Nikon: Anyone using s 300mm with teleconverter?

[dullbird]

Whats your set up and whats your experience with it.

Im considering making this my next wish list set up but I'm really reading some mixed reviews on people that do it.

The other thing i wondered is whether i would be happy just buying the new nikon x2 version 3 and sticking that on my 70-200 with the 2.8

It would be faster i think than the 300 f4

But it would be nice to get a convertor to stretch that 300 put to nearly 600 but not if the image doesn't carry any sort of quality.

And before anyone suggests it i cant afford the 300 in 2.8 as i do t have a spare 6 grand

[lt8x7]

You should look at the new 200-500 lens. A bargain and brilliant quality.

[NCF 110]

Hi , Not sure it works with a 300 f4, I use the AF-S TC-20EIII with my a-s 300 f2.8 and it works very well Sharpe and great auto focus .

[Chucaro]

CAP have a 300 f/4 and used it with a non Nikon teleconverter, He and I did not like the results.
If I have to select one I will not go over 1.4 converter. Nikon wil be my choice, not Kenko.
Do not forget that with a converter you will need a very good tripod if you want sharp images.

[dullbird]

You should look at the new 200-500 lens. A bargain and brilliant quality.


What Nikon?

[scarry]

Although mine is Cannon,thought my 2 cents worth would be helpful:)

I have used the latest 1.4x on our 400mm,and the images were never great,nothing like the quality of the lens by itself.

I could put up with a couple of less F stops,but the image has put me off using it regularly.Auto focusing is also slightly slower.

[DeanoH]

What Nikon?

Here it is :)

http://www.nikon.com.au/en_AU/product/nikkor-lenses/fx-format/zoom/telephoto-zoom/af-s-nikkor-200-500mm-f-5-6e-ed-vr


Deano :)

[dullbird]

Actually that looks quite good that lens. Has anyone here used one? Is it fast. I mean with a min of 5.6 they are often not overly fast lenses.

[DeanoH]

I'm actually going to Melbourne to have a look at one tomorrow. At an effective 300 - 750mm equivalent it should do wonders for our DX avian photography.

For under $2000 I can put up with f5.6 and take the AF S/VR etc goodies. The camera store has offered a reasonable trade in on our AF (not S) 80 - 400 f4.5 - 5.6 D which lessens the financial blow somewhat.

The only danger that I can see is coming come home with it stuck on the end of a brand new camera.:wasntme:

Deano :)

[DeanoH]

Nikon claims compatibility with the following cameras

The lens incorporates an electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism. The following cameras are compatible with this lens:
D4 series, D3 series, Df, D810, D810A, D800 series, D750, D700, D610, D600, D300 series, D7200, D7100, D7000, D5500, D5300, D5200, D5100, D5000, D3300, D3200, D3100, Nikon 1 J1, J2, J3, J4 with FT-1, Nikon 1 V1, V2, V3 with FT-1, Nikon 1 S1, S2 with FT-1


But I'm not sure what this actually means ?

I found this list in the fine print in this document

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens | Interchangeable Lens for DSLR cameras from Nikon (http://en.nikon.ca/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-nikkor-200-500mm-f%252f5.6e-ed-vr.html#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-Overview)

Does this mean that on our D70,80,90 that it will work OK but will be at f 5.6 all the time ? and that the 'oldest' camera that can operate the electronic aperture is a D300 ?

It would appear that Nikon has gone to a lot of trouble not to widely advertise this limitation, it took me about an hour to find and included wading through Nikons direction to a totally incomprehensible (to me at least) multi page spreadsheet.

Deano :)

[dullbird]

I wonder if they are referring to the AF motor in the body scenario

[lt8x7]

I used one at the MotoGP recently and had pro photographers jealous of some of my shots

[DeanoH]

I wonder if they are referring to the AF motor in the body scenario

Not the AF as far as I can tell, this lens has an electronic diaphragm so it's about adjusting aperture. Non compatible cameras will not be able to change the aperture from f 5.6 but should otherwise work OK. Not a major problem really. For a long lens being stuck on f 5.6 is a limitation but not the end of the world.

Perhaps I'll be coming home with a new camera after all.:p

Deano :)

[dullbird]

Make sure you post some shots Deano

[DeanoH]

Well, I've gone and done it. :D:D:D

I was pretty impressed with this lens (AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f5.6E ED VR) which IMO represents pretty good value at around $1900+ so I bought one.

I'll post some pics in a new thread.

As for camera compatibility, Nikon says not compatible with anything older than D300, ie D70, 80, 90 etc but compatible with D3100on, 5000on, 7000on etc and compatible with D600, 700, 800 etc.

No problem on the D70 at f 5.6 (aperture priority) and play with ISO and shutter speed to use, though not much wriggle room on the poor old D70 so I went nuts and bought a second hand D300 (compatible) for around $300 with only 6K actuations which i thought was a bit of a bargain and IMO a better camera than a D5100 at a similar price (also same batterys as our D70,80, 90) and already have CF cards for the D70.

Deano :)

PS. Just did a shutter count, 1427 !!! Amazing.

[dullbird]

Congrats look forward to seeing your handy work.

[Bytemrk]

Lou,

The other thing to consider is the teleconverter impacts aperture as well as focal length. This means you may get 600mm but you will also have maximum aperture of f/8

Which body are you using? Many will not autofocus reliably at max f/8.

From my understanding only D7100, D7200, D600, D610, D750, D800, D800E, D810, D4, and D4S, support lenses having a maximum aperture of f/8 currently.

This might make handy reading too:

https://photographylife.com/image-degradation-with-nikon-teleconverters

[dullbird]

D7100