300mm f4 IF-ED with 1.4 tc

[Peter7100]

Can anyone please advise what the image quality is like using a 1.4 tc with the above lens. Also can you please advise if your experience is with using a Nikon tc or a Kenko tc. Regarding the Kenko there appears to be more than one version but do they perform the same?
I have heard some people leave a 1.4 permanently attached to this lens which might suggest hardly any IQ loss. My own experience with TC’s in the past on Canon lenses has not been a good one.

 

[hark]

Can anyone please advise what the image quality is like using a 1.4 tc with the above lens. Also can you please advise if your experience is with using a Nikon tc or a Kenko tc. Regarding the Kenko there appears to be more than one version but do they perform the same?
I have heard some people leave a 1.4 permanently attached to this lens which might suggest hardly any IQ loss. My own experience with TC’s in the past on Canon lenses has not been a good one.

IQ is amazing! My 300mm f/4 PF is having auto focus issues so currently I'm back to using my Nikon 300mm f/4 non-VR lens coupled with the Nikon 1.4x TC. Stick with the Nikon TC if you can afford it. You will experience image degradation with the Kenko. But with the Nikon 1.4x TC, the images are fantastic!

 

[hark]

Here is one from a couple years ago with that combo. This image has a great amount of detail.

 

[Woodyg3]

I have that lens with the 1.4 TC always attached. It makes for a very sharp and light 420mm f/5.6. I have an old Nikon TC 14E that I found used. Note that the TC 14E III is not compatible. I highly recommend this set up unless you need VR.

 

[Peter7100]

Here is one from a couple years ago with that combo. This image has a great amount of detail.

View attachment 350361

Thanks for that image. As you say there is plently of detail.

 

[Peter7100]

I have that lens with the 1.4 TC always attached. It makes for a very sharp and light 420mm f/5.6. I have an old Nikon TC 14E that I found used. Note that the TC 14E III is not compatible. I highly recommend this set up unless you need VR.

Thanks for the reply. With that older Nikon TC 14E did you still have full AF on your D7100 at f5.6?

Do you know if the the TC 14e II is compatible as I can't see any mark I versions anywhere.

 

[hark]

Thanks for that image. As you say there is plently of detail.

Thanks for the reply. With that older Nikon TC 14E did you still have full AF on your D7100 at f5.6?

Mine isn't the new one - sorry, I didn't think to mention it. Mine is the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-p...mera-lenses/af-s-teleconverter-tc-14e-ii.html

 

[hark]

Peter7100, yes the 1.4x ii works fine with the D7100. This chart comes from page 295 of the D7100 Owner's Manual.

 

[hark]

I have my refurbished D7100, 300mm f/4 non-VR lens, and 1.4x TC combo ready to go take one or two pics for you. Later tonight I will try to post the SOOC NEF's and jpeg's in my Dropbox so you can look at the unedited files.

 

[Peter7100]

I have my refurbished D7100, 300mm f/4 non-VR lens, and 1.4x TC combo ready to go take one or two pics for you. Later tonight I will try to post the SOOC NEF's and jpeg's in my Dropbox so you can look at the unedited files.

many thanks

 

[hark]

Peter, these aren't going to be quite up to par simply because the AF on this lens is failing similar to how it failed on my 300mm f/4 PF lens. In the past I coupled both of these lenses with my 1.7x TC. Just recently I found out the 1.7x TC isn't supposed to be able to AF with many f/4 lenses. For my lenses, the combo works, but the lenses would hunt quite a bit for subjects in the distance. So I think I've burned out the AF motors. What I can tell you is the sharpness yielded by this refurbished D7100 has been incredible. The sharpness is much better than my D7200 straight out of camera.

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble navigating Dropbox. I will have to look into an alternative way to share the full size images. Dropbox isn't allowing me to share the files. :sorrow:

 

[Peter7100]

Peter, these aren't going to be quite up to par simply because the AF on this lens is failing similar to how it failed on my 300mm f/4 PF lens. In the past I coupled both of these lenses with my 1.7x TC. Just recently I found out the 1.7x TC isn't supposed to be able to AF with many f/4 lenses. For my lenses, the combo works, but the lenses would hunt quite a bit for subjects in the distance. So I think I've burned out the AF motors. What I can tell you is the sharpness yielded by this refurbished D7100 has been incredible. The sharpness is much better than my D7200 straight out of camera.

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble navigating Dropbox. I will have to look into an alternative way to share the full size images. Dropbox isn't allowing me to share the files. :sorrow:

Thanks for trying and all your input. I have been convinced by the responses that this combination will work well. Now the fun starts trying to find a decent copy of the lens and TC. My favoured camera shop in the UK does not have any stock of either. eBay time

 

[hark]

Thanks for trying and all your input. I have been convinced by the responses that this combination will work well. Now the fun starts trying to find a decent copy of the lens and TC. My favoured camera shop in the UK does not have any stock of either. eBay time

Just make sure you don't wind up with this other version of the 300mm. It is the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF ED. It IS a very sharp lens but is slow to focus. Plus it doesn't work with the Nikon TC's (although it's a budget-friendly lens for those who cannot afford the AF-S version).

This is the one to avoid:

https://www.slrlounge.com/oldies-but-goodies-nikon-300mm-f4-af-ed/

 

[Peter7100]

Just make sure you don't wind up with this other version of the 300mm. It is the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF ED. It IS a very sharp lens but is slow to focus. Plus it doesn't work with the Nikon TC's (although it's a budget-friendly lens for those who cannot afford the AF-S version).

This is the one to avoid:

https://www.slrlounge.com/oldies-but-goodies-nikon-300mm-f4-af-ed/

View attachment 350382

I did come across a thread on this forum where a member had purchased the AF version and was really disappointed with the focus speed. I will definitely be looking for the AF-S version.

 

[Woodyg3]

Peter, I should note that I am talking about the AF-S version of the lens. I don't have experience with the slightly older version.

 

[hark]

Peter, here are a few edited images from today with this combo. My TC is the TC 14E ii which I might have mentioned previously. I use shake reduction in Photoshop because I had elbow surgery and am not the best with holding a non-VR lens steady. All of these are cropped quite a bit - vertical crops from images that were shot in horizontal format. A screen shot of the original NEF is first so you can see how much was cropped. All are cropped by about the same amount. I know you said you decided to go with this combo. Just wanted you to see how amazing this lens/TC really is.

Full size NEF screen shot:

Edited image of the above NEF:

 

[Roy1961]

nice images Hark

 

[Peter7100]

Peter, here are a few edited images from today with this combo. My TC is the TC 14E ii which I might have mentioned previously. I use shake reduction in Photoshop because I had elbow surgery and am not the best with holding a non-VR lens steady. All of these are cropped quite a bit - vertical crops from images that were shot in horizontal format. A screen shot of the original NEF is first so you can see how much was cropped. All are cropped by about the same amount. I know you said you decided to go with this combo. Just wanted you to see how amazing this lens/TC really is.

Full size NEF screen shot:
View attachment 350867

Edited image of the above NEF:

View attachment 350864

View attachment 350865

View attachment 350866

Thanks again Cindy, they look great!
I have recently purchased this lens and expecting delivery this Saturday.
Can’t wait to get shooting with it.

 

[hark]

Thanks again Cindy, they look great!
I have recently purchased this lens and expecting delivery this Saturday.
Can’t wait to get shooting with it.

It's an incredibly sharp lens! Good luck with yours.

 

[Peter7100]

My 300 has arrived and I was out putting it through its paces this morning. Really like the lens but I have a lot of learning on bird photography to get anywhere near the standard you guys and girls produce with your stunning images. Anyway here is a few from first attempts.