Nikkor TC-20E III 2x Teleconverter

[John Koerner]

One of my goals as a nature photographer has been to upgrade my equipment, as best as I can, and to get the most reach possible with the fewest items to carry with me on a hike.

The following illustrates how I can achieve 300mm to 900mm with my 300mm lens, 2 cameras (a Nikon D810 and on a Nikon D500), and a 2x TC to add (or not add) as I see fit.
(Note: carrying an extra camera is a lot easier, and cheaper, than carrying an extra telephoto lens.)

For explanation, the following conversions are true:

• Nikon D810 = Full Frame (FF) camera with a 1.0x conversion;
  Nikon D500 = Crop (APS-C) camera with a 1.5x conversion;
  Nikon 2x TC doubles (x2) all measurements.
  
  Therefore, a 300 mm is a 300mm on a D810 (1.0x), but is a 450mm on a D500 (1.5x)

With the added variable of a 2x Teleconverter (TC), the combination is essentially like having 4 different telephoto lenses (a 300mm, a 450mm, a 600mm, and a 900mm), by rotating the 2 cameras + the TC, as needed, centered around 1 lens.

That said, I was very worried that the quality of adding a 2x TC would significantly-degrade my images. However, I am pleased to report excellent quality is retained when the 2x TC III is added. (I do notice 'some' reduction in quality, but not much. It is worthy of mention that the 2x TC III and 300mm VR II came out at the same time, and were specifically designed to work together. Note: the 2x TC does *not* work well with mediocre zooms. It is designed for high-end primes.)

For fun, here are the incremental (un-cropped) stages of closeness I am able to achieve from 300-900mm with 2 cameras, 1 lens, and 1 TC:


The subject is just the log itself, and how close I am able to get to it.

@ 300mm (D810 + 300mm)



@ 450mm (D500 + 300mm)



@ 600mm (D810 + 300mm + 2x TC)



@ 900mm (D500 + 300mm + 2x TC)


Click the images if you'd like. (Nothing special about the images, and no effort was made to render this ordinary subject. Posted just for interest-sake to illustrate the reach differences.)

The flexibility of this combo is pretty neat. The weight of simply carrying an extra FF camera, plus 2x TC, is FAR preferable than carrying 3 extra 6-8-lb lenses. (Not to mention the cost).

Here are a several images, a couple taken with the D810 + 300mm + 2xTC (@ 600mm), most taken on a hike this morning with the D500 +  300mm + 2xTC (@ 900mm) at San Dimas Canyon:



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 10% crop) | 1/100/ | f/8.0 | ISO 100



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/1250 | f/7.1 | ISO 320



Nikon D810 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 600mm, 50% crop) | 1/800 | f/6.3 | ISO 320



Nikon D810 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 600mm, 10% crop) | 1/250 | f/6.3 | ISO 320



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 60% crop) | 1/250/ | f/8.0 | ISO 4000 - really pushing it here



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, fallen bird nest, no crop) | 1/200/ | f/8.0 | ISO 1000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/200/ | f/8.0 | ISO 1000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/1250/ | f/7.1 | ISO 320



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/100/ | f/8.0 | ISO 2000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 10% crop, after running up the hill) | 1/100/ | f/8.0 | ISO 2000



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, no crop) | 1/125/ | f/9.0 | ISO 160



Nikon D500 | 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | Nikon AF-S 2x Teleconverter TC-20E III (@ 900mm, 50% crop) | 1/400/ | f/8.0 | ISO 320 - again, really pushing it here (extreme darks + extreme lights)


The versatility of this combination ... from a macro replacement (at a comfortable 15' distance) ... to a super-long telephoto option ... from ISO 100 - ISO 4000+ ... is mind-boggling   

Jack

[John Koerner]

All shots taken w 2x TC III @ 900mm, 1/100, f/8, ISO 1000 (except the first, which was 1/80).

Never had the ability to reach birds before ... and it's kinda cool

Believe this is a young Cooper's Hawk ... to say I am "pleased" with the results of this 2x extender would be an understatement.

It has exceeded my expectations.

Jack

[Erik Lund]

Very nice samples!

I'm also really impressed by the TC-20E Mark III but also TC-14E Mark III, those two together with the 300mm PF f/4 are a really nice kit

With the 'taps' removed they even work stacked,,,

One surprise to me was that the TC-20E Mark III was performing really well with the 70-200 AFS II f/2.8 as reported by others.

[Tristin]

The 300mm PF is a fantastic performer, I'd like to own one someday!

[John Koerner]

Very nice samples!

I'm also really impressed by the TC-20E Mark III but also TC-14E Mark III, those two together with the 300mm PF f/4 are a really nice kit

With the 'taps' removed they even work stacked,,,

One surprise to me was that the TC-20E Mark III was performing really well with the 70-200 AFS II f/2.8 as reported by others.

Thank you.

I have heard the 1.4x and 1.7x are great as well; I just went for the 2x and swap between the D810 and D500 (and 2x TC) for reach variance.

Interesting on the "stack" idea

On the link I provided, there is a very useful chart as to which lenses work, which do not (no AF), as well as which apertures are optimal for each lens to receive optimal sharpness with the converter.

Cheers.

[John Koerner]

The 300mm PF is a fantastic performer, I'd like to own one someday!

The price is steep, but really a value by comparison.

The Sony 300mm is $7500 and sucks.

The Canon 300mm is $6100, and is almost as good, but not quite.

The Nikon 300mm VR II is only $5500 and is better than both

With the 2x TC, and 2 camera backs (one FF the other APS-C), you get an incredible variety of lens lengths, retaining excellent quality throughout.

Since the tripod supports the heavy lens, you can "hands free" switch cameras (as well as TC or no TC) rapidly and efficiently.

The Cotton Carrier is an invaluable resource to this end, far better than any backpack (where you have to take it off, get your exchanges, etc.)

[John G]

 
    These images are great to see and very inspiring alongside many of the D500 images I have viewed.
    I was so excited to see the D500 production and pondered how it could work as second body along side a D800E.
    I nearly exchanged the D800E to the D810, but I then got a chance to use the D810, enjoying some of the new
    features available but felt a little insecure about the quality of the DX Mode. Even though it was speedily accessable
    with a re-assigned fn button.   I regularly done a burst in FX quickly followed by a burst in DX. 
    I felt I should await the release of the D500 and see how it is received by its users. I am very interested in owning a D500 as a outcome
    to all the positive feedback. Apart from a collection of function failure reports, I have not seen any writings that are negative towards it.
    I intend to use it in a very similar way to yourself. Make the most of the equivalent FOV to give an impression of larger magnification,
    as well as capitalise on the AF capabilities and shutter burst/buffer count.
    I have a TC 17 ii that I use regularly on a 70 - 200mm f4 I have also used the TC 17 ii in a stacked TC arrangement with MF ais lenses.
    In good light it is capable of a image that is presentable hand held and surprisingly good on a tripod.
    It looks like Nikon have done quite a nice turn for there users in the flexible choices they have in DSLR bodies.   
     

[Tristin]

Thanks for the tip-off to Cotton Carrier John.

[John Koerner]

    These images are great to see and very inspiring alongside many of the D500 images I have viewed.
    I was so excited to see the D500 production and pondered how it could work as second body along side a D800E.
    I nearly exchanged the D800E to the D810, but I then got a chance to use the D810, enjoying some of the new
    features available but felt a little insecure about the quality of the DX Mode. Even though it was speedily accessable
    with a re-assigned fn button.   I regularly done a burst in FX quickly followed by a burst in DX. 
    I felt I should await the release of the D500 and see how it is received by its users. I am very interested in owning a D500 as a outcome
    to all the positive feedback. Apart from a collection of function failure reports, I have not seen any writings that are negative towards it.
    I intend to use it in a very similar way to yourself. Make the most of the equivalent FOV to give an impression of larger magnification,
    as well as capitalise on the AF capabilities and shutter burst/buffer count.
    I have a TC 17 ii that I use regularly on a 70 - 200mm f4 I have also used the TC 17 ii in a stacked TC arrangement with MF ais lenses.
    In good light it is capable of a image that is presentable hand held and surprisingly good on a tripod.
    It looks like Nikon have done quite a nice turn for there users in the flexible choices they have in DSLR bodies.   
   

John, the D500 is a great camera, truly.

I have the D810, and single-image-wise it is the best of the bunch, and its low-ISO capabilities are awesome ... but at the end of the day I use the D500 now 9x to 1 over the D810 in the field.

The reach, the AF, and the full-customizability of the D500 just make it the better field camera.

One of the things I recommend is that you spend 1-2 hours customizing the D500, to your unique needs, before you head out to take photos.
(Most of the boo-hoo posts I've seen are from idiots who pull the camera out of the box, buy sub-standard cards, fail to first calibrate/fine-tune their lenses, and who just run out there to shoot. Don't do that.)

If you take the time to first set it up, tinker with everything and get it to your specs, you will LOVE this camera

The awards are already coming in now:

• “The search for the perfect DSLR starts and ends with Nikon’s D500”
  -Digital Trends: Editor's Choice
  
  
  “The D500 is the most well-rounded DSLR we've ever tested, and among the very best.”
  -DPReview: Gold Award

More will follow

In closing, and to get back on topic, it is no understatement to say that the Nikkor TC-20E III 2x Teleconverter has been the single greatest $500 purchase I have ever made.

It doubles your reach, and expands your capabilities tremendously, and it does so at such a high-quality, that all I can do is kick myself for not taking advantage of it sooner.

Jack

[John Koerner]

Thanks for the tip-off to Cotton Carrier John.

You bet Tristin.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

For users of the 300/2.8 the TC-20E III is a good choice; I briefly tested this and felt it was quite good. However, I felt the tripod collar of the  VR 300/2.8 II is annoyingly wobbly for use with the 2X TC. I'm waiting for Nikon to revise the 300/2.8 with fluorite and hopefully make the tripod collar a bit more rigid in the update. Optically the current 300/2.8 is excellent and the autofocus is snappy and reliable, and the lens works well with TCs, but I feel strongly about the tripod collar issue and will wait for now.

When used with the VR 200/2 II, the TC-20E III image at f/4 is a bit blurry, at f/5.6 it is sharp but there is LoCA, at f/8 it is close to perfect (on a D810). I sometimes use this combination but it feels a little foolish to have to use such a heavy rig for 400/8. The autofocus with the 200/2+2X is ok at short to mid distances but at long distances I find it to give scattered results. Perhaps it is better using the new Multi-CAM 20k autofocus module in the D5 and D500; I have not yet tried. I am keeping the 2X around mainly for possible future use with a 300/2.8 and for an occasional moon landscape shot with the 300/4 PF (something that I haven't tried yet).

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The 200/2 AFS is very picky about TCs and in my experience the only giving consistently good results are the TC-14E (Mk.2,3). The 1.4 Mk.3 might be a tad better, though, but the older model also is very acceptable. Both blend very well with the 300/4 PF.

On occasion I have employed the TC-20E Mk.2 with the 200/2 AFS and results vary a lot, sometimes very good, at other times pretty awful. The Mk.3 costs too much to tempt me to buy it for use with the 200.

The TC-17E Mk.2 is excellent with my 300/2.8 AFS and that not much to boast of otherwise.

[ArendV]

I have tested the TC-20E III on both the 300/4D AFS and 300/4E PF VR and at least with my samples it was sharper wide open @f/8 on the older 300/4D AFS. And I used that combination mainly for moon shots (since I sold my 300/4D AFS, I now mainly use my 300/4E PF VR with the TC-14E III, very happy with that combination).

[John Koerner]

For users of the 300/2.8 the TC-20E III is a good choice; I briefly tested this and felt it was quite good. However, I felt the tripod collar of the  VR 300/2.8 II is annoyingly wobbly for use with the 2X TC. I'm waiting for Nikon to revise the 300/2.8 with fluorite and hopefully make the tripod collar a bit more rigid in the update. Optically the current 300/2.8 is excellent and the autofocus is snappy and reliable, and the lens works well with TCs, but I feel strongly about the tripod collar issue and will wait for now.

Interesting. I have zero "wobble" issues with my 300mm f/2.8 II collar ring. It is strong, tight, and rotates quite smoothly.

When used with the VR 200/2 II, the TC-20E III image at f/4 is a bit blurry, at f/5.6 it is sharp but there is LoCA, at f/8 it is close to perfect (on a D810). I sometimes use this combination but it feels a little foolish to have to use such a heavy rig for 400/8. The autofocus with the 200/2+2X is ok at short to mid distances but at long distances I find it to give scattered results. Perhaps it is better using the new Multi-CAM 20k autofocus module in the D5 and D500; I have not yet tried. I am keeping the 2X around mainly for possible future use with a 300/2.8 and for an occasional moon landscape shot with the 300/4 PF (something that I haven't tried yet).

f/8 is the key aperture with the 300mm + 2x III also. I didn't get to experience your copy, and I am not sure if they changed the collar since you ordered yours, but the collar on mine is excellent. I have rotated and composed with it from every-which-way, for hours, with no trouble, not a hint of "wobbliness."

Also, the AF on the D500 is much better than the D810.

[John Koerner]

The Mk.3 costs too much to tempt me to buy it for use with the 200.

The TC-20E III is a major update to the TC-20E II. It is an entirely new optical design, with an aspherical element, and is reputed to deliver far better performance than its predecessor.

I haven't owned the prior version, but I am thrilled with this version. As far as cost goes, I would say it is the best (and cheapest) $500 that can possibly be spent to double your reach.