Stacking Teleconverters - why not

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Who knew they can be stacked?

Google it and there are a few youtubes and webpages where people have stacked two, or more T.C.'s to get more reach.

Well I only have two so that will do. I had my TC's out with my 70-200mm 2.8 Nikkor to see how well they perform (they performed well)


But when looking for some advice about TC's I stumbled upon https://petapixel.com/2015/02/05/stacking-five-2x-teleconverters-create-ridiculous-9600mm-lens/
Oh my, not going there, but maybe two would work, like this guy tried Tale of Two Teleconverters in a more serious endeavour. And he stacked the same type of converters I have (1.4 + 2.0) The teleconverters are the Kenko "Pro 300" 1.4 and 2.0.

Here's what that looks like
DSC_5948+D500 Nikkor 70 200 and two Kenko TCs-0001.jpg

And here is my test shot - shot from one end of my house to the other, hand held. Lighting by a table lamp. Real test would have had good lighting and on a tripod. I did manual focus because it made some odd sounds when I pressed the autofocus button - but it did autofocus. I just didn't want to strain my autofocus motor. I wonder what I'd use this combo for? On this lens it gets me to 560mm (200x2=400 x1.4=560). But given I have a 200-500 5.6 I'm not sure I'd use it on this lens (unless I didn't have my 200-500 with me). But maybe I'll try it on my 200-500, then it would be 500x2=1000, 1000x1.4 =1400mm lens. And put that on my D500 and it has a 35mm equivalent of 2100mm lens. Woah. Maybe for something like a moon shot? Or ???

DSC_2423+D500 Nikkor 70 200 and two Kenko TCs test shot-0001_1.jpg


But now I know it can be done. Don't know if I'd do it again, but it can be done.


I also stumbled upon combining an TC with a macro extension tube plus a T.C. - already tried my TC on my 105mm 2.8 macro and it worked great. Never thought to combine them there Hmmmm Another day's play.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Re: Staking Teleconverters - why not

Who knew they can be stacked?

Google it and there are a few youtubes and webpages where people have stacked two, or more T.C.'s to get more reach.

Well I only have two so that will do. I had my TC's out with my 70-200mm 2.8 Nikkor to see how well they perform (they performed well)


But when looking for some advice about TC's I stumbled upon https://petapixel.com/2015/02/05/stacking-five-2x-teleconverters-create-ridiculous-9600mm-lens/
Oh my, not going there, but maybe two would work, like this guy tried Tale of Two Teleconverters in a more serious endeavour. And he stacked the same type of converters I have (1.4 + 2.0) The teleconverters are the Kenko "Pro 300" 1.4 and 2.0.

Here's what that looks like
View attachment 279246

And here is my test shot - shot from one end of my house to the other, hand held. Lighting by a table lamp. Real test would have had good lighting and on a tripod. I did manual focus because it made some odd sounds when I pressed the autofocus button - but it did autofocus. I just didn't want to strain my autofocus motor. I wonder what I'd use this combo for? On this lens it gets me to 560mm (200x2=400 x1.4=560). But given I have a 200-500 5.6 I'm not sure I'd use it on this lens (unless I didn't have my 200-500 with me). But maybe I'll try it on my 200-500, then it would be 500x2=1000, 1000x1.4 =1400mm lens. And put that on my D500 and it has a 35mm equivalent of 2100mm lens. Woah. Maybe for something like a moon shot? Or ???

View attachment 279251


But now I know it can be done. Don't know if I'd do it again, but it can be done.


I also stumbled upon combining an TC with a macro extension tube plus a T.C. - already tried my TC on my 105mm 2.8 macro and it worked great. Never thought to combine them there Hmmmm Another day's play.

In the old days :D when most folks couldnt afford longer than 300mm we used to use a converter and ext tube for hide photography
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Re: Staking Teleconverters - why not

I wonder what I'd use this combo for? On this lens it gets me to 560mm (200x2=400 x1.4=560). But given I have a 200-500 5.6 I'm not sure I'd use it on this lens (unless I didn't have my 200-500 with me). But maybe I'll try it on my 200-500, then it would be 500x2=1000, 1000x1.4 =1400mm lens. And put that on my D500 and it has a 35mm equivalent of 2100mm lens. Woah. Maybe for something like a moon shot? Or ???

Just remember you will lose 3 stops of light on the long end when stacking both teleconverters. 1 stop = f/8, 2 stops = f/11, and 3 stops = f/16 That would make your 200-500mm lens shoot at f/16 when wide open instead of f/5.6. I imagine it would be difficult to see clearly with so much light loss.

Since I seem to have a software issue with my D750 (and no way for Nikon to fix it), I would be leary of trying it. Even in manual focus, they will try to communicate with your camera body. Personally I wouldn't take the risk of getting a glitch. You can stack extension tubes for close shots, but I'm not sure if teleconverters are designed to be used stacked. Anyway...have fun. Interesting concept nonetheless. :)
 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Re: Staking Teleconverters - why not

Just remember you will lose 3 stops of light on the long end when stacking both teleconverters. 1 stop = f/8, 2 stops = f/11, and 3 stops = f/16 That would make your 200-500mm lens shoot at f/16 when wide open instead of f/5.6. I imagine it would be difficult to see clearly with so much light loss.

Since I seem to have a software issue with my D750 (and no way for Nikon to fix it), I would be leary of trying it. Even in manual focus, they will try to communicate with your camera body. Personally I wouldn't take the risk of getting a glitch. You can stack extension tubes for close shots, but I'm not sure if teleconverters are designed to be used stacked. Anyway...have fun. Interesting concept nonetheless. :)

Loss of light is one big downside, if you need to shoot wide open.

The sample shot above reported an F8 - but that was on a F 2.8 lens, on the F 5.6 lens it would be F16



Had not thought that the lens trying to communicate to the camera could cause a glitch?

I really don't see myself doing this with my D500 - I do use both of them with the 200-500 but not both.
 
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