Could I get away with a Kenko t.c for my Nikon 70-200

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Soda Farl

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I have a trip to the zoo coming up and the longest lens I have is my Nikon 70-200 vr2. Would really prefer something a little longer than this on my last trip there I had a 70-300 and most of the pictures I took were at the longer end.

I don't want to pay big bucks for a t.c as it would only be used very occasionally. Have had a quick look around online and Kenko seem to do cheap possibly nasty teleconverters.

Has anyone used these with a Nikon 70-200?

Would I be better to borrow a 70-300?
 
Soda Farl said:
I have a trip to the zoo coming up and the longest lens I have is my Nikon 70-200 vr2. Would really prefer something a little longer than this on my last trip there I had a 70-300 and most of the pictures I took were at the longer end.

I don't want to pay big bucks for a t.c as it would only be used very occasionally. Have had a quick look around online and Kenko seem to do cheap possibly nasty teleconverters.

Has anyone used these with a Nikon 70-200?

Would I be better to borrow a 70-300?
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In a word "Yes".
 
So a 1.4 t.c giving me constant f/4 would not be as good as the 70-300 which will only give me f/5.6 at the long end. I would of thought it would of been the other way around?
 
The kenko pro dgx is far from a nasty tc, it gives great results.

Ive only used it on canon gear and the iq drop on a 70-200 2.8 is v v minimal so i'd be more than happy using it, cant see it being any different on nikon stuff either.
 
Ben6 said:
The kenko pro dgx is far from a nasty tc, it gives great results.

Ive only used it on canon gear and the iq drop on a 70-200 2.8 is v v minimal so i'd be more than happy using it, cant see it being any different on nikon stuff either.
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Are you using the 1.4 or the 2x version?
 
Ben6 said:
Its the 1.4. Ive not heard much about the 2x to be honest but for the money I'm really impressed with the 1.4.
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I don't suppose you have any sample pics at the longer end mate?
 
Im on my iPad at the moment but i'll pop on my laptop later on and have a root through for you.
 
Tommy, i shoot professionally with a Kenko 1.4x glued to my MKII 70-200mm and unless it's absolutely chucking it down it stays on there, i find the DG version to be sharper than the DGX

Take a peep at my website, i shoot a 2 body setup, D3S with a 400mm f/2.8 and Nikon 1.4x then a D3S with Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 MKII and the Kenko 1.4x

Its easy to spot which photos were taken with which combo

Cant fault it to be honest, in fact i would say its probably sharper than the Nikon TC, only trouble is it's not weather sealed.
 
Dont forget that the 70-300mm loses a fair bit of sharpness and overall IQ wide open at 300mm, the 70-200mm 1/4x combo doesn't.
 
Super thanks Gary will have a nosy on your site. Do you know if the VR will still work okay with the t.c?
 
Soda Farl said:
So a 1.4 t.c giving me constant f/4 would not be as good as the 70-300 which will only give me f/5.6 at the long end. I would of thought it would of been the other way around?
Click to expand...

But you did ask if you would be better to borrow. That option costs you nothing.
 
I've got a Kenko Pro300 DGX 1.4x and I use it with most of my lenses and it gives me some great results. I don't often use it as I've got access to a Sigma 150-500 OS and a 120-400 OS all the time. If the wife is using her 120-400 then I'll usually use my Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS II and either the Kenko 1.4x or a Canon MkIII 2x.
 
Hi Tommy

I just purchased a 2nd hand Kenko form the classifieds (for the other half) but I've also got the Canon 2x II

Just taken a couple of shots for you to compare with the Canon 70-200 f2.8 mk I , the 1st with the Kenko and second with the Canon 2x II both on a tripod M 1/50 f5.6 ISO 200 (400mm with the TC's)


Kenko 2x


Canon 2x II

Maybe not the best shots but stuck in doors on this dark miserable day

Also links to raw files
Kenko Pro 300 2x
Canon 2x II
 
Thanks for the reassurance Stuart.

Tony the raw files were a great help thank you. I have made up my mind to get the Kenko, your Canon does look a bit sharper but there is not as big a difference as I would of thought and I will likely only use it very occasionally.

Thanks to all the advice in the thread very helpful. Will have a hunt around now online to find one of these at a good price. I think the 1.4x will probably be fine for what I want.
 
You will be hard pressed to see any difference between decent quality TCs, unless you scrutinise the edges (that are likely out of focus anyway) and maybe not even then.

The IQ you get is 90% dependent on the quality of the mother lens. Kenko Pros are very good, Sigma too and have metal barrels, if that's important. Nikon 1.7x is a nice compromise in IQ vs reach terms
 
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