Nikon 200-500/5.6

Bear Dale

Senior Member
How much image degradation is there using a 1.7X tele on a 200-500?

Looking at the images posted on the 200-500 thread, it seems like a stunning lens.


<Nikon Newbie Alert, sorry for all the questions>
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
With a 1.7X teleconverter, your f5.6 lens with the 1.5 f-stop loss, becomes an f9.5 lens. Auto-focus will either be very slow or not work at all.
 

lokatz

Senior Member
The 200-500 is an amazing lens, and a steal for what it offers. Without spending at least four times as much as it costs, there is no better option I know of. (See this post for some comparative shots and my reason for not owning it.)

Nikon's 1.7x teleconverter may not be a good choice with it, though. As Bikerbrent points out, you could run into serious AF issues, plus it has a reputation as being Nikon's softest TC. The latest incarnation of the TC-14 is pricier but sharper, so IMHO it would be a better choice (but still give you slower AF in combination with some IQ degradation).

I owned a TC-14 for my 300mm f/4 PF for a while and sold it again because I found that scaling up images in Photoshop gave me the same image quality as shooting with the TC. I then bought the TC-20. Returning from my India/Nepal trip and looking at some comparison shots I took, I decided this week to sell it again because the same is true here: no IQ improvement over careful software scaling, so what's the point? This may only be true for my lens and others may have different experiences, but a sharp long lens still looks like the best answer to me.

Wildlife pros go to great lengths to get close to the animals. We others may have to do with lots of cropping. :)
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Doesn't @Blacktop have this lens? I think he's mentioned pairing it with a Kenko 1.4x teleconverter although I'm not sure how the images turned out.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
How much image degradation is there using a 1.7X tele on a 200-500?

Looking at the images posted on the 200-500 thread, it seems like a stunning lens.


<Nikon Newbie Alert, sorry for all the questions>

I don't have a 1.7 but i do have a 1.4. I only use it when it is absolutely necessary. It autofocuses just fine but I would rather not have to use it.
The 200-500mm is a fantastic lens IMO and I have not once regret it buying it.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Doesn't @Blacktop have this lens? I think he's mentioned pairing it with a Kenko 1.4x teleconverter although I'm not sure how the images turned out.

Yes, yes I do!:encouragement: I'll go back to my library and see if i can find a few to post with the Kenko 1.4 on it. Right now I'm playing with my new Stratocaster that I just picked up at Guitar center.:distracted:
 

480sparky

Senior Member
I have a Nikon 1.7 and would never think of using on a 200-500.

My 1.4, however, is permanently sandwiched between the 200-500 and a D7100.
 
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