Tamron 1.4 af converter compatability

[User.81858]

Hi can anyone tell me if this can be used with a Nikon 70-300 af vr lens. I have read that the Sigma converters will damage a non Sigma lens. Any input please.

 

[the black fox]

you might get it to work but the i.q on a small zoom like that will be awful . be it canon ,nikon or sony .the only way to get that extra reach is to get a longer lens to start with .plenty out there these days to both tamron and sigma make affordable 150-600 lenses,or even a nikon 200-500 if your budget can be stretched that far.

you would be better off cropping from your 70-300 than putting a t.c on it

 

[User.81858]

Thanks for reply Jeff I have sacked the converter idea now, and will save for a better lens

 

[Nod]

I don't have a Tamron telecon but I do have a Teleplus 1.5x one. It physically fits on the 70-300 VR (Nikon's own brand telecons DO NOT - their front elements make physical contact with the rear element of the lens...) but it doesn't do much for image quality! As Jeff says, you get better IQ from a cropped file than from using the teleconverter.

 

[User.81858]

Thanks Nod. Your confirmation of Jeff's comment has taken away any doubt that I had.

 

[Nod]

The only teleconverters I've used that are worth using are the Nikkor 1.4x which I've only used briefly behind a 600mm prime (on a 1 series body with a 2.7x crop factor!) and the Fuji 1.4x and 2x that I use behind the 100-400 Fuji XF. They can work very well but really need to be used behind lenses that are almost designed to take them and the "consumer" 70-300 type zooms don't really qualify. I have played with the 70-300 VR Nikkor on the Teleplus 1.5x converter but AF is a bit patchy (hunts and sometimes gives up) and IQ is severely compromised as I said above.
I've owned a couple of the Sigma long zooms but decided that they were too heavy (for me) to carry round on the off chance I'd use it so sold it on (I'd already traded the 170-500 in against the 150-500 OS version). IQ was pretty good for a relatively budget lens but not outstanding. I have a feeling that the more modern versions are better.

 

[the black fox]

When I used Nikon a few years ago my main combo was a d300s with a 300mm f4 lens ,I used this with both a 1.4 tc and nikons 1.7 tc which still allowed for a/f at 500mm or 420 mm ,if gave a lightweight hand holdable rig that was not only fast enough for b.i.f but at the flick of the close focus switch gave stunning macro to ,I'll see if I can dig out some sample shots later

here ya go a close up at 500mm with the 300mm f4 and 1.7tc hand held btw
feeding time by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

and again same combo .
crazy days of summer by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[User.81858]

Not as bad as I imagined Jeff I consider these as very good.