Help! does 1.4 or 2.0 Tele-Converter work on Tamron Lenses?

I need some help from someone that has the same or similar equipment. I shoot with a D7100 and D7200. My zoom lens are Tamron. I use the 70-200 2.8, and the 150-600 5-6.3. I bought at Tamron SP AF Tele-coverter (300F-FNs) and the autofocus does not work on either lens. I understand that difficulty with using it on the 150-600 with the smaller aperture, but even then, the D7200 center point should autofocus at f8.

I am selling the 2.0 converter, but was thinking of picking up a 1.4. Does anyone use a 1.4 with Tamron zooms and a D7xxx? Does it work? I appreciate your feed back.

Remember, you're not just multiplying the focal length you're multiplying the aperture. So your 150-600mm f5-6.3 with the 1.4X is a 210-840mm f7-8.8. I know that's going to be tough on the D7100 even when you've got bright light and high contrast and are using center point focusing. Not sure about the D7200. I believe they're both rated at f8, so you should be able to get something at the short end on the 1.4X as long as you're in AF-S mode. At the long end you're going to be hunting a lot of the time. With the 2X you're screwed on both cameras.

Thanks, I do realize that. but even outside on a bright sunny day, neither the 70-200 2.8, nor the 150-600 will even attempt to autofocus with it I don't want to waste my money buying a Nikon or Tamron 1.4 if they won't work either.

I know Nikon TC's are only compatible with specific lenses so I would check with Tamron to make sure the TC you have is designed to work with the lenses.

BackdoorHippie said:

I know Nikon TC's are only compatible with specific lenses so I would check with Tamron to make sure the TC you have is designed to work with the lenses.

Click to expand...

Thanks I did send them an email. I guess I just assumed that newest the Tamron Tele-Converter would work with the newer Tamron lenses. Now I know that isn't necessarily true. I emailed them and will see what they have to say about a 1.4 working.

I tried my Nikon TC2x on the Tam 70-200mm f/2.8 and even while my cam should focus without a problem, I did not get the combo to work and it kept hunting. Even when trying to fine-tune AF from -20 to +20, there was not one setting that made it work.

Yea. I'm going to Yellowstone National Park in a week and a half. and I am greedy lol. I am sure I'll use the 150-600 alot for wildlife, and on the D7200 it gives me the reach of 225-900 anyway. If I can't get the shot with that, I probably shouldn't be taking the photo anyway!!

RussellHons said:

Yea. I'm going to Yellowstone National Park in a week and a half. and I am greedy lol. I am sure I'll use the 150-600 alot for wildlife, and on the D7200 it gives me the reach of 225-900 anyway. If I can't get the shot with that, I probably shouldn't be taking the photo anyway!!

Click to expand...

The Nikon TC2x does not fit to the 150-600mm that I can tell you with certainty. I have shaved mine but there simply is not enough room to fit the TC directly to the lens. You can use an extension ring between them to solve that problem but you need one that allows communication with the lens else you lose control over the aperture. You also lose infinity when putting a ring between both.

I don't know if there is enough room for the TC1.4 but I remember someone having posted shots of that combo so it might work.

To add: I don't think adding a TC to the 150-600mm would do wonders for the IQ. 600 is the weakest length of the lens and I already have to shoot it at f/10 to get decent shots. Adding a TC to that would be very demanding in regards to stops and compromise sharpness very much.

I'm looking at the Tamron 1.4TC, I would assume it would fit the Tamron 150-600. Just don't know if it will function since the 2.0TC doesn't

RussellHons said:

I'm looking at the Tamron 1.4TC, I would assume it would fit the Tamron 150-600. Just don't know if it will function since the 2.0TC doesn't

Click to expand...

You'd have to find someone that tried it since it is possible the combo simply never works. My cam can easily focus the TC 2.0 on a Nikon lens and certainly if it is a f/2.8 yet on a Tamron lens it doesn't. And I tried it during the best of light so that wasn't the issue.

Btw; the big Tam is f/6.3 at the long end so it's doubfull you'll even get the 1.4 to AF since that's closer to f/9 than f/8. Even at 400mm she's already f/6 to start with.

If you are referring to a Tamron TC then look at their site.

2X Teleconverter; Tamron USA, Inc.

I would think you would want a Tamron TC for a Tamron lens

I think the Tammy TC will work with the 150-600, but like the Sigma, it'll take some surgery to marry a Nikon lens

Krs_2007 said:

If you are referring to a Tamron TC then look at their site.

2X Teleconverter; Tamron USA, Inc.

I would think you would want a Tamron TC for a Tamron lens

Click to expand...

One would think so, but the Tamron TC does not work at all with the Tamron 70-200 or the 150-600.

Here is Tamron's reply to my inquiry:

Hello Mr. Hons,

Thanks for contacting Tamron! Unfortunately Tamron teleconverters may not be compatible with newer digital lenses/cameras. You may experience image quality or auto focus issues. For more information, please see this service update: Teleconverter Service Updates

Some of our customers have had success using our teleconverters but we could not guarantee functionality on current lenses and camera bodies. Autofocus and VC can stop working although you should be able to use them manually. Unfortunately we have not yet produced fully updated teleconverters. We are always releasing new lenses so it's always possible that we may create new teleconverters in the future.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

I wonder if it's a lens problem.

I picked up a Kenko 1.4 TC, but it's only working with my Nikon lenses...neither of the Tamron lenses will AF or VC when it is connected. If the Tamron TC has the same issue, is it really the TC that's at fault?

Good to know the Tamron TC is also having problems. Keeps me from buying yet another TC that doesn't work with the lens I wanted it to.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I couldn't get AF to work on my Tamron 150-600 with a Tamron 2x converter. The widest aperture was F13 and it shot at 1200mm. Here's a base shot out of the camera, it was definitely a chore to manually focus at that long of a focal length and keep the camera steady hand-held.

This turtle was on a rock in the middle of a pond easily 100ft away, possibly farther.

JackStalk said:

I couldn't get AF to work on my Tamron 150-600 with a Tamron 2x converter.

Click to expand...

Nice shot! I'm assuming VC didn't engage either, if AF didn't work?

RocketCowboy said:

Nice shot! I'm assuming VC didn't engage either, if AF didn't work?

Click to expand...

Thanks! It's hard to tell if it was working, I had the shutter speed way up because anything under 1/2000 was just awful. It really pained me to have to crank the ISO that high, you're honestly better off just shooting at 600 and cropping versus the higher ISO/shutter, TC, and manual focussing IMO.