Long range shots- teleconverter

[DeeJay]

I've just struck up a deal with my wife !!!
I get to keep my "newest" Landie (Isuzu County) if she can upgrade her digital camera.
I can only blame myself, as she thought we could'nt afford the County so I went into our finances in great detail and SWMBO worked out there is money for a better camera for her :eek:, there goes the winch:(.

Basically she takes heaps of pics of our kids footy & cricket teams at play & will keep her existing camera for portraits & close ups when at these games.
We have only just decided to get a DSLR & I have lots of research to do, but my question is "how do these digital camera's cope with a, say 2x teleconverter on a 200mm lens?"
I was thinking of a Nikon D60 with 2 lenses 18-55 & 55-200 and then ebaying a teleconverter. Teds have the camera/lenses for just under $1000. I know they are getting run out.

Thanks, David

[Bushie]

The camera will cope OK you just need to remember that you will loose a couple of stops aperture, so given the (basic) 1/focal length shutter speed rule, you will be looking at around 1/500 sec so will need to be in good light to get the best out of the lens/converter combo.

I realise IS etc will be some assistance but not sure how it functions IF the converter isn't fully compatible with the camera/lens ie a Nikon etc.



Martyn

[300+]

Most cameras have a lower f number for the autofocus to work. If you add a x2 teleconverter you also lose two stops of aperture. Verify if two stops off your lens will be about the limit for your camera.

The info I can find on the D60 states that the auto focus requires f5.6 to work. Some 200mm lenses will already be f/5.6 which means two stops less is pretty dark. This will also mean very slow shutter speeds.

A teleconverter won't be a problem if you start with a f/2.8 lens. My guess is a $1000 deal doesn't include a f2.8 lens!

Cheers, Steve

[Chucaro]

If you like quality go for the x1.4 teleconverter. The x 2 performs reasonable well with the top of the range lens.
Get a 600mm f/4 for $ 11000 and she will be happy :D

[slt]

Get a 600mm f/4 for $ 11000 and she will be happy :D

... and join the waiting list for that 600 ... you might get one in 18 months or so ;)

[DeeJay]

... and join the waiting list for that 600 ... you might get one in 18 months or so ;)

As for buying that lens..

I'd have more luck in a waiting list for $11,000 :D

[djambalawa]

Generally you won't have much luck with teleconverters and kit zoom lens for all sorts of reasons.. (many mentioned below) you just lose too much light and quality... if they will work at all...

If you can afford it the 70-200/2.8 is a great quality lense and it does apparently work well with a 1.4 teleconverter... i think they are around $1500 on ebay but nearly $3k new :(

I have an 180/2.8 (non zoom) that is awesome quality and cost about $500 (2nd hand) I think.. still autofocus and everything.. but it sounds like you want more reach... the 300/F4 is a great lense too and can be found for around $1000 2nd hand I think... don't have the versatility of the zoom but I think a lot of people look past the quality of telephoto (fixed length) lenses...

[dmdigital]

The 70-200 f/2.8 has just had a face lift so you should be abe to do a deal very soon on the old model. The new model is designed to work better on the FX DSLR's at the pro end where as the other is great on the DX (like the D60 is).

As for TC's the 1.7x is the best optically but this means it has a higher price tag than the 1.4 or 2.0. As mentioned the f-stop of the kit lenses will give problems with the 2x TC and a 55-70 zoom as you loose 2 stops.