Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

Steve Perry's excellent video about the Nikon teleconverters makes reference to Teleconverter Compatibility Chart. I have been corresponding with Nikon and just sent this to them:

From my experience the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED works very well with the TC-14E III, TC-17E II and TC-E20 III teleconverters on the Z 6, Z 7 and D500 cameras. The Compatibility Chart needs to be updated.

Also, the Z 6 and Z 7 work very well with the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400 mm f/4-5.6G ED VR, AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR and AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR lens with the TC-14E III, TC-17E II and TC-E20 III teleconverters. The Compatibility Chart needs to be updated.

This footnote on the Compatibility Chart: “Z Mirrorless Cameras - All the AF points work for Z mount system even at f/8 or f/11 maximum effective apertures. But AF accuracy may decrease and focusing speed may vary to subjects and shooting situations.” It is a correct statement, but it needs to be explained. Does it apply to all the above lens?

Maybe a separate Compatibility Chart needs to be made for the current and future mirrorless cameras. They will make the teleconverters much more usable.

As a side note, Nikon has been making excellent auto focus extension tubes for years. They just keep putting glass in them to make teleconverters. I dropped my TC-14E III and cracked all the glass. I removed the glass and it works great as an extension tube.

I would appreciate if other members check this out if you have the lens, teleconverters and cameras.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

IMO, Nikon will/should be updating their TCs for use with the new/larger S mount and they will be better because of this.
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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Sorry, teleconverters only degrade images, as Steve pointed out several times.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The item below from Artie Morris, another recognized wildlife photography expert, should be considered in response to blanket statements about the loss of image quality via extenders / teleconverters ....

http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2018/03/01/nikon-af-s-teleconverter-tc-20es-suck-or-do-they/

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

As has been proven as well here over and over inspite of the lies to the contrary.

poprock48

Have used the TC 1.4iii on my Nikon 105 2.8 with no loss of clarity. In Steve’s video he address sharpness several times and each time he discussed this he pointed only the 1.7 and 2.0 could he see a lose of sharpness with very little loss with the 1.4. He added that’s why he only uses the 1.4. If you’re going to put your image on a billboard maybe then you’ll see a lose of sharpness with the 1.4. If you image is sharpe to begin with you should see no loss using the 1.4.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I wouldn't be surprised to see separate Z Mount TCs! I'm from the 'old school' and I reserve TCs for lenses like my 400/2.8. Best of luck.

Bill_de Loc: US

I agree, but it might be a ways off. So far the longest lens in the "Road Map" is a 70 - 200mm.

What converter(s) have you used successfully on the 400/2.8. I've had the lens for a while, but never used a T/C with it.

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Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

Here are some photos using the teleconverters:
Photos #455-463 @ https://gofish.smugmug.com/Nature/Farm-Photos-2019/i-tqzggmJ were made with the Nikon Z 6, Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR plus the TC-17EII.
Photos # 464-471 @ https://gofish.smugmug.com/Nature/Farm-Photos-2019/i-wFpWcpc were made with the Nikon Z 7, Nikon AF-S 200-500mm VR plus the TC-14EIII.
Photo # 308 @ https://gofish.smugmug.com/Nature/Farm-Photos-2019/i-xDxbkNN was made with the Z7, Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4 VR plus the TC-20EIII.
Photo #256 @ https://gofish.smugmug.com/Nature/Farm-Photos-2018/i-7kZh5V3 was made with a Nikon D500, Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR plus the TC-20EIII.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

The video everyone is referencing is here:

https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-teleconverters-tcs/

The thing is, as I indicate in the video, the performance and benefit of a TC depends on quite a few variables - the quality of the TC, the primary lens in front of it, and the magnification factor.

This means that in some cases, a TC can work brilliantly and in others it will disappoint. People tend to look for easy, yes/no or good/bad answers, but the truth is there are a lot of variables in play with TCs. No one simple yes / no answer will apply to every situation.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The performance of TC's also indirectly depends on how well your sensor and AF system handles the reduced light.
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cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

On my 400/2.8 I have used the 1.4X TCs a good bit. I purchased the newest version (1.4 TC III) when I purchased my newest 400, the 400/2.8E FL VR. I also own a 2.0X TC (Version II) that I have used on my previous 400, but not the latest one. I'm normally using the 400 on a D5 so I don't find the TC as important as I did with the F5, but I do use it. I'm a sports guy. During the day, the TC is a possibility, at night not. I also have, and use, a 200-400/4 VR II on which I really never use any TC. My style is to shoot sports wide open, if for nothing else, to blow the background, and I find that harder to do at F5.6. Best of luck.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I couldn't agree more! Folks seem to want a blanket answer, and there is no such thing. Nikon goes to the trouble of producing a chart to guide one to the proper TC for a given lens and also explains when a TC is not a good idea. Folks seem to want a "universal" TC for all lenses on all bodies, which simply doesn't exist. My philosophy is to only buy a Nikon TC for a Nikon lens, and to buy the specific model that Nikon recommends. Thank you for all you do for us. I've been doing this for 52 years and I LOVE, and learned quite a bit from, your Nikon Autofocus book. All the information one needs, gathered in one place, with an explanation which originated in english! I was pretty much already doing what you suggested, but I now know that I made good choices. Except for BBF, which I just don't like because I'm just too cranky to switch and I have good finger control gained from being a competition pistol shooter. Best of luck.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Agree completely, but I'd remove the word "indirectly". Best of luck.

Lens Creep

Some folks are quick to dismiss TC's without considering when a TC is to be used.

If your subject does not adequately fill the frame and you would otherwise be cropping the image, THIS is the right time to consider your TC. If you are using a decent lens and an adequate TC, you should expect the lens/TC combination to yield a sharper magnification of image than cropping and enlarging the lens-only image (to match the image size).

I do not shoot Nikon, and I cannot comment on any specific model performance. Of course, there can be a range of quality between various models, just as with lenses.
(BTW: OP, clever use of your broken TC as an extension tube)

People who dismiss, take the time to actually shoot a comparison study and be enlightened. There is a reason the best wildlife photogs use TCs. the end.