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Archive 2012Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
p.1 #1Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
Not sure if this is the right place to post, if not please guide me 
(monkey) (Thang)
after long time i have determined to use Nikon again for sometime, I am committed to buy a used Nikon 500mm AFS F4 version1 ... with D300s
I need you to share your experience in above subjected combo, I mainly intended to shoot small birds/waders few in flight shots
I have heard mixed reviews about TC17EII when use with 500mm AFS that the sharpness went down too much compare to 14EII
now two questions
1- Will the combo of D300s + 500mm AFS F/4 + TC17EII retain the AF functionality and how fast
2- Sharpness experience with 14EII vs 17EII
Thank you very much for your valuable time
Munzir
(monkey) (Thang)after long time i have determined to use Nikon again for sometime, I am committed to buy a used Nikon 500mm AFS F4 version1 ... with D300s
I need you to share your experience in above subjected combo, I mainly intended to shoot small birds/waders few in flight shots
I have heard mixed reviews about TC17EII when use with 500mm AFS that the sharpness went down too much compare to 14EII
now two questions
1- Will the combo of D300s + 500mm AFS F/4 + TC17EII retain the AF functionality and how fast
2- Sharpness experience with 14EII vs 17EII
Thank you very much for your valuable time
Munzir
Jul 09, 2012 at 01:52 AM
p.1 #2Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
Munzir - sorry for the late reply. Haven't been on this forum as regularly as before...anyway, personally, I have not used the 500 AFS-I. I have used the 600 AFS-II in the past. Overall, nikon TCs are not as good as Canon's counterparts. If you must, I would go with the 14etcii. For distant subjects, the 17tc is pretty much a waste of money.
AF with the 600 AFS-II and 14TC on d300 slows down quite a bit. Take lots of pix and you will get some keepers. For BIF, it's a hit/miss kind of setup. Go bare w/o TC if all possible.
Regarding the 17TC, I did get a chance to use it with my former 600 AFS-II as well as my current 600 VR (D3, D300, D800)...again, for distant subject, it's a waste of money.
AF with the 600 AFS-II and 14TC on d300 slows down quite a bit. Take lots of pix and you will get some keepers. For BIF, it's a hit/miss kind of setup. Go bare w/o TC if all possible.
Regarding the 17TC, I did get a chance to use it with my former 600 AFS-II as well as my current 600 VR (D3, D300, D800)...again, for distant subject, it's a waste of money.
Jul 19, 2012 at 10:39 PM
p.1 #3Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
While I do not the 500 f/4 AF -S1, I do have the 500 f/4 AF-S VR II. I have tried several times using with the Nikon 1.4 TC and not at all happy with the results. I even sent the TC into Nikon to be checked thinking something must be wrong with it. I have no problems at all using the 1.4 TC on the 300mm F/4, but can not use it on the 500mm.
I am most disappointed by that.
I have the D300 and the D7000 and still have AF functionality with the TC.
I hope your experience with the TC is better than mine
Birdie
I am most disappointed by that.
I have the D300 and the D7000 and still have AF functionality with the TC.
I hope your experience with the TC is better than mine
Birdie
Jul 20, 2012 at 08:45 AM
p.1 #4Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
thanks Thang for tips.... wondering myself how this guy got details from tc-17
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/109299639
http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/29/489029/1/109299639.raLTbOzP.AnimalBirdJuncoDarkeyed207093895ds.jpg
and here with tc-20 on 1000mm
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/108330505
http://i.pbase.com/o3/29/489029/1/108330505.6cQrbQ5Q.AnimalBirdJuncoDarkeyed116092023ds.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/109299639
http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/29/489029/1/109299639.raLTbOzP.AnimalBirdJuncoDarkeyed207093895ds.jpg
and here with tc-20 on 1000mm
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/108330505
http://i.pbase.com/o3/29/489029/1/108330505.6cQrbQ5Q.AnimalBirdJuncoDarkeyed116092023ds.jpg
Jul 26, 2012 at 07:02 AM
p.1 #5Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
Munzir, I own the 500mm VRII version and the tc-14eii and tc-20eiii. I absolutely love the results with the 1.4 when stopped down to 7.1 and the 2.0 is useable at f/10 or so (although AF is not great - definitely not for birds in flight).
I think that when shooting at these high focal lengths technique really becomes important. When I first had the lens, my keeper rate was very low and I questioned the lens and camera. Now that I have the hang of it, I find it hard to delete photos sometimes!
All of the images below are shot at 700mm (500 + 1.4)
Edited on Jul 26, 2012 at 08:20 AM · View previous versions
I think that when shooting at these high focal lengths technique really becomes important. When I first had the lens, my keeper rate was very low and I questioned the lens and camera. Now that I have the hang of it, I find it hard to delete photos sometimes!
All of the images below are shot at 700mm (500 + 1.4)
Edited on Jul 26, 2012 at 08:20 AM · View previous versions
Jul 26, 2012 at 08:17 AM
p.1 #6Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
and here are some with at 1000mm (500 + 2.0). I would also add that post processing can definitely help bring out a lot of details in an image. I've found that reszing for the web and then using Nik Sharpener Pro plug-in really does a fine job of bringing out the details. I'm still playing around with the settings and, as always, there is a steep learning curve.
Jul 26, 2012 at 08:19 AM
p.1 #7Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
Actually I am pleasantly surprised by 1.7TCIIe. Following is from D800e+ 300mm f/4 AF-S + 1.7 TC IIe (Using 1.2x crop)
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Jul 26, 2012 at 05:52 PM
p.1 #8Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
Thank you mrpalaviccini for images .. they all look excellent, i will see my experience and will post once i shoot out with the combo ....
bemyzeke, this is what exactly Thang said that the 300mm combo works better than 500mm with TC's i will still need to see to believe from my own experience, that will prove either the 500mm Vr/EDII/ED-I has issues with copies in terms of sharpness or its a ground reality with all users when they use TC's someone said stopping down might help more after and on f8 .... Thank you all for your support....
bemyzeke, this is what exactly Thang said that the 300mm combo works better than 500mm with TC's i will still need to see to believe from my own experience, that will prove either the 500mm Vr/EDII/ED-I has issues with copies in terms of sharpness or its a ground reality with all users when they use TC's someone said stopping down might help more after and on f8 .... Thank you all for your support....
Jul 26, 2012 at 06:58 PM
p.1 #9Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
munzir.khan wrote:
thanks Thang for tips.... wondering myself how this guy got details from tc-17
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/109299639
and here with tc-20 on 1000mm
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/108330505
I have all the respect in the world for the late Mr. Ronnie Gaubert! He was the master at his craft, bar-none!
Note my statement regarding TC with "distant subjects" Munzir. I should have also added "small birds" to go along with that phrase. For me, stop down to about f/10 with 14ETC will regain most of the sharpness. But that's pointless especially when one shoots late/early in the day.
Several factors have to be considered when one gives their opinions to your questions - 1. personal preference/level of criticality. Some might be satisfied with a shot but to others, that same shot might not be good enough... 2. Skills, as someone has stated.
100% agreed with you that the best way to find out is to try it yourself. Something I have said repeatedly many times here and at dpreview....
thanks Thang for tips.... wondering myself how this guy got details from tc-17
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/109299639
and here with tc-20 on 1000mm
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/108330505
I have all the respect in the world for the late Mr. Ronnie Gaubert! He was the master at his craft, bar-none!
Note my statement regarding TC with "distant subjects" Munzir. I should have also added "small birds" to go along with that phrase. For me, stop down to about f/10 with 14ETC will regain most of the sharpness. But that's pointless especially when one shoots late/early in the day.
Several factors have to be considered when one gives their opinions to your questions - 1. personal preference/level of criticality. Some might be satisfied with a shot but to others, that same shot might not be good enough... 2. Skills, as someone has stated.
100% agreed with you that the best way to find out is to try it yourself. Something I have said repeatedly many times here and at dpreview....
Jul 26, 2012 at 11:29 PM
p.1 #10Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
Thang wrote:
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/109299639
and here with tc-20 on 1000mm
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/108330505I have all the respect in the world for the late Mr. Ronnie Gaubert! He was the master at his craft, bar-none!
Note my statement regarding TC with "distant subjects" Munzir. I should have also added "small birds" to go along with that phrase. For me, stop down to about f/10 with 14ETC will regain most of the sharpness. But that's pointless especially when one shoots late/early in the day.
Several factors have to be considered when one gives their opinions to your questions - 1. personal preference/level of criticality. Some might be satisfied with a shot but to others, that...Show more →
I totally Agree .. Thanks Thang!
munzir.khan wrote
thanks Thang for tips.... wondering myself how this guy got details from tc-17http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/109299639
and here with tc-20 on 1000mm
http://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/108330505
Note my statement regarding TC with "distant subjects" Munzir. I should have also added "small birds" to go along with that phrase. For me, stop down to about f/10 with 14ETC will regain most of the sharpness. But that's pointless especially when one shoots late/early in the day.
Several factors have to be considered when one gives their opinions to your questions - 1. personal preference/level of criticality. Some might be satisfied with a shot but to others, that...Show more →
I totally Agree .. Thanks Thang!
Jul 31, 2012 at 05:38 AM
p.1 #11Nikon 500mm AFS-I with tc 14 or 17
Hi Munzir, what did you end up getting. Rather what is your current setup?
Oct 24, 2012 at 04:56 PM