Nikkor TC-20E III 2x Teleconverter

[Ilkka Nissilä]

It would be better to just give the actual focal length as otherwise there can be some confusion about what is meant. If you want to give the angle of view, you can do that as well. ;-)

[Bjørn Rørslett]

It is the perception of what constitutes "actual" focal length that sometimes turns out to be so difficult ... Totally agree otherwise. Focal length, format, those data should be enough for anyone keen to calculate other aspects. However what these figures have to do with the ensuing photograph is obscure at best.

[BW]

Have had it for some years, but I carefully choose when to haul it. It is a fantastic lens that works well with the 2x converter, when atmospheric conditions are favorable. If temperature and humidity is high or over sea in winter, it is almost impossible to get a good clear image. Far away objects are especially prone to this effect. I suspect this might affect the observed image quality of this combo. But otherwise it is great. Here is another one with the combo. Water shrew, 1/500 sec, f8, Iso 25600, Df, 600, 2x.

[tommiejeep]

Børge, great advert for the Df .  Very interesting image.  The 300 2.8vrI is the only lens I use the TC2.0EIII on.  Tried with the 70-200 2.8GvrII but found the 80-400vr was better at anything over short to medium distances.  I would love to try the TC2 on the 500 f4Gvr on a cool , crisp morning with low humidity but that is never going to happen in Goa  .  A couple of years back we were planning on driving from Goa to Ladakh with an SUV full of gear.  I was really looking forward to getting to the remote areas.   In that instance the Chinese Army spoiled the plan.
I have seen some wild atmospherics shooting birds across a small lake in the heat and humidity.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

For really long lenses, the conditions of the atmosphere severely impact what and how one can shoot. A problem I see in particular during late summer into winter is temperature inversions, and shooting through an inversion layer is literally as being enshrouded in dense fog. Nothing comes into sharp focus and visibility drops more the longer the focal length.

A cold late autumn or winter morning just before sunrise is the best. Like this one from the Central Mountain Range of Norway, shot very early using the first sun rays grazing the mountain slopes. The red patch is an alpine heather Arctostaphylos alpina, famous for its intensely coloured foliage in September. In fact, showing the red hues to their full extent is hopeless on a web page. The heather here grows on a moraine ridge that gives the dry habitat required to maximise the colours.


(500/4)

[BW]

Beautiful Bjørn! You explained the atmospheric impact on focal length better than me. I have come to the conclusion that to properly assess the image quality of a lens and tc combo one must take into account the athmopheric conditions. And Tom, I guess that these conditions seldom occur in your part of the world. The only thing I could thhink of is to exaggerate the athmospheric condition during a sunset or a sunrise.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

As I stated a few times before, I do use TCs when their use is warranted.

Sometimes, even on a zoom lens like the 70-200/2.8 VR Mk.2 here with the TC-20E mk.3

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Another TC'd shot, this time using the AFS 200/2 again with the TC-20E Mk.3. On occasion, the combination works well enough.

When heat waves and air turbulence cause problems, one better has to be closer to the main subject.

(Death Valley dunes).

[BW]

On par with my observations. I used the same combo as you (70-200 and tc) on both wildlife and landscapes and was quite satisfied with the results. The heat from the Death valley scene radiate from the screen

[Akira]

Ah, Central Mountain Range image is easily one of the most impressive one by Bjørn.  Glad to see it as a larger image datum.

[Jan Anne]

Second attempt to post these images, somehow the paths to the images got screwed up.

The image

Nikkor 200/2VR with 1.7TC on D800E @ f/4, Rotterdam zoo 2012



The crop

Nikkor 200/2VR with 1.7TC on D800E @ f/4, Rotterdam zoo 2012

[Bjørn Rørslett]

No reason to complain about the quality, JA.

[John Koerner]

Second attempt to post these images, somehow the paths to the images got screwed up.

Very nice detail, easily as nice as the 2.0 TC.

I personally can see no qualitative difference between the two.

I believe the folks who have had bad results are either a) using a lens not suitable, b) using the wrong apertures, and/or c) hand-holding or otherwise implementing bad technique and blaming it on the TC.

With the right lens, the right aperture, and with optimal (tripod, sometimes even hand-held) technique, the results of this adapter are superb.

Will post more images as time permits ... back to work now 

[Jan Anne]

While user error might play some part in getting things to work there's also the inevitable variations in construction tolerances.

With 0 being optimal performance a +1 lens and a +1 TC you end up with +2 performance, one can work on ones technique all he want but the combination will never sing. Attach the same +1 TC on a -1 lens and magic does happen without little extra effort besides the basic skill set of using long lenses.

My 200/2VR and 1.7TC combo was very usable wide-open at f/3.3 and very close to native IQ at f/4. The only problem that did occur was that this lens shifted my perception of acceptable optical performance to new heights and my dislike for anything zoomish 

[BW]

It doesnt  get sharper than that Jan. Your technic must be flawless