TC-20E 2x Teleconverter with 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR

[cyclohexane]

I got a TC-20E in today as well (cheapest AF-I/S teleconverter... LOL).* While many have expressed that this combination is the less than ideal... well, it's what I can afford.* Most reports I've read have said that besides the f/5.6 effective aperture, the corners suffer; I find it unlikely that I'll be needing the corners at 400mm, so I figured I could live with it.* The loss of sharpness isn't horrendous, admitedly.* It's certainly workable for me until I upgrade to the big glass (likely to be years from now).



140mm, wide open @ f/5.6. ISO 1600



400mm, stopped down one @ f/8. ISO 200.

I hear the TC-17E II is a much better option, and even the TC-20E II is supposed to be slighty improved despite sharing the optical formula, but those cost more. Again, more on this item as I actually put it through rounds.

[Paul Shields]

I've only ever gone for one 2x TC, and that was on the old Olympus OM system. It gave horrendous CA and I've shunned them ever since (my current TC is a Zuiko Digital 1.4 that works fantastically well). This one however looks very good after reading the specs. Hard to tell from your examples - the first shot is obviously showing the effects of ISO 1600 and does look a little soft. Looks like it will work well at lower ISOs though and should be a useful addition to long telephoto work .

[Max@Home]

Bubblegirl,

IMHO a funny decision: ...if money was a problem, I would have opted for the Kenko Pro 2x...

...€/$ wise the cheaper, so easier to sell when you want/need to ditch or upgrade ...

...but that's from a 'very specific' Canon-user's point-of-view...

...IQ - wise it ain't much worse than the EF 2.0x II on the likes of EF70-200F-whatever/EF100-400's...

...but off course it is a different story when using the real long EF primes... :P

...YMMV, since I do not know it's history for Nikon? ... but I am all ears

...and BTW, congrats on the purchase, and as you showed: when used wise it seems it *will* deliver, so it's good for *you*!

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[cyclohexane]

Max, I've had less-than-fantastic experiences with Kenko products. Also, I've read reports of the Kenko teleconverters snapping off with the 80-400mm Nikkor attached (improper lens technique employed in one example, but still scary), and it's about the same size as my 70-200 when not extended.

The TC-20E is the old 2x teleconverter; the new one is the "TC-20E II" which has revised cosmetics and small refinements (new coating, I think). I hear it fits "tighter", but seeing as this one fits really tight I don't know how you'd get a tighter fit. Supposedly, the new one works better with certain telephotos.

Paul, I agree on the first one being soft, but I'll admit I was expecting worse. The not-so-tight tripod I was trying to figure out how to use and slow shutter speed probably didn't help.

...speaking of tripods, anyone know if the built-in three-way section in the tripod base can be replaced with something else? I removed the center column already, but I'm convinced the three-way pan/tilt base is still a detriment to stability.

[cyclohexane]

Two handheld (stupid, stupid) grab shots; we ran into stop-and-go traffic so I gave the teleconverter a go.



f/9, 180mm



f/6.3, 180mm

Even my D2H's AF hunts a bit with the small f/5.6 max aperture, but it's much, much faster than the plastic fantastic 70-300mm f/4-5.6G. I don't have much experience with the 80-400mm VR, but it's sloooooooowwwww. So far, my take on the thing hasn't changed; this is an adequate addition, and will produce usable results with the right technique. Will try to get in some more tripod fun soon, and some monopod use.