AF 70-180/4.5-5.6D ED Micro-Nikkor with TC-14A Advice...

[David H. Hartman]

I wondering if a Nikon TC-14A works well with the AF 70-180/4.5-5.6D ED Micro-Nikkor or if better results are obtained with a Nikon No. 5T and or 6T close-up lens?

Does this lens work well with Nikon extension tubes, sans auto focus?

Just for laughs what about the Nikon TC-16A?

I've seen a Nikon TC-14A in decent condition and a reasonable price and wonder if it's worth buying.

Thanks for any advice!

Dave

[Roland Vink]

No direct experience with this lens, but my feeling is that you'll get best performance using the close-up lenses.

Small aperture zooms don't usually work well with TCs. If the TC-14A is cheap, by all means try it, you can always sell again for a similar price if it doesn't perform.

I doubt extension tubes will work well with this lens either, performance won't be optimal and they are a pain to use since you need to refocus each time you zoom.

If you want greater magnification, I would consider an AFD 105/2.8 micro since it gets to 1:1 directly, compared to 3:4 for the 70-180. Don't be fooled by the longer focal length of the 70-180, it's no substitute for the various 180 and 200mm macro lenses since the focal length reduces dramatically at close range. For macro the working distance is similar to the 105 micro.

The 105 micro works quite well on a PN-11 which gets you to about 1.6x life size with good results. Plus you get a built-in tripod mount which makes for a stable setup, and it allows you to conveniently switch from  horizontal to vertical format while staying on target.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The 70-180 is  a very special lens and nobody should think it similar to say the AF 105/2.8, even though they both can do AF (in a pinch).

The ability to fine-tune the composition by the zoom feature comes in extremely handy. Remarkable is also the fact this lens does not alter its effective aperture over the entire range from infinity to its near limit. To my knowledge this property makes the 70-180 unique amongst all close-focusing lenses from any maker.

While its maximum aperture at 180 mm, f/5.6, doesn't sound too impressive, all other f/4 lenses for close-up photography end at [much] smaller aperture at their near limit and that more or less include the f/2.8 models at 1:1 as well.

Sharpness is very good to excellent, but unlike the other Micro-Nikkors, the 70-180 Micro is not explicitly designed for flat-field rendition. In this regard it is merely average.

The tripod mount is, not very unexpectedly, substandard, but running a pair of stainless steel bolts into the foot helps a lot.

Use the 5T or better 6T to get beyond 1:1.3X. Using a TC on this modest aperture zoom is a bad idea. Don't fall for the temptation.

[David H. Hartman]

I don't think I'd use the TC-14A on any other lens I so I'll probably pass this time.

For 105mm Micro-Nikkors I own an f/4 AI and an f/2.8 Ais. I also have an AF-S 105/2.8G ED VR which I'll use for portraits, landscape and close-up where a tripod is not an option. I'll try it for macro I doubt that it will replace the manual focus 105 Micros due to its heavy breathing at the close focus end.

Thanks for the advice,

Dave

[null]

Well, I have this lens and a TC-14a and the Sun came out and I usually get an afternoon walk in. I've never tried this combination before, so this in in response to the OP.

What are your expectations? Stopped-down, on my Df- hand-held, but braced. "It works", and I uploaded some full-res JPegs wide-open and stopped down:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90768661@N02/albums/72157650030044207



Test: 70~180 with TC14a by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Test: 70~180 with TC14a by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Test: 70~180 with TC14a by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/lenses/AF/AF70-180_4.5-5.6ED_(80)05.pdf

These shots are all on the Nikon Df.

The TC-14a and TC-201 are in the manual for the lens, extension tubes are not. I don't have a TC-16a anymore, just the TC-16... NOT going to try it!

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Feel free to combine optical components at will. I just won't recommend such combinations, but there is no need to adhere to my advice of course. There are no unbreakable Laws enforced.

Personally I think the 6T approach is superior when you need a little more magnification in the near range. My experience for what it is worth.

[null]

I do not have a 6T, cannot do a direct comparison. I use the AF-Micro Nikkor 200/F4D for 1:1. I bought these lenses years ago when the D1x was new, along with the 60/2.8 and 105/2.8 AF-Micro Nikkors. Ended up using them on a Nikon E3 more than anything else as it works with the SB-29. resolution was not so important with a 1.3MPixel DSLR, but it is full-frame and worked well for scientific documentation.

As far as combining optics- I have some interesting lenses made from parts of Nikon, Canon, Leica, Schneider, Zeiss, and ZOMZ lenses.