TC for my little D200

[new2me]

I have a D200 and a Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6

I would like to get more reach to get better pictures of pretty birdies and possibly rugby.

So far, I have deduced that the combination I have isn't the best for shooting fast subjects on grey days andso wonder if I would be wasting my money buying one of the following.


Used Kenko 2x Pro 300 DG Teleconverter £89.00

Used Kenko 1.4x Pro 300 DG Teleconverter £89.00

Used Sigma 1.4x EX APO Teleconverter £99

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/search/Teleconverter, Nikon Fit


Or, should I just stick with what i have for 6 months and try to upgrade my body next year (for something that will work with the lenses I have)?

 

[casts_by_fly]

you'll likely end up with manual focusing only with all of them, certainly with the 2X, because you'll be past the f5.6 autofocus limit. It will certainly be hit or miss. A used Kenco 1.4 would be what I'd try since if it doesn't work on this lens you can use it on either an 80-200 2.8 or 300 f4 AF. I have the 1.4x+300f4 and it is good on a D90, so I'd imagine the D200 similar or better.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[new2me]

Cheers Rick
I didn't know about the autofocus limit

 

[eccles]

Forget a 2x TC with anything but the best quality lens you can find, which is usually (but not quite exclusively) going to be a prime over 200mm. If that Sigma is the old non HSM version, I'd be surprised if you'd be happy with the results from a 1.4x either.
As for upgrading your body for something that will work with your lenses, it should be the other way round. The camera is fine but upgrade that Sigma for something longer and/or wider. Rick's suggestions are sound as you'll preferrably need to end up with 400mm/f5.6 or longer/wider.

Telconverters can be useful with the right lenses, cheap telezooms excepted. If you consider the Sigma EX TC, be aware that the front element also extends into the lens throat so you have to be sure there is sufficient clearance to avoid crashing against the rear element in the lens. They're designed for a limited selection of Sigma telephotos, so whatever lens you use it with you should check it'll fit before buying. The Kenko Pro300 is almost as good as the Sigma but will fit more lenses so if you *really* want to try it with your Sigma zoom then at least it'll be useful when you find out the results aren't very good. One Sigma combo that does work quite well is the EX 100-300mm F4 + EX 1.4 TC which gives you 420mm @F5.6. But I guess you don't need me to tell you that a Nikon prime will be better.


A lot of shooting birds is either patience, sitting in a freezing cold hide for hours, or persistence. The latter means placing food in the same spot regularly where birds are known to forage. You can set up a feeding station in your garden if there are trees around where birds can hide. Failing that, if there are any RSPB woodland sites near you, check them out as many of them have feeding stations that are magnets for birds in winter. Visit the site regularly and they'll quickly get used to you. I've shot most of the more common woodland birds without a hide from about 15-20 feet away simply by keeping still and quiet.
Regards,
Mike.

 

[new2me]

Cheers Mike.
I think i'll save my pennies for now and practice my tree impressions