Jahawk Loc: Rhode Island

What would be the best choice a 1.4 or the 2.0 extender
looking for opinions. It's for a Nikon 80-200 mm F/2.8 D AF ED dual ring lens

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Go with the 2X TC.

Using teleconverters depends very much on which lens they are mounted on. Most of the consumer grade lenses just are not up to having flaws magnified by 2. Many of them can barely handle 1.4X magnification.

But the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lenses are very high quality professional grade equipment. They work very well with 2X magnification. And if you are even thinking of a longer lens, a 2X longer lens is better than a 1.4X longer lens!

Jahawk Loc: Rhode Island

Thanks. Im looking at a 2X Kenko pro 300

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

The Nikon 2xs III works well on the Nikon

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

The OP is using an 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D lens. It will not auto focus with any of the current Nikon teleconverters.

Nikon's TC's work only with AF-S lenses.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Thanks

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Kenko makes two qualities of teleconverters. The "Pro 300" is the higher quality and slightly more expensive one. The "MC7" (in 2X, "MC4" in 1.4X) is a little lower priced and, supposedly, a bit lower quality.

The Kenko "DGX" are the current versions in all cases. Older Kenko "DG" have simpler circuitry and didn't "report" to some cameras... which has both advantages and disadvantages.

Overall, teleconverters work best with prime lenses and 1.4X "cost" less image quality loss than stronger 2X. So, I wouldn't expect great things out of a 2X on a 70-200mm lens.

The Kenko 1.4X are fairly widely regarded as excellent, while the 2X are good, but a bit less exceptional. Between the Kenko Pro 300 1.4X and MC4 1.4X, the latter is actually considered a little sharper in the center of the image, but less so toward the edges and corners, which might be fine if using it on a crop sensor camera that mostly uses the center of the image anyway. The Pro 300 1.4X has better edge-to-edge sharpness, so may be better if using it on a full frame camera. I don't know if there are similar differences in image quality with the 2X (but one might expect stronger magnification to have more IQ degrading effects, overall).

I have high quality 1.4X and 2X as well as a top-of-the-line 70-200mm... though mine isn't Nikon and Kenko gear. I will occasionally use the 1.4X on the 70-200 (making the combo an effective 112-280mm f4) and find the image quality acceptable. I will NOT use the 2X on my 70-200... There's just too much loss of IQ for my tastes. So I use a 300mm prime instead, with and without 1.4X, to achieve similar reach.

All this aside, you really can only be the judge of this yourself, whether or not your particular combo gives acceptable quality for your purposes. If at all possible, buy the 2X from a reputable place that has a liberal right of return policy, then when you receive it shoot a bunch of tests immediately with it, just in case you decide you want to exchange it for a 1.4X.

Also do your homework as to whether or not the lens + TC combo will be able to autofocus on your particular camera. In most cases, AF will slow down when you add a teleconverter, simply due to the light loss and the additional circuitry. But Nikon is a special case because some lenses have the AF motor built into them (AF-S), while others do not (AF-D) and rely on a drive motor built into some of the camera bodies.

Most cameras also need sufficient light to be able to AF. At some point, at some effectively smaller aperture, they will no longer be able to focus. A 1.4X "costs" one stop of light, so what was an f2.8 lens becomes and f4 lens when the TC is attached. A 2X costs two stops... making the f2.8 lens an effective f5.6. In most cases, this is adequate (and some cameras can even handle effective f8 or less). Of course, ambient light conditions and subject contrast play a role in focus performance, too... you just can't do much about that. But another thing to test is how much of a hit there is to focus performance when you add the TC to your lens... There is bound to be some. You'll have to decide if it's acceptable for your purposes.

So, I'm just sayin'... Check it out carefully... As much as possible with research before purchasing, and very thoroughly with your own testing as soon as you receive whatever new TC you decide to try. Depending upon your lens and camera, will the particular teleconverter you're considering meet your needs in image quality and overall performance?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The Tamron SP/Kenko Pro TC's work GREAT on the Canon 70-200 2.8 II. - FWIW .....

Jahawk Loc: Rhode Island

Thank You for your explanation, it answers my question. :thumbup: :thumbup: