2x converter or not 2x converter that is the question

L

loclnor

Messages
118
Name
Lorraine
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all
I am a relative newbie to dslr photography and am somewhat confused by my options.
I have just bought a 18-200mm lens so that I do not have to continuously change lenses between the 18-55 and the 55-200.
However my dilemma is - I would like to extend my zoom as far as possible. I have looked at the 400-500mm lens but found it too heavy to carry around and for the amount of use I would get from it, it is very expensive.
So .....
please can you advise - my options seem to be,
I buy a 2 x converter- are they any good? - will it fit the 18-200mm lens?
Is it worth me getting the 70-300mm and a x2 converter - is this a viable combination and will 100mm make alot of difference?
Is there any reason that I am not aware of as to why I should keep the 55-200 lens?
Any thoughts anyone has on this would be much appreciated.

Lorraine :thinking:
 
Most tc's work best with prime lenses and can be ok with zooms that have a max aperture of 2.8. They either don't work or don't work well with the cheaper consumer zooms.
 
A TC will extend the range of some lenses, nikon has 3 on the market 1.4x 1.7x and 2x TC, they've also just released a new 2x TC, ain't cheap, however, the problem with a TC is it reduces the amount of light by an f-stop or 2, basically making the lens slower to autofocus..(or only allowing manual focus).. The 2x TC also degrades the image quality of the image because you putting extra glass in front of the lens.

example 200mm f2.8 lens + 1.4x TC creates a 280mm f4 lens
+ 2x TC creates a 400mm f5.6 lens

The problem is not only do you lose f-stops of light, you also significantly reduce autofocus speed and potentially only allowing manual focus of the lens, depending on the lens your adding the TC. (now I'm not a nikon owner, so unlike canon, their TC's will only autofocus upto f5.6 (lens + TC combo) unless you have a 1D series camera), I'm still unsure whether nikon lens combo's will autofocus above f5.6, however in answer to your question, the 18-200mm lens won't work with the nikon TC's, it might work with a 3rd party TC like kenko or sigma, but because your lens is already a slow lens, I wouldn't recommend using TC's to increase your focal range with any of the lenses you have suggested.

The TC's are primarily used for the faster primes (like 300mm f2.8), because they can handle the problems that the TC introduces. Personally if you require a longer zoom, unfortunately that's what you need to be looking at. Something like a sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6
 
Thank you both, especially Peter, for kindly taking the time to explain in detail - very useful, shall definitely take a look at the sigma 120-400mm - looks like I shall have to start saving!!!
 
I binned a 2x TC that went on my 70-200mm as it simply wasn't giving me sharp shots.

The reach was brilliant, but no point in having that if images are coming out less than sharp.

Currently got a 1.4x sat on my 100-300mm which is proving more successful :)
 
Just for your info I have a Nikon D300 and quite happily use a sigma 70-200 and a Sigma 120-400mm lens with the Sigma 1.4 TC, the light loss on a 2x TC leave it only really to be used in bright sunlight.
However there is another option you won't read about, that 1.4 Sigma TC will actually work on the Nikon 70-300mm VR lens as well but using it above a certain f stop means manual focusing only and I often use this setup as it is lighter than on the Sigma lenses.

Its all to do with the internal travel of the 70-300mm lens as it doesn't hit the TC at the 70mm range

Realspeed
 
Thank you Realspeed, the latter combination sounds good - I think a visit to my local camera shop is called for. At least I know what I'm looking for now!

Lorraine
 
Hi sorry to butt in on this thread but can i just ask realspeed about what he said, is that true that you can use a sigma tc with a 70-300 vr nikon lens only i keep reading something about a tc damaging inside the lens any help would be appreciated
 
oooo errr I would like verification on that one too!! - Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Lorraine
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top