May 2025

[Øivind Tøien]

I missed the introduction of the Nikon-F-Teleconverter TC-20 III ,,, I still got the II-Edition  and I am not happy with it. I am very happy with the TC-14 III though.
Can you write a short review, please?
Best
Frank

I can only compare the TC-20E III to the TC-301 that I used before it on the AF 300mm f4 and it is considerably better. The limitation of the 2x converters is the loss of 2 f-stops, thus I only use the combination of this converter and the 500PF for astro/planetary photography and occasional lunar/solar shots on the Z/F mount bodies. F/11 otherwise gets too limiting. Regarding your comment on the combination of the 1.4x converter with the Z 400 f/4.5, the consensus out there is that it is capable of high quality images, but if the purpose is birding where one is likely to use the TC the whole time, it is better to go for the Z 600mm or the economic alternative the 500PF. Z-mount lenses cannot be used with the asto cameras that I used for the solar capture, so my choice of the F-mount 500PF was an easy one for me beyond the economic aspects. Here is a 100% crop example of the TC-20 E III and the 300PF on D500 under less than ideal conditions. Focusing was very challenging.  (TC-14E III works very well with both the 300 and the 500 PF lenses.)

[Birna Rørslett]

Thanks Jurgen! The Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S plus tc-1.4 x is at home now. Thanks for pushing me over the decision line! It’s indeed amazing!

Your supporter status at NG apparently will be pretty expensive

[Birna Rørslett]

To appreciate there is never a particular rendition of a scene that is "correct", here is another photo of my recent kitchen sink discovery .... More to come.

V1, 55mm f/1.2 Nikkor-O CRT.

[BL]

Your supporter status at NG apparently will be pretty expensive

GAS  was there before I joined, but yeah, admit, interactions can stimulate. Nothing wrong with that though, isn’t it

[John Geerts]

Interview with the Dutch singer / songwriter Sam Aandewiel

D5  85/1.4G

[KarlMera]

Metamorphosis

[Akira]

Sunspot active region AR4079 has just made it back from its round at the back of the sun. Visible at the upper left, it still consists of two subregions with a brighter divide in between. It will be worth watching in the coming week (with solar protection). 500PF+ TC-20E III and Baader AstroSolar film ND 5.0 on ASI678MC, stitch of two stacks, each the best 15% of 1500 frames captured in 12-bit mode. Open in new tab for larger version.

Yet another  impressive image!  The active region right above the AR4079 looks larger and stronger.  It's a little bit of relief that it doesn't seem to face directly the earth.   

[Øivind Tøien]

Yet another  impressive image!  The active region right above the AR4079 looks larger and stronger.  It's a little bit of relief that it doesn't seem to face directly the earth.   

Thanks, that region at the very upper left edge (more centered if you crop the image to 1/3 of an upper left square) is actually the returning AR4079. AR4099 is the one below it. AR4079 has not been (re)named on the map yet (https://www.spaceweather.com/images2025/26may25/hmi1898.gif ) , but will then likely be called 50xx 41xx then.  It will soon rotate to face earth directly, but it was relatively quiet on the last round considering its monstrous size.

Edit: Added the crop

Edit 2, May 27: The AR4079 monster at the upper left has now been officially renamed to AR4100, a nice round number, https://www.spaceweather.com/images2025/27may25/hmi1898.gif  (I missed that the second digit also can be incremented). I have seen a comment on Cloudy Nights that it is now doing its 3rd round across the sun.

[aerobat]

Interview with the Dutch singer / songwriter Sam Aandewiel

D5  85/1.4G

A very nice portrait John

[Akira]

Thanks, that region at the very upper left edge (more centered if you crop the image to 1/3 of an upper left square) is actually the returning AR4079. AR4099 is the one below it. AR4079 has not been (re)named on the map yet (https://www.spaceweather.com/images2025/26may25/hmi1898.gif ) , but will then likely be called 50xx then.  It will soon rotate to face earth directly, but it was relatively quiet on the last round considering its monstrous size.

Thank you for the correction and the further detailed explanation.  Good to know that the activity of AR4079 is not as hectic as before.

[Frank Fremerey]

Thanks Jurgen! The Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S plus tc-1.4 x is at home now. Thanks for pushing me over the decision line! It’s indeed amazing!

If you, your wife and your children still have enough to eat you did 100% right

[Birna Rørslett]

Kitchen sink project continues. Now also RGB ...

Zf, 55/1.2 Nikkor-O

[John Geerts]

A very nice portrait John

Thanks Daniel.

[Frank Fremerey]

Pyracantha in the rain
Date Shot:    25.05.2025 06:52:41.72
Time Zone and Date:    UTC+1, DST:OFF
Image Quality:    Lossless Compressed RAW (14-bit), Jpeg Fine (8-bit) (Optimal quality)
Device:    Nikon Z f
Lens:    VR 300mm f/4E
Focal Length:    420mm  /x1.4
Aperture:    f/5.6
Shutter Speed:    1/160s (Auto)
Exposure Mode:    Aperture Priority
ISO Sensitivity:    Auto (ISO 1000)

[BL]

And here we’ve got real water droplets Frank! Congrats with the capture!