. B & H has a large used stuff dept and gives good advice. also try ebay.

.... H

PB_PM

Interestingly enough Nikon never made a TC that will drive an AF lens, unless you count the TC16E, which was made to focus older AI/AI-S lenses, and cannot be mounted on DSLR's without modification. There are the older AI and AI-S converters, and the newer AF-I and AF-S versions. I guess Nikon figured the drive would loose too much power going through a teleconverter. Kenko used to make a 1.4x TC that worked with AF/AF-D lenses, but I'm not sure if that is available new now or not.

sevencrossing

Do be aware with x2 converter, even if it does works, you may not be a lot better off than cropping
a general rule TCs work best with with primes

Spy_Black

I agree cropping is the better way to go. You also don't loose light and can maintain a higher shutter speed.

MaxBerlin

TC's have their limits. Most peepers stop at 1.4. To the best of my knowledge for high IQ images, you will have to pay or be very good about getting closer to the subject. AF is imperative for moving objects and almost all old lenses have CA wide open and 1-2 stops above. This will kill your IQ every time. Even when defringed the disrupted pixels are evident. A cheap option is the f4 300 with a 1.4 but you'll need to be near diffraction limits (lots of light) to shoot at low ISO - then you trade off IQ again. Supertele is a problem that essentially requires you throw money at it. $5k-10k + to solve.

Msmoto

As the general topic is teleconverters, I am sold on these. And, I find they work best on the top of the line Nikkors.....i.e., 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII, and the 400mm f/2.8 VR....I have cropped to less than 50% of the total area using the TC-14EII, and TC-20EIII shooting at either wide open or stopped down to f/4, and have found the sharpness excellent on a 20" x 30" print on aluminum.

Others may obtain different results, but if anyone would like to have direct reference to an image, shoot me a PM....

proudgeek

I use a TC20 with a 300 f/2.8 VRII and am happy with the results (I've also used a 14 and a 17). In fact, it's almost better to crop, as light fall off is pretty evident around the periphery, particularly with the 20.

Snowleopard

I have used TC converters with my 80-200 AF-D before I sold it. They work.... focus is cut down to 1/3 of what an AF-S lens is though.....

TriShooter

My experience echoes Msmoto's comments above; Nikon's high end glass works very well with Nikon's teleconverters.

haroldp

The combo's I use the most are the 80-400G VR and tc-14eIII, and the 400/2.8G VR and tc-20eIII.

Both of these combo's are clearly better than cropping the base lens without TC. The 400/2.8G VR and tc-20eIII astonishingly so.

The 200-400 F4VR (series 1) is not as good with TC's . I don't know why.

... H