Need help with teleconverters!

[catweh00]

Which teleconverter should I buy for a nikkor 300mm f/4.5 AI? Helo please!
Thanks everyone!
1.4 or 2x are fine, I just don't know which brands are best, etc.
Craig

 

[Big Mike]

Keep in mind that teleconverter are used at the expense of light. A 2X TC will cost you about two stops of light. So with a maximum aperture of 4.5, you would lose two stops and be at about F8. Auto focus will most likely not work and the viewfinder would be pretty dark.

 

[mikerfns]

Which teleconverter should I buy for a nikkor 300mm f/4.5 AI? Craig

Buy the best - the TC that is optimized for this lens. That would be a Nikon TC-14B (outrageously expensive new, but very reasonable used). Any third party TC, other than perhaps a high end Kenko Pro 300 1.4x or Tamron SP 1.4x (these are designed for AF lenses but will fit a MF lens), is likely to be a big disappointment.

2X is not really an option if you want to retain quality with this lens. You will essentially be left with a f/9.5 lens wide open, and you will not get sharp results unless you stop down at least a couple of stops to an effective f/16-22 or so. Not a very usable speed for a 600mm lens.

Mike

 

[airgunr]

I would also suggest sticking with the Nikon ones but the Kenko TC's will also preserve the Autofocus (although it will be a little sluggish). I'm assuming it is an Autofocus lense.