The use of a 2X teleconverter

[Nikonfreak]

There's a lot of questions and speculation about the use of teleconverters.* It is generally accepted that the use of teleconverters will degrade your images to some degree.* How much is a question of a number of factors such as the quality of the optic, your technique, the quality of the original lens it's being added to, and how much magnification you are adding to the original lens.

Generally speaking, using a 1.4X teleconverter will have minimal impact on a decent quality lens.* The 2.0X teleconverters will have a greater impact on image quality.

Some examples from shots I took today are below.

Conditions were less than optimal, with darkening skies due to threatening storms and high ISO being the rule of the morning shoot if you wanted anything more than very slow shutter speeds (flight shots were not to be had this morning for me).

So here are a couple of shots of Least Bitterns.* One shot with the 300 f/2.8 AF-S VR with the 1.7X teleconverter and the second with the 2.0X teleconverter.

http://www.pbase.com/image/62044765

And now the 2.0 teleconverter

http://www.pbase.com/loansharkx/image/62048367

Images were cropped and resized to 800 X 600 and sharpened at 20%, 1.7, and 2.* No other post processing was done.

My initial thoughts are that it's nice to be able to get to 600mm, but there's a reason Nikon makes a 600mm lens.* The 600mm shot is a little softer, the colors are a bit more muted (not as clean or crisp) and the feathers are not as pronounced as in the image shot with the 1.7X TC.

Would that mean I wouldn't use the 2.0X?* Nope.* It simply means that it's something to keep in mind if the conditions are as they were today.* If so, I'd probably reach for the 1.7X.* I want to do more shooting with the 2.0X over the next couple of days if the weather gets a little better so that I can see what happens under optimal / sunny conditions.

Tripod used was the Manfrotto 3021 with the Markins M10L ball head and the Wimberley Sidekick.* A very stable platform for a 300 f/2.8 lens.

Thoughts?

Julio

www.pbase.com/loansharkx

[dougjgreen]

Which 1.7 and 2X converter? Nikon has made lots of them, as have other vendors.

[cyclohexane]

I'm guessing he's using the Nikon TC-17E II and TC-20E II, as only the E II series converters preserve VR functionality with VR lenses.

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

I'm guessing he's using the Nikon TC-17E II and TC-20E II, as only the E II series converters preserve VR functionality with VR lenses.

That's correct.

I should have specified, but there's only been one version of the 1.7X and that's the TC 17E II

Julio

[dougjgreen]

Originally Posted by Nikonfreak

That's correct.

I should have specified, but there's only been one version of the 1.7X and that's the TC 17E II

Julio

Actually, I have a Tamron 1.7X that fits AF Nikons.

[Nikonfreak]

How does it do? I have the Nikon 1.7X and it doesn't degrade the image much at all. It's very, very good.

Lots of folks use the Kenko ones. I'd be curious to hear about what folks think about third party brands.

I know I used the Sigma 2.0X before when I had the Sigma 70-200 and it was "acceptable" but not "excellent".

Julio

[dougjgreen]

Originally Posted by Nikonfreak

How does it do? I have the Nikon 1.7X and it doesn't degrade the image much at all. It's very, very good.

Lots of folks use the Kenko ones. I'd be curious to hear about what folks think about third party brands.

I know I used the Sigma 2.0X before when I had the Sigma 70-200 and it was "acceptable" but not "excellent".
Julio

I can't really say much about the Tamron 1.7X, because I almost always shoot with my manual focus lenses, and my only reasonably long AF telephoto in Nikon mount is a Vivitar 70-210 Series one (late AF version, which is not that great). With my manual focus lenses
I use the Kiron MC7 2X quite a bit with my 300mm f2.8 and 180mm f2.8 Nikkor ED lenses , and I am happy with it. The Kiron is an optical copy of the Nikon TC-201. After comparing the Kiron and the TC-201, I sold my Nikon TC-201 because I felt that their performance was indistinguishable. So, while I own the Tamron 1.7x TC, it's really something I bought because it cost me under $30 on ebay, and I pretty much have never used it on any lens good enough to tell how it performs.