Don't forget the versatility of a Tele-Converter

I had made a major investment in the purchase of an 80-400 mm lens a couple of years ago only to find that the lens would not properly focus - verified not to be a 'user error' by the local Nikon rep. I have since retired the lens and have exiled it to a lonely shelf in the cabinet.

Having said this, circumstances have changed and 'lens investment' money is tight. Sooo, what to do!? I have a 70-200 mm VR 2.8 that I'm absolutely enamored with and had heard that a Teleconverter might meet my needs. I bought a 2X ($350 at B&H) and started to use it immediately at a local event. I was totally amazed, my images even seemed sharper than before .. if that's possible with the 70 - 200 mm.

What's my point ... I really don't have one except for encouraging folks to use the teleconverter with a few of their current lenses and avoid the cost of the 'big' lenses. Oh, you must be able to sacrafice a couple of f stops, but that's a minor issue compared to the benefit.

that certainly will be my strategy if/when my kids get old enough for sports. It seems fine for daylight sports and if you pair it with D700 then should work for night time sports as well.

I would stay away from the 2x TC does make a nice add on but the 1.7X TC gives you a good amount of extra reach with your lens and is a lot more sharper in image quality. As for night sports, good luck, I have shot some High school football games that just don't have enough light. I perfer to shot football at around 400mm focal length.

Teleconverters are often just the thing needed for cetain times and aren't that expensive for most. Like CL Extreme, I prefer the 1.7x as a maximum due to sharpness, but if the 2x works for you, it certainly saves you cash over a dedicated 400mm lens.

Dave, why not sell the 80-400mm and get something you can use?

I feel a little funny about selling the 80 - 400mm simply because 1. it doesn't work properly and 2. it's out of warranty. There is the possibility of sending to Nikon for repair, but there's a cost associated with that too. It will focus "okay" at 300mm so it has some use to me .... Maybe someday, with proper warning it will be sold.

1.7x vs. 2x ? I am very impressed with the combination of the 70-200 mm and the 2x and have actually experienced an increase in sharpness at the higher mm setting - almost a WOW factor. I have heard many positives about the 1.7x though and will keep it in mind if/when the occasion arise. Thanks for your input.

I think that my next lens investment will be either an 85mm or a 105mm - Do you have any suggestions, thoughts as to which would be a better choice? I'm going to use mostly for 'outside'/'informal' portraiture.

well For portraits you have a great lens already with the 70-200, I use a 24-70 and a 50mm 1.4. For the money a 50mm 1.4 is a killer deal and on a DX camera it's close to the 85mm lens that everyone uses for portrait work.

How do you guys think a teleconverter would work on a 55-200mm lens? I was thinking of getting a 70-300 lens, but if the teleconverter works better..........

DaveKoontz said:

I feel a little funny about selling the 80 - 400mm simply because 1. it doesn't work properly and 2. it's out of warranty. There is the possibility of sending to Nikon for repair, but there's a cost associated with that too. It will focus "okay" at 300mm so it has some use to me .... Maybe someday, with proper warning it will be sold.

1.7x vs. 2x ? I am very impressed with the combination of the 70-200 mm and the 2x and have actually experienced an increase in sharpness at the higher mm setting - almost a WOW factor. I have heard many positives about the 1.7x though and will keep it in mind if/when the occasion arise. Thanks for your input.

I think that my next lens investment will be either an 85mm or a 105mm - Do you have any suggestions, thoughts as to which would be a better choice? I'm going to use mostly for 'outside'/'informal' portraiture.

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Dave......I just got the 85mm and it's tack sharp at all stops. Very impressed with this lens.

fotojack said:

How do you guys think a teleconverter would work on a 55-200mm lens? I was thinking of getting a 70-300 lens, but if the teleconverter works better..........

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The 70-300mm is rated for f4.5 to 5.6 and costs about $500. It has a pretty good rating and is considered a better lens than the 55-200mm.

The 55-200mm is rated for f4 to 5.6 and costs $200. It is considered pretty soft and it isn't readily usable for action.

All the teleconverters cost around $500 and they all add at least one f stop at wide open and a few at higher stops. The 1.4 tele adds the least while the 2.0 adds the most.

The 55-200mm isn't likely to AF with any of the teleconverters and is likely to make a soft lens, even more soft in a bad way.

The Nikon website doesn't even list the interchangability with that lens/TC combination and I wouldn't recommend it.

I will most likely follow your lead with the 85mm as all comments/recommendations have been positive for this lens. Years ago the words "it's all in the glass" were subliminal inserts that you would read, or hear enough to absorb the message. Once I got the message, I started to upgrade my lens selection and paid as much as I could/can afford for each new lens. In the example of 'you get what you pay for' this is especially true when you are considering, or selecting a new lens. To continue this thought, there is a discussion in another forum category that is pretty much discussing the idea of 'it's person behind the camera, and not the camera itself" ... I have to throw my two cents in and repeat "It's all in the glass"!

My words of wisdom for today are: Respect the Cerveza, and the Cerveza shall respect you!

The 85mm f1.4 is all that everyone says it is. Many people use it for portraiture exclusively. There are other lenses which will work wonderfully such as the 135mm with defocus control.

After the user, glass is the most important component of the equation.

Thanks for that, blueiron. I think I'll take your advice and go get myself the 70-300. Makes sense.

Can you use VR features with a teleconverter

You can, I haven't used this feature much as I use a Tripod for most of my shots. If I am shooting at the races I might hand hold the camera for panning, when this occurs I do set the lens back to VR mode. The use of the TC is pretty much transparent when in use.

blueiron said:

The 85mm f1.4 is all that everyone says it is. Many people use it for portraiture exclusively. There are other lenses which will work wonderfully such as the 135mm with defocus control.

After the user, glass is the most important component of the equation.

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I have lens envy, I'm saving for that lens, can't wait. Please comment when you have some shots with it under your belt.

How would a 1.7 TC work with the 70-300mm / 4.5-5.6 lens. For what I shoot 300mm isn't enough reach (to get a photo of Paris Hilton on a balcony a 1/2 mile away...Just Kidding. LOL). I have used a 1.7 TC on a 300mm / 2.8 and it works great. I just don't know with the 70-300mm.

Keep in mind that teleconverters only work with a very limited amount of lenses.

I would be very careful just trying a TC on any lens. On some the rear element can back into the TC.mi think the 70-300 is like that. Also, unless you are starting with something pretty fantastic a TC will make things worse. We have a Tamron 90mm macro with a kenko 1.4 on it and it works quite well, however it's a very sharp fast lens to start with.

I bought a Nikon TC-20e III for my 70-200 VR II. This is the latest TC designed for this lens amongst a few others. In my experience which appears to differ from Dave it is ok, but after being spoilt by the bare lens the IQ is not as good, but acceptable.

I got my TC for a good price so it's an affordable addition, but if I was a serious birder I would probably get the 300 F4 with 1.4 TC, or now even the new 80-400.

I have both a TC-300 and TC-14B and can vouch for their performance. The image below was taken with a D700, 600mm f/4 AIS ED-IF AIS Nikkor and my TC-300 making it a 1200mm f/8. Of course the camera/lens combo was on a very sturdy Bogen studio tripod. There is no discernable loss of IQ or vignetting with it.



The image below was taken on the same outing with the D700, 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF AIS Nikkor and my TC-14B. Again, the IQ is outstanding. The vignetting was added in PS

blueiron said:

The 85mm f1.4 is all that everyone says it is. Many people use it for portraiture exclusively. There are other lenses which will work wonderfully such as the 135mm with defocus control.

After the user, glass is the most important component of the equation.

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I can certainly vouch for that one. I have the AIS version and it is so sharp I have to handle it with leather gloves to keep from cutting myself!