p.1 #2 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
The Nikon TC-20E III (2x) has received great reviews, far better than the 1.7x. I jsut ordered both the 70-200 VRII and the TC-20E III (2x). Should arrive late next week. The bigger question is when will my D800 ship? I wish I knew that one, in the mean time my old D80 will have to do.
p.1 #3 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
The D800's got the new AF module in the D4 (the one where some points can work down to f/8).
I don't have a 1.7x, but with a 70-200 VR2 at 200 and TC-20E III on a D4, I only noticed some minor hunting panning around in this dim room when I looked at a door with poor contrast. Otherwise, it's pretty snappy.
p.1 #4 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
I had the TC-20E III and 70-200 VR II that I used on my D700, and personally, I wasn't too happy with the sharpness until I stopped down to f/8. AF was still very good, but f/5.6 just didn't do it for me, even though it was still acceptable.
p.1 #5 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
I have version 3 of the 2x and while sharpness has been good, fast action focus (for me) with it has been less than desirable. I'm sure it a user issue and I still need to get use to it. I have no issues hitting focus without it on.
p.1 #6 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
I tried out my TC20EIII with a 70-200VR II display model and was amazed at how good it was even wide open. I later rented a 70-200VR II and tried it again and was not so impressed. I guess it depends on how good your 70-200VR II is.
On my 80-200AFS (which I thought was pretty good) it does not do well at all, which is consistent with other reports of the TC20EIII and the 80-200AFS.
p.1 #7 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
Thanks for the comments.
Brian - I'll be interested to hear your views once your D800 arrives.
Mike - I guess that is consistent with stopping the 70-200 down to f4, which is sharper than wide open at f2.8 (even though it's pretty sharp at f2.8)
zqfmbg - I was hoping the AF of the D800 would be up to it. I shoot my kids during concerts (~1600-3200ISO sort of light level), hence why low-light focus is important to me.
VinnieJ & jhinkey- are your comments based on experience with a D800?
p.1 #8 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
DavidTrap wrote:
Mike - I guess that is consistent with stopping the 70-200 down to f4, which is sharper than wide open at f2.8 (even though it's pretty sharp at f2.8)
ta
DT
That's certainly possible, but I think it's worth mentioning that my 70-200 was incredibly sharp at f/2.8. I don't even know if f/4 was better, to be honest. Either way, you're obviously getting varying opinions here, so if you can, try out the exact copy of the teleconverter you plan to buy. I did the same research you're doing now and the opinions were mixed on the TC-20E III for sure.
p.1 #9 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
Thanks for those examples guys - certainly looks acceptable.
Have you noticed any excessive flare, or internal reflections with the teleconverters. I am hoping to shoot a total solar eclipse in November with this combo.
p.1 #11 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
Thanks again.
I noticed my usual camera store just discounted the 1.7x by 10%. Last time they discounted a product I was watching, it was superseded shortly afterwards. I might just watch this space and see if a new 1.7x is released in the near future. If it's as good as the 2x MkIII, that would be my preferred option to allow better low light focusing.
p.1 #13 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
DavidTrap wrote:
Thanks again.
I noticed my usual camera store just discounted the 1.7x by 10%. Last time they discounted a product I was watching, it was superseded shortly afterwards. I might just watch this space and see if a new 1.7x is released in the near future. If it's as good as the 2x MkIII, that would be my preferred option to allow better low light focusing.
Cheers,
DT
I hope this means Nikon will replace the TC16A with a "TC17A" - i.e., allowing limited AF with non-AF AI/AIS lenses
p.1 #14 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
In many situations the 70-200mm f2.8 VR II lens will not focus at all or even try to focus (hunt) with the new TC-20E teleconverter in place. This TC not only costs in terms of the loss of two full f-stops of light for the AF sensors, it also reduced contrast and increases refraction. With the 2x TC I need to manually focus the lens. For autofocus the 1.4x is OK and the 1.7x is marginal.
This is from using the lens with all three of the teleconverters which I own and use with a D3 camera. I have not reason to expect the D800 to be markedly better in terms of autofocus but I have a D800E arriving next week and will be starting my own performance evaluation and testing.
p.1 #15 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
I own the 1.7 and the 2.0. Both work well enough but I'd say the 2x III has better IQ than the 1.7 and has about the same AF. No issues using on 70-200 or on the 500 VRII.
Like Trenchmonkey noted, good long lens technique is key here as well to getting good sharp photos.
p.1 #17 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
DavidTrap wrote:
Has anyone used a D800 with a teleconverter and the 70-200VRII?
Just trying to make up my mind between the 1.7x and 2x. Will the extra half stop of light make a difference in focusing for the 1.7x?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
DT
I have used the 70-200mm VR with the three Nikon teleconverters for AFS lenses (1.4x, 1.7x & the new 2.x III) and a D3s. I have not received the D800 yet that I pre-ordered back in March and I cannot be more specific regarding how these TCs would work with a D800. The 70-200mm works fine with the 3 teleconverters since it is a f/2.8 lens. Regarding IQ the best option would be the 1.4x but if you need more reach, the TC 2.X III is an excellent choice. I have not seen much difference regarding IQ between that TC and the 1.7x. I mostly use the lens with a TC 1.4x or the TC 2.x III.
p.1 #19 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
Mike Yamin wrote:
I had the TC-20E III and 70-200 VR II that I used on my D700, and personally, I wasn't too happy with the sharpness until I stopped down to f/8. AF was still very good, but f/5.6 just didn't do it for me, even though it was still acceptable.
I still have the TC-20E III and have used it on a D3s and D4 with my 70-200 VR II. I have not been impressed with the sharpness either. I ended up getting the TC-14E II and I am much happier with it. Apparently the TC-20E III is MUCH better than the TC-20E II but this is just what I have heard.
p.1 #20 · Which teleconverter for D800 and 70-200VRII
I found with my D3 and the 70-200mm f2.8 VR II lens and the 2x TC that the autofocus would seldom work. It would not even hunt or attempt to focus. The 1.7x TC will allow autofocus much more often than the 2x TC and it may be the extra half stop of light. For the best autofocus performance the 1.4 TC is the one to get.
I have all three and most of the time it is the 1.7x that I use as it obviously produces a good deal more magnification than the 1.4 TC and it provides more autofocus in more situations than the 2x TC. I bought the new version of the 70-200mm f2.8 VR II lens and the TC-20E III in the mistaken belief that the two worked well together and better than the prior versions of this lens and this teleconverter but in my own experience this was not true at all.
If you have a high contrast subject in bright light against a plain background the autofocus may work with the TC-20E III but in all the situations where I have used it with the 70-200mm f2.8 VR II lens I have had to resort to manually focusing the lens. I have not tried it with my new D800 but I would be amazed if the D800 works well with this setup when with the D3 failed completely.
