Tele Converter?

[GraemeReen]

Would love to get into more bird photography but I find I just can't get close enough for a well detailed shot. I have a 55-300 lens but I feel I need an extra 200 on top. I can't afford a bigger lens so I was looking at getting a converter. Are they any good? What would you recommend.

 

[arclight]

The Nikon converters are good, but I think they will only work with prime lenses.
Be very carefull about compatibility as the rear element of a zoom lens may strike the converter if they are not made to work with each other.
They all cause a reduction in the widest aperture the lens can achieve. The more the magnification of the converter the worse that becomes.

 

[CaptainPenguin]

I got the Jessops 2x converter and for £70 its not that bad,the downside is that with any lens over f5.6 you will have to manually focus ,if you can live with that you can get some half decent images

 

[callumduff]

i have a Nikon 20E II 2X for my 70-200 VR I and it is really great

 

[GraemeReen]

i have a Nikon 20E II 2X for my 70-200 VR I and it is really great

I think I would go for a Nikon. I think you can get them with the mechanisms so it works with the auto focus?

 

[Philx1979]

teleconverters can be used with zooms, NOT just primes.

Although i`m not sure you can use one with the 55-300, and if you buy a x2 converter you`ll prob find that shooting at f8+ will be to much loss of light

 

[Philx1979]

just had a quick look on google, and the teleconverters wont work with the 55-300

 

[GraemeReen]

just had a quick look on google, and the teleconverters wont work with the 55-300

Ok thanks I do have a 55-200 Nikon vr aswell.

 

[jomike]

I think I would go for a Nikon. I think you can get them with the mechanisms so it works with the auto focus?

A Nikon TC will not fit on a 55-300 lens.

A Kenko Pro DG(X) will fit and would be the one to go for if you want to go this route. I would go for the 1.4 as the 2.0 will degrade the AF and IQ too much IMO.

Even with the 1.4 AF will struggle in all but the brightest light on the 55-300. You need a lens of at least f/4 for a 1.4 TC or f/2.8 for 2.0 TCs to work properly.

 

[jomike]

Ok thanks I do have a 55-200 Nikon vr aswell.

Nikon TC also won't work with a 55-200.

Here is a nikon TC compatibility chart:

http://www.nikonusa.com/en_INC/IMG/Assets/Common-Assets/Images/Teleconverter-Compatibility/en_US_Comp_chart.html

 

[GraemeReen]

Thanks for all the comments. Just saved me from wasting time getting one.