[Tris]

Has anyone used or got one?

I tried the one from Jessops last week but it didn't autofocus with one of my lenses so I took it back.

The image quality wasn't amazing but it was alright, however I was thinking about this instead - it seems to get glowing reviews on the net.

Any opinions?

[slackline]

Got a x2 Kenko teleconverter that I was bequeathed by someone who went from Nikon to Olympus when going digital.

Works quite well, although AF is more temperamental, particularly with the Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens.

If I was going to buy one (or extension tubes) I'd go with Kenko, as you say, they do seem to get the best reviews.

[dave]

basically kenko is your only choice, since the nikon ones are designed for their big AFS telephotos and some have mechanical restrictions stopping you using various lenses, and won't give you AF on many lenses.

I've not used a TC ever but best to stick with primes and don't expect miracles. also be prepared to stop down a fair bit for best quality.

[Tris]

Ok thanks for your comments guys.... think I will continue to do some more reading and try and find some sample images...

Cheers

[slackline]

Some of these were taken with the teleconverter (and either a 70-300mm lens or the 18-200, either would have been at full focal length).

[Tris]

Nice one - great shots there  it looks like the light was not the best also!!

The quality looks pretty good to me too.

Bollocks  - now I have an extra decision - the 1.4x or the 2x?

[dave]

think what lens you'll be using it on and what you're using it for. x1.4 loses you a stop of speed, x2 loses you 2 stops. x1.4s generally are optically better.

[Tris]

Good sound advice - thanks dave

I actually want it to use on similar lenses to slack---line. I have a Nikkor 55-200 VR F4-5.6 and a Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6

[slackline]

I don't think I could have picked a greyer more miserable day to go and photograph seals 

[dave]

To be honest I'd think twice about buying a TC to use with slow zooms. if i assume you want more reach, then you're most likely to be at the long end of the zooms, so your 5.6 aperture becomes f/11 with a x2 TC. Then consider on a DX body if your handholding skills are about par for average you'd need 1/1000th of a second to get a sharp shot. at ISO 200, 1/1000th at f/11 is basically the light level you get in bright front-lit full sunlight (LV 15 if i calculated right, and not the most flatteirng lighting for any subject), anything less and you're going to either need a tripod, boss handholding skills or four-figure ISOs, and thats before you think about stopping the lens down for quality (bearing in mind most 70-300 zooms aren't exactly optically sparking at the long end to start with). So you see why people tend to stick to 2.8 or faster for TC useage.

(p.s. forgot to add, if you're at f/11 with a TC the autofocus will struggle like a motherfucker).

[cofe]

or stand closer

[dave]

standing closer doesn't cost owt neither. Winner.

[Johnny Brown]

What Dave said. The reason your jessops convertor didn't work was likely because the combination of lenses produced an effective aperture too slow for the AF system to work. Quality will be average at best. Unfortunately there isn't really an affordable alternative save for Cofe's. Even the under 12's in the WPOTY competition pack several grands' worth of glass.

[SA Chris]

or stand closer

Or crop the image?

[Tris]

To be honest I'd think twice about buying a TC to use with slow zooms. if i assume you want more reach, then you're most likely to be at the long end of the zooms, so your 5.6 aperture becomes f/11 with a x2 TC.

I know - I am definitely thinking twice about this - I was after something in the 400-500 range (estimate). It's for a specific wildlife shot of a bird of prey. I can't really afford about a grand for a decent telephoto lens so was thinking the TC may be the way forward. A 2x TC on my existing 300, not wide open (because as you quite rightly say is shit) but at about 220-250 would give me the range I'm after.

Unless anybody knows of a cheap way (under £250) of getting a 400mm zoom? Second hand 400mm lenses seem to go for extortionate prices on Ebay.

[Tris]

or stand closer

I would do - but unfortunately it's out of the question for this one

[slackline]

If its a one-off you could possibly consider hiring the equipment 

[Tris]

What Dave said. The reason your jessops convertor didn't work was likely because the combination of lenses produced an effective aperture too slow for the AF system to work.

The Jessops things was freaking weird. The Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 focussed fine. The Nikon 55-200 F4-5.6 didn't work at all, just kept hunting continuously. (It's a Nikon body). It confused the hell out of the staff in the shop

Even the under 12's in the WPOTY competition pack several grands' worth of glass.

Seriously?? I'm jealous....

[Tris]

Or crop the image?

Is using a TC better than cropping? 64 million dollar question

[SA Chris]

Even the under 12's in the WPOTY competition pack several grands' worth of glass.

That's one hell of a lucrative paper round they must have.

[slackline]

It confused the hell out of the staff in the shop

That is not very surprising given you're in Jessops!

[Tris]

If its a one-off you could possibly consider hiring the equipment 

It's a thought - although I don't really like hiring equipment. There may not be an alternative however

[Johnny Brown]

There isn't an alternative really apart from hire, I went through this when I was a student.

The best thing is too look for a second-hand long prime. Something like a 300mm/f4 or a 400mm/5.6 should be well under £500. (I got a new nikon 300 from Honkers for £500, my first manual 400/5.6 was £50 though). A prime will be much more usable wide open, and won't degrade so much with a converter.

Big lenses often get sold on the UKNaturePhotographers forum but tend to be faster or longer, or both and hence £££$$$.

[dave]

Getting 400mm for £250 is a steep ask. not zoom, but you could find a nikon 180mm f/2.8 in either AF or MF for £200 if you shop around. Then stick on a cheap x2 converter. This would get you to 360mm with an effective aperture of 5.6. The 180s are classics, well rated for sharpness wide open, so should still be sharp enough with a TC on.

other option, you could find a nikon MF 300mm f/4.5 in the £150-200 range, then stick a x1.4 TC on it, will get you to 420mm at f/6.3.

The other thing to think is if its for a short term project then as long as you have the capital and buy smart you could spend a bit more (say £400 on an AF 300mm f/4), use it, then sell it for hopefully the same money.

do you really need a 55-200 and a 70-300 zoom? try ditching the sigma to raise some cash, makes sense if you're looking at a 300mm prime. if you go down the 180mm route then you could feasably ditch both.

[Tris]

Ok - thanks for all the responses guys, very helpful indeed 

Guess I need to sleep on it for a while and start checking for 2nd hand lenses in my spare time.

PS the Sigma was only £70 brand new so I doubt I will get a lot for it it's a pretty shit lens but I've had the odd decent shot out of it (only on tripod).

JB - I'd love to be able to get a 400/5.6 for £50 - I will start to do some searching...