TC?, or no TC?, that is the Question :)

[John Koerner]

One of my goals as a nature photographer has been to upgrade my equipment, as best as I can, and to get the most reach possible with the fewest items to carry with me on a hike.

The following illustrates how I can achieve 300mm to 900mm with my 300mm lens, 2 cameras (a Nikon D810 and on a Nikon D500), and a 2x TC to add (or not add) as I see fit.
(Note: carrying an extra camera is a lot easier, and cheaper, than carrying an extra telephoto lens.)

For explanation, the following conversions are true:

• Nikon D810 = Full Frame (FF) camera with a 1.0x conversion;
  Nikon D500 = Crop (APS-C) camera with a 1.5x conversion;
  Nikon 2x TC doubles (x2) all measurements.
  
  Therefore, a 300 mm is a 300mm on a D810 (1.0x), but is a 450mm on a D500 (1.5x)

With the added variable of a 2x Teleconverter (TC), the combination is essentially like having 4 different telephoto lenses (a 300mm, a 450mm, a 600mm, and a 900mm), by rotating the 2 cameras + the TC, as needed, centered around 1 lens.

That said, I was very worried that the quality of adding a 2x TC would significantly-degrade my images. However, I am pleased to report excellent quality is retained when the 2x TC III is added. (I do notice 'some' reduction in quality, but not much. It is worthy of mention that the 2x TC III and 300mm VR II came out at the same time, and were specifically designed to work together. Note: the 2x TC does *not* work well with mediocre zooms. It is designed for high-end primes.)

For fun, here are the incremental (un-cropped) stages of closeness I am able to achieve from 300-900mm with 2 cameras, 1 lens, and 1 TC:


The subject is just the log itself, and how close I am able to get to it.

@ 300mm (D810 + 300mm)



@ 450mm (D500 + 300mm)



@ 600mm (D810 + 300mm + 2x TC)



@ 900mm (D500 + 300mm + 2x TC)


Click the images if you'd like. (Nothing special about the images, and no effort was made to render this ordinary subject. Posted just for interest-sake to illustrate the reach differences.)

The flexibility of this combo is pretty neat. The weight of simply carrying an extra FF camera, plus 2x TC, is FAR preferable than carrying 3 extra 6-8-lb lenses. (Not to mention the cost).

Here are a several images, a couple taken with the D810 + 300mm + 2xTC (@ 600mm), most taken on a hike this morning with the D500 +  300mm + 2xTC (@ 900mm) at San Dimas Canyon:



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 10% crop) | 1/100/ | f/8.0 | ISO 100



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/1250 | f/7.1 | ISO 320



Nikon D810 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 600mm, 50% crop) | 1/800 | f/6.3 | ISO 320



Nikon D810 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 600mm, 10% crop) | 1/250 | f/6.3 | ISO 320



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 60% crop) | 1/250/ | f/8.0 | ISO 4000 - really pushing it here



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, fallen bird nest, no crop) | 1/200/ | f/8.0 | ISO 1000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/200/ | f/8.0 | ISO 1000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/1250/ | f/7.1 | ISO 320



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/100/ | f/8.0 | ISO 2000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 10% crop, after running up the hill) | 1/100/ | f/8.0 | ISO 2000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/125/ | f/9.0 | ISO 160



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 50% crop) | 1/400/ | f/8.0 | ISO 320 - again, really pushing it here (extreme darks + extreme lights)


The versatility of this combination ... from a macro replacement (at a comfortable 15' distance) ... to a super-long telephoto option ... from ISO 100 - ISO 4000+ ... is mind-boggling   

Jack

[NancyP]

That's a good point about the uses of teleconverters for adding near-macro magnification to long telephoto lenses. Teleconverters are also great for adding to the long tele 1:1 macro lenses. How does the Nikon TC work with your Sigma 180 macro?

[John Koerner]

That's a good point about the uses of teleconverters for adding near-macro magnification to long telephoto lenses. Teleconverters are also great for adding to the long tele 1:1 macro lenses. How does the Nikon TC work with your Sigma 180 macro?

Hi Nancy;

I replaced the roundedness and AF capabilities of my Sigma 180 with the Nikkor 300mm

I have the Voightlander macro, but find I don't use it in the field much these days.

I used a 2x TC with my Canon 180, but got rid of it the day I got it. Nowhere near as good as this combo.

The TC is not designed for every lens. I am sure the Canon TC works better on the Canon super-primes (which rate twice the score of the macro lens). Only lenses that good can take the optical hit of a TC and still look great.

Lenses floating in the 800 range (as opposed to the 1300 range) will be reduced to mush with a TC ...