TC-16a autofocusing teleconverter

[salukfan111]

I know, I have two of those. One with the contact pin swap (for my D4S + D3S + D3X) and one without (D2X). I only use them for macro though, since the image quality leaves a lot to be desired unless stopped down two or three stops.



[offtopic]
An interesting hypothetical TC would be a TC-12A using similar tech as TC-16A but with only 1.25X magnification and thus only half a stop loss of light. But that would increase the sales of the old superteles to ballistic. Think for a moment: AI-S 400/2.8 + fictional TC-12A would produce a pseudo-autofocusing 500mm f/3.5.

If someone would produce such a gadget using modern coatings, aspeherics and ED glass, it would be capable of very high IQ. I'd pay $1000 for such a gizmo in a heartbeat.
[/offtopic]

If it had a low element count, a 1.0x autofocusing unit would sell like hotcakes and virtually eliminate the purchase of those 10k nikon superzooms in favor of the older superior MF glass. A 1.0x unit could literally be just 3 or 4 elements and could even be used on zooms. Nikon won't do that and we need a third party to step up. If this 16a thing becomes well known, they'll buy up every one they can find to keep them off the market.

 

[mikew_RIP]

TC-16A is an AF teleconverter designed to be used with AF bodies. You must have some other piece of equipment in mind?

Got confused with AF bodies and AF lenses,its an age thing

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/teleconverter/tc16a/index.htm

 

[salukfan111]

These a little better but should have used a circular polarizer for the golf course (is it just me or does grass seem to reflect a ton of light). Included are some golfers and I caught a chip with ball in the air at several football fields. The last couple photos the Mustang pictures has a lot of pop. I was struggling to get the camera to focus on faces (the 300 f/4.5 doesn't seem to have a true infinity). I was iso 800, focus at infinity, full 2x crop at the camera, 5500 ish K, f/8 on lens for most of these. I used LR to compress them for here. I can't wait to get off nights to shoot some birds. If it's warm I'll try to take some the next couple mornings with other lens: the 300 f/2.8, 400 f/3.5, 105 f/1.8 before I go to bed getting ready for nights.

 

[salukfan111]

It worked nearly perfect today with the 300mm f/2.8. The iso was pretty high on these and I had full 1.5x1.3 crop going. I should have used a flash with the gnome. Can' wait until I'm off nights and can find some birds. If I get up early enough I'll shoot with 400mm f/3.5 tomorrow and maybe 135mm f/3.5 tomorrow.

 

[salukfan111]

Not sure why'd you need aspherics or coating if already shooting ed lens. All that glass and coatings is doing a number on the light going thru it. The image might come out flat like on a zoom. No sense just giving up all of the advantages of prime. I bet they could make a 1.2x with 4 or 5 elements nothing fancy. If someone wants one of these they better act fast. I'm on a board for a nature group (thousands of members) and I'll be writing a magazine article about this. I'm sensing a sudden shortage of these on ebay in the near future.

 

[salukfan111]

Here are some with a 400mm f/3.5. No post processing just compressed using LR. Does anyone have a 600 or 800mm MF EDIF they like to trade for something? I've got a goofy 400-800 samyung I will try it out on tomorrow and maybe a 135mm the next day. If there is anyone that is good at Lightroom that would like to take a swing at my RAWs to see how'd they turn out I am game. I know a lot up people would be more interested in that but I lack the skills to make a post - photo someone could use to base a buying decision on.

 

[Physoc]

My experience with these things - long abandoned in favour of good lenses - is that an image cropped x1.6 with a good lens is better than a full-frame image with a x1.6 TC.

 

[pforsell]

My experience with these things - long abandoned in favour of good lenses - is that an image cropped x1.6 with a good lens is better than a full-frame image with a x1.6 TC.

This mostly mimics my experience too, but remember the point of this thread was the AF, not the magnification.

 

[salukfan111]

This mostly mimics my experience too, but remember the point of this thread was the AF, not the magnification.

Not to mention they are being used with some of Nikon's best glass. I would agree TCs are a waste of time on zooms or primes with excessive elements. Not all of us can afford (I can but won't) to spend 10k on a 600mm AF prime. These things should open up a whole new world to birders while supplies last anyway. I'm really surprised one of the third party TC manufacturers hasn't hoarded all this MF pro glass and released their own AF TCs.

 

[salukfan111]

I shot some birds today but it was really dreary outside and I had the iso cranked up to keep a high shutter speed (shooting a 400mm f/3.5 really heavy with shake). No cropping on any of these and some were really long. Hiking around with a big heavy lens is like going to the gym, 10 hours later my arms are on fire.

 

[salukfan111]

More pictures on another dreary foggy day. I should make a deal with the local duck hunters to shoot when they are hunting as it is never sunny when I have a camera in my hand. I did use a monopod to try and get the iso lower this time. I know I should have been shooting with the 180 f/2.8 or 70-300 VRG but am determined to work the bugs out of the 400 f/3.5 tc 1.6a. None of these are crops and I had the 1.3 extra turned on for cropping at the sensor and this was long shooting. I was intending to shoot hawks, ducks and airplanes but they were a no show. I did some lightroom work but nothing is "manufactured" here just fine tuning black, white balance, and contrast. .

 

[salukfan111]

So far this has been working well for me. I've used it on everything from a 58mm voigtlander, 180mm f/28 AF (with AF on lens switched off), 300mm f/4.5, 400m f3.5, 400 mm f/5.6, 600 f/5.6.

I just stole a 800mm f/5.6 on ebay and can't wait to try this out with and without TC16a. I'm a pretty tough guy and hand hold a 600 f/5.6 but the 800mm f/5.6 is a bit heavy so it is tripod only.

I think it is getting about time to figure out which telephotos to sell off.