whitewolfowner

Will not work. The Nikon 200-500 is an AF-S lens and needs an AF-S teleconverter such as the nikon TC series of 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0. The Kenko works on AF lenses only.

Math78 Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

This is wrong. The Kenko 1.4X works just fine with Nikon 200-500mm lens. I have the "Kenko 1.4X Teleplus Pro 300 DGX" for Nikon AF. I just took a photo with this combination on a D7100. Auto focus works fine. And the Exif data is correct - the recorded focal length includes 1.4X multiplier and the lens in recorded as Nikon 200-500mm.

But I don't use a teleconverter with this lens for reasons other folks have pointed out. Cropping works better.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Well, there's your problem!

Get a DX camera instead of a teleconverter. That gives you 1.5X without the "penalties" of a teleconverter (added optics reduce image quality and a 1.4X or 1.5X costs one stop of light).

Actually you could simply use your D800 DX mode for similar effect. The 15MP images won't be bad. However, 24MP images that you'd get from, say, a D7200 would be better.

If you do go with a teleconverter, the Kenko are some of the best ones out there. The current "DGX" series maintain full communication between camera and lens. (The older "DG" versions didn't.)

But Kenko presently makes at least three different 1.4X. For a full frame camera you will probably want the best: Pro 300 Teleplus DGX. It's the sharpest across the entire frame. The cheaper MC-4 is sharp in the center, but softer in the corners... probably fine on a crop camera, but not ideal for full frame. I really don't know how Kenko's new "HD" teleconverters compare, but since it's got fewer elements and groups than either of the other two, I suspect they're a new "entry level" model, even though the current list price makes them the most expensive of the three.

whitewolfowner

I'm only relaying what Kenko told me over the phone a while back. They said that their teleconverters do not work on AF-S lenses. Is it possible that they just recently came out with one that does work on the AF-S lenses?

Math78 Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

You may have misunderstood or Kenko may have told you wrong. I think AF-S lenses are the ONLY lenses that Kenko teleconverters can autofocus. AF-S lenses have the autofocus motor in the lens. The older Nikon AF lenses require a camera body with the motor in the body. Teleconverters don't provide the mechanical connection from the body to the lens to enable autofocus. I just looked at a Kenko compatibility chart and it only listed AF-S lenses. Same is true for Nikon teleconverters, only AF-S and AF-I lenses are compatible.

whitewolfowner

No, I have a Kenko teleconverter that works only on AF lenses and not AF-S lenses. I think the one that does work on the AF-S lenses is new.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Wrong number maybe??

whitewolfowner

No it was them. This is going back about 4 or 5 years ago and I was using it with my Nikon 300mm f4.0 AF lens and the Nikon 70-210mm f4.0 and the teleconverter was hanging the shutter on me about every 150 shots or so. Was trying to find out why. Had Kenko's best 1.4 teleconverter. Got no where with them; they even had me send it in to be checked; said they couldn't find anything wrong with it and claimed they sent me another one (couldn't tell since there is no serial numbers on them). Testing the new one revealed the same results. So now it sits in my camera bag. I also have a Pro master 1.7 teleconverter which I have had, seems like forever, and it works flawlessly, even though it loses contrast and sharpness suffers some; all of which most can be recovered in software.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

They gave you the wrong information. I have the Kenko Tele-Plus 300 DGX 1.4x AF that works with my Nikon 300mm f4.0 AFs-D ED IF. It also works with my 75-210 f4.0 AF Nikon. I got it last year.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I'm just kidding! I would imagine that there have been a lot of changes in the past four or five years. I would be looking very hard at Kenko if I was in the market and using third party lenses.

whitewolfowner

I'm not surprised. When I was communicating with them, they did not impress me in any way form or fashion. I have heard nothing good about their teleconverters from other users for years and when it works correctly I loved its results but it eventually blew out some of the electronics in my D80 and I had to send it in for repair. And of course I got no cooperation from Nikon on it either. Like I said, it sits in my camera bag and I fear trying to use it. I checked the model number on it and it is the DGX model. Also says N-AF 1.4X teleplus pro 300, so it is the current model being sold today. Very puzzling. Oh, also, when the D80 was off for repair, I acquired a D3100 for use and it was doing the same thing to the D3100; hanging the shutter every 150 exposures or so. Any one else experience this?

mongoose777 Loc: Frisco Texas

Ive tried my 1.4x III on a 200-400 f/4 and I was somewhat disappointed at the overall sharpness.
I believe the 1.4x on a 200-500 will yield far worst results.
Im just not a fan using TC's on zoomed lens bc it takes away the twilight factor & pop that Im used too w/o.
FWIW, the Kenko is not as sharp optically as the 1.4x III, but cost is a major factor between the both.
I think the best bang for your buck these days are a Nikon D500 and the very nice 200-500 lens, especially
if used for wildlife.

whitewolfowner

From what I have heard I agree with you. The Nikon TC 1.4 teleconverter is the best around but limited to use by AF-S lenses and I would think would work well on the 200-500 but I think would slow down the auto focus since you now will be shooting at f8. I was very happy with the results by the Kenko on my Nikon 300mm f4.0 but I was using it to photograph a professional baseball team, so edge sharpness was not a real priority, but gave me that extra reach. Was only good for the first couple of innings though as long as the sun was still up for strong lighting.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I have no real noticeable AF slowdown with the 200-500,but I'm sure the D500 helps. My 80-400 struggles a bit. Most of my shooting is morning or late afternoon. Using the latest Nikon 1.4 TC. I never heard of non-use with a manual lens???

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

I don't understand what does 'Hanging the shutter' mean?
My TC is on my 300mm Nikon all the time since getting it last year. I went to Alaska with it on my Nikon Df, bringing home over 1200 shots, 1/3 of them were from this lens. I don't know what's the problem of yours.