Nikon TC1.4 II vs III

htid

htid

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Chris
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Since my version II has been stolen, I need to replace it. I've read quite a bit suggesting the iii is slightly superior so I'm pretty sure I'm just going to go for that (if I can justify the £200 or so difference) but just wondered if anybody on here had any thoughts and has used them both.

Cheers
 
htid said:
Since my version II has been stolen, I need to replace it. I've read quite a bit suggesting the iii is slightly superior so I'm pretty sure I'm just going to go for that (if I can justify the £200 or so difference) but just wondered if anybody on here had any thoughts and has used them both.

Cheers
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Not 100% sure but I think with the iii you can only use with the newer lenses like the 300mm PF as it won't communicate with the older lenses. If you google Nikon lens compatibility it maybe mentioned on there?
 
Chris, as Simon indicated it is always worth looking at the Nikon compatibility chart - easy to find online
 
htid said:
Since my version II has been stolen, I need to replace it. I've read quite a bit suggesting the iii is slightly superior so I'm pretty sure I'm just going to go for that (if I can justify the £200 or so difference) but just wondered if anybody on here had any thoughts and has used them both.

Cheers
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BillN_33 said:
Chris, as Simon indicated it is always worth looking at the Nikon compatibility chart - easy to find online
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gramps said:
Everything I've heard from people who have had both is that there is no visible difference.
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Just had a Google and found compatibility list from Nikon. Maybe of info for further reference. There does seem the iii has some limitations, but with older D lenses as I thought.

linky > https://www.nikonusa.com/Assets/Common-Assets/Images/Teleconverter-Compatibility/EN_Comp_chart.html
 
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Thanks for the info. I'll be getting the 300 2.8 vrii so no worries with compatibility. Just wanted to hear about the optical differences between the two if anybody knows anything first (or second) hand.

@gramps that sounds good then, could save myself some cash!
 
Just that I've read quite a few places that it's slightly sharper, more vibrant, slightly better contrast and faster to AF. How many people have you heard from that there is no difference?
 
htid said:
Just that I've read quite a few places that it's slightly sharper, more vibrant, slightly better contrast and faster to AF. How many people have you heard from that there is no difference?
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I also visit a US site where it has been discussed by several wildlife togs and all agree that there is no difference in IQ, just the fluorine coating and compatibility with newer lenses ... TBH if it was little difference in price I would buy it just because it's newer but not at the extra it does cost :)
 
htid said:
Thanks for the info. I'll be getting the 300 2.8 vrii so no worries with compatibility. Just wanted to hear about the optical differences between the two if anybody knows anything first (or second) hand.

@gramps that sounds good then, could save myself some cash!
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The compatibility issues are if you use or will use the older lenses. I've never seen any need to upgrade to the mk3.

As Nikon have already updated the 400, 500, 600 and 800 lenses I wouldn't be surprised if they don't update the 300 2.8, 200-400 and 200 f2 at some point this year so it may be worth waiting a few months before getting a vr2.
 
htid said:
Thanks for the info. I'll be getting the 300 2.8 vrii so no worries with compatibility. Just wanted to hear about the optical differences between the two if anybody knows anything first (or second) hand.

@gramps that sounds good then, could save myself some cash!
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The compatibility issues are if you use or will use the older lenses. I've never seen any need to upgrade to the mk3.

As Nikon have already updated the 400, 500, 600 and 800 lenses I wouldn't be surprised if they don't update the 300 2.8, 200-400 and 200 f2 at some point this year so it may be worth waiting a few months before getting a vr2.
 
Are you going to be able to notice the difference? We are probably going to be talking about very small improvements. Nikon is probably going to make out there are big advantages but real world use by amateurs is probably not going to show it. From my use of the mk2 with a 300 vr1 there wasn't too much performance drop compared to the bare lens.
 
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That's all good to hear! Think I'll stick with the II then.

@rob-nikon are you basing your statement about a new lens on anything other than a hunch? I only ask because since I was burgled I've got no equipment at all. I'm borrowing a d5000 until I can get a new body but with no lenses and summer coming up which is the time I'm most likely to get out, I was planning to get a lens soon. Mpb have the vrii for 2749 which seems a good price. Obviously cheaper would be better but I don't want to do no photography all summer in the hope that a new 300 comes out, only for it not to and I may as well have got one now.
 
rob-nikon said:
The compatibility issues are if you use or will use the older lenses. I've never seen any need to upgrade to the mk3.

As Nikon have already updated the 400, 500, 600 and 800 lenses I wouldn't be surprised if they don't update the 300 2.8, 200-400 and 200 f2 at some point this year so it may be worth waiting a few months before getting a vr2.
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I think it's a safe bet the 300 2.8 will take an upgrade this year, I thought it was coming last year when they dropped to £3199 but they seem to have settled around £3.5k now
 
htid said:
That's all good to hear! Think I'll stick with the II then.

@rob-nikon are you basing your statement about a new lens on anything other than a hunch? I only ask because since I was burgled I've got no equipment at all. I'm borrowing a d5000 until I can get a new body but with no lenses and summer coming up which is the time I'm most likely to get out, I was planning to get a lens soon. Mpb have the vrii for 2749 which seems a good price. Obviously cheaper would be better but I don't want to do no photography all summer in the hope that a new 300 comes out, only for it not to and I may as well have got one now.
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It's a hunch as they are the only lenses that haven't been upgraded. I doubt nikon are going to leave the 300 2.8 weighing nearly the same as the 500 f4. As the big photography shows are March and September I would expect some announcement in the summer if it is coming. It's likely to be more than the current lens but may have an effect on used prices.
 
Cool thanks for that, I didn't know and would have bought it. Yeah I think it'll affect used prices. It's been a toss up between the Sigma 150-600 and the 300 2.8 so I might just get the Sigma C to tide me over this summer and then sell it. Hopefully the money I'll lose selling it on won't be more than the money I'll save by waiting for the 300 price to drop!
 
htid said:
Cool thanks for that, I didn't know and would have bought it. Yeah I think it'll affect used prices. It's been a toss up between the Sigma 150-600 and the 300 2.8 so I might just get the Sigma C to tide me over this summer and then sell it. Hopefully the money I'll lose selling it on won't be more than the money I'll save by waiting for the 300 price to drop!
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It's difficult to say as its very dependant on if people see an advantage in upgrading to the new model and how much the sigma will drop in the same period. The bargain 300 2.8 is the non vr af-s 2 model. A friend has one and it produces very sharp images, vr isnt really that useful with wildlife and at nearly half the price of a used vr2 it's very good value. Finding one is the hard part :)
 
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htid said:
Cool thanks for that, I didn't know and would have bought it. Yeah I think it'll affect used prices. It's been a toss up between the Sigma 150-600 and the 300 2.8 so I might just get the Sigma C to tide me over this summer and then sell it. Hopefully the money I'll lose selling it on won't be more than the money I'll save by waiting for the 300 price to drop!
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Chris, not sure if your lens was stolen also, so annoying. And not sure you want another 300mm f4, but...I maybe selling my 300mm f4 afs lens and 1.4ii tc as I'm recovering from shoulder and elbow surgery so wont be using them for a while. Also, I'm going to make more of an effort to photograph sea/land scapes, so also considering selling up my D750 and buying a D810 instead.

If interested let me know and you could put up a wanted ad??
 
@Swanseajack thanks but I was planning to sell the 300 f4 which was stolen so I'm not looking to buy another one - good luck selling it though.
@Kodiak Qc Thanks that does seem to suggest that there's not much difference unless you have an E lens which won't be what I'd get.

It's all a bit irrelevant though becauise if I get a 150-600 for the interim, I won't bother with a 1.4 at all for now. Thanks for all the info though everybody!
 
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