Lance B Online Upload & Sell: On
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Like Trenchmonkey, I have used the 2x TCIII on my 300 f3.8 VRII and my 400 f2.8E FL VR with fantastic results, but they are f2.8 lenses and are renowned for their ability to accept all the TC's brilliantly. However, when I had the 500 f4, the 2x TCIII didn't play all that well. It was ok, but you do need to stop down to f11 to get the best out of it and even then it's a little hit and miss. Just remember, you are shooting at 1,000mm and f8 max aperture so you either need a very still subject or a high shutter speed also and this is where things start to go a little bit "hazy" so to speak. I have a sort of rule of thumb and that is that at about 800mm is the maximum I will shoot unless the conditions are almost perfect and that means lots of light and a still subject. This is my 400 + 2x TCIII for f5.6 on the D810 or my 400 + 1.4x TCIII for f4 on my D500.
The problem with the 500 + 2x TC = 1,000mm f8, is you need a high shutter speed to stop subject movement even when you have VR and at a max aperture of f8, but preferably f11, you are fast running out of light. This may put your ISO up high and unless you are able to shoot at a high shutter speed, you then have subject movement issues and all this takes the edge off the image. In other words, it will be rare that you can take advantage of a 500 + 2x TC. My old 500 f4G VR worked very well with the 1.4x TCIII, but I do not know how it would go with the 500 f4 AF-S. My limit on the 500 f4G VR was the 1.4x TCIII.
The best bet is to get closer to your subject. This is what keeps me coming back for more and is part of getting that "elusive" perfect shot. I have been quite successful using my D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR bare even getting a photo of one of the most elusive birds and quite rare, anyone can photograph, the Ground Parrot (an Australian parrot) which is rarely ever photographed let alone photographed out in the open. This is because they keep to the undergrowth and are *VERY* shy and at any sign of danger they will fly away. Generally, the first you even know of them being nearby is when they are flying off into the distance! In fact, I am quite chuffed about getting this photo. He poked his head up momentarily as I luckily spotted him moving about in the undergrowth, he stopped for a few seconds which allowed me to rattle off a few photos before he flew off at a great rate of knots.
D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR, 1/640s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso125
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