bgate Loc: Texas

I have a D3100 with the 18-55 and the 55-200 kit glass, have ordered a 70-300 f4.5 zoom, what are you opinions on using a 1.4 tele converter on the 70-300? BTW I am selling the 55-200. Will anything other than a Nikon TC work with this lens? Am working with a limited budget.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Check the Nikon www site for compatibility information. I have had zero luck with teleconverters.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

The Nikon TC 1.4 E II will not fit the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6.

TC's are intended for long fast lenses.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

No Nikon TC will fit any of your lenses, the combo is just not designed to work together.
There are some aftermarket TC's that will fit your 70-300 lens (AF-S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G VR, I am guessing here, I sincerely hope you have not ordered an older "D" model), but functionality will be reduced, image quality will be lessened, and you will lose autofocus over most of the zoom range (especially on that level of body). In short, its simply not worth the money. You would be much better served just buying a proper lens of longer focal length.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Not a good idea. Image quality on the 300 is mediocre at best at 300mm, and it is F5.6. Add a TC and it becomes F8 and you have no autofocus. hard to focus a lens that is already soft in a dark viewfinder. Also, the TC amplifies the flaws - image quality will be pretty terrible. The cheapest way to use a zoom with a TC for you would be to get a used 80-200 F2.8 AF-S. It will work with your camera and it will be F4 and it will still autofocus on your camera. The other alternatives will all be more costly.

Or, you could get the new Tamron 150-600 for around $1000. You would be able to use this lens with your current camera, and if you outgrow it and end up getting a full frame camera, you will still be able to use it, just like the 80-200 with a TC.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

The Tamron is a good idea. I have the older 200-500, which I love, but it did not focus on my d3100 or my d5100. I use a d7100 now and it has n internal focus motor that the d3100 does not have. You can still focus manually, like the old days. Buy it.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

If you are on a limited budget - you certainly don't want to waste $$$ on solutions that not give you what you are looking for. TCs in general should only be used with pro-quality, fast lenses. These are usually, but not limited to, lenses intended for full frame cameras. You can still use these on a cropped sensor camera like the D3100, but only as long as the lens has a built in focusing motor. Also, consider the pro quality lenses as expensive to buy but you will get more money back if you take care of them when you sell them. For example, a new 24-70 Nikon F2.8 is about $1800 new, and the average used price for one in good condition is around $1550 on eBay. You will never get that percentage of value with a cheaper consumer lens.

bgate Loc: Texas

Hey thnk folks! I had an idea that it wouldn't work, so I came to the round table. The 70-300 that I ordered is the newer one. I will save my pennies and buy a prime.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Or a high quality zoom. 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 200-400 are all exceptional quality zooms. The other thing you can do is rent one if you need it for a special event that you want to capture. It's a nice alternative if you don't want to spend the $$$ to own one.