D300 and TC20e iii

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David
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I just cannot achieve sharp images with the D300, 300mm f2.8 VR mark 1 and the TC20e iii.
Had it one year and carried out various tests, the lens has been serviced.
However with this set up on a tripod, mirror up and radioactivation all my shots are soft. It is sharoer stopped down to f8 but not sharp.
Have checked focus and this seems fine.

I find its better using the 300mm on its own and cropping.
Seeing some of the good images on line, what else do i consider, other than a 600mm f4 and divorce.

Dave
 
Have you had the TC 20 III checked ?

I'm getting very sharp images with that combination on a D3/D3x.

You'll need a shutter speed up in the 1/1000 range with the D300 if you are hand-holding, if you are tripod & mirror up and radio activation then I'm more inclined to think it is a setup or subject issue.
 
Have you ever used a tc before? Do you know what to expect?

You do know you need to be at least two stops down from max aperture before you can expect this to be sharp constantly? And even then its not a patch on the lens without a tc...
 
Have you ever used a tc before? Do you know what to expect?

You do know you need to be at least two stops down from max aperture before you can expect this to be sharp constantly? And even then its not a patch on the lens without a tc...

Not with the MKIII tele-converters from Nikon, or indeed Canon. Very sharp even wide open.
 
thank you all the feedback.

As atated the sharpest results are f8, but these are still soft, the whole image is soft. This is the second tc I have had so it must likley was from the same3 batch, has anyone else had issues.
As already sated others get good results even hand held if the speed is right.

Mine are soft on tripod, mirror up and radio shutter release.
The d300 is fine with just the 300mm f2.8 the images are cracking.
I have tried the setup with my old d40x and had the same problem.
My next is to try it on my daughters D3100 and if thats bad its got be the converter, as the lens was just serviced and repaired by nikon.

Dave
 
meonshore said:
Not with the MKIII tele-converters from Nikon, or indeed Canon. Very sharp even wide open.

I find that my 300 f/2.8 needs to be stopped down a couple of stops to get the best results with the 20TCIII.....
 
The MkIII is better than the MkII but it can't change physics!

David - can you show us some examples of what you are seeing?
 
To be honest, they look like I'd expect from a 2x...

But I'd try some with VR turned off... the exif says VR is on.
 
To be honest, they look like I'd expect from a 2x...

But I'd try some with VR turned off... the exif says VR is on.

I missed the bit about the VR being turned on, if the lens is tripod mounted, VR on, the camera set to AF-C and triggered by remote then I'm surprised the shots are as sharp as they are.....
 
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If you have the vr on, on tripod, then i would say, that thats your problem...you don't need vr for this... I had a older nikon 300mm 2.8 & converter 2x was very sharp..now I'm using 120-300 2.8 with converter (sigma ) and are getting great shots with this set-up...but had to adjust this set-up for best results in camera,...
 
Hi

Thanks for comments.

I have tried with out VR similar results.

The 300mm f2.8 instructiom manual states the following, I did read this before using (not a normal manwith instructions)

2 AF-S VR 200-400, AF-S VR 200 and AF-S VR 300 only, VR can be turned on. The lens can automatically detect when it is mounted on a tripod and reduce camera shake accordingly.


Dave
 
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