saidel42 Loc: NJ

I photograph with a Nikon D7100 and often use a Tamron 150-600 zoom for birds, etc. I'm looking to buy a tele-extender, the 1.4x model. I'm looking for an answer to this question: does it matter if I buy a Nikon version or a Tamron version, assuming the glass is pristine or excellent. The Tamron mates with the lens. The Nikon mates with the camera. Does it matter>

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

You need to get the Tele extender that is matched to your lens, so go with the Tamron.

aberthet Loc: San Clemente, CA

Before buying a Nikon F-mount 1.4x teleconverter, check if it is compatible with your Tamron lens. I was thinking buying the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III but found out it was not compatible with many of my others Nikon lenses like the AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR, AF-S 105mm f/1.4E ED. I could only use it with my 70-200mm f/2.8 and 200-500mm f/5.6. The issue has to do with the clearance or lack of it between the front element of the teleconverter and the rear element of the lens.

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

If you think you'll be able to provide adequate support for what is the equivalent of a 1260mm lens, and don't mind taking a hit on AF acquisition and tracking, image quality, and a very dark viewfinder, then you should get the Tamron - but the one that is matched to the lens. Hopefully you are using the G2 version, in which case you'd need to get a TC-X14.

I wouldn't do it. You'll get better results just being patient and getting closer to your subjects. You can forget about hand holding the lens, btw.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Over the years I've accumulated a fairly large collections of teleconverters made by Canon, Kenko, Nikon, Sigma and Tamron. I have 1.4X, 1.7X and 2.0X teleconverters. I only own 1 Nikon teleconverter, a 1.4X unit.
I'm not sure what you mean by, mates with lens and mates with camera. All of my teleconverters mount to the camera first, then you mount the lens to the teleconverter. Of course you can also mount the teleconverter to the lens then mount the whole assembly to the camera. I've never had any problem doing that, but I usually mount the teleconverter to the camera body first.
As far as Nikon version or Tamron version, I generally get the teleconverter that was designed to match the lens if it exists. If Tamron makes a teleconverter that was designed to pair with the 150-600 then I'd get that one. Otherwise, it really doesn't matter all that much, if at all.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Nobody thus far has mentioned the real possibility that you will lose autofocus capability by losing that additional stop due to the TC - you might want to check into that.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

No extender improves image quality.
At 600 mm your images will suffer with any extender.
It is not a good idea to mix and match products.
The only good use for an extender is for a fast prime lens. They were never intended for SLOW ZOOMS.
Your focusing will suffer, I do not believe the D7100 can auto focus at f8. You should check this out first.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Then use manual focus...

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

A sensible retort, unless one uses their brain and realizes that, particularly with long zooms the desire to catch distant subjects (like, say, birds in flight) is commonly the plan making autofocus almost necessary.

Of course, if the OP is planning to use 120MM of focal length (plust that pesky crop factor thing) for landscapes and still life shooting, manual focus is the way to go.

jodoh44

Surprised you would need an extender with such a long lens .

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I would not do it with this camera and lens..

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

I have a Kenko !,4 Teteplus HD pro that works with my Sigme and Tamron lens. I think an issue is the glass in the convertor touching the glass in the lens.

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Check your Nikon Manual and menus. The D7100, besides having the dreaded "crop factor", which gives an angle of view equal to a lens of greater magnification, has a 1.3 factor on top of that, which you access through the menu. For my 70-300, AF-P lens, that means a field of view equivalent to 450mm, and with the 1.3 setting, I have a 585mm equivalent view. Yours will be different.

Of course, you do lose some Megapixels...to about 15 or so, but my old D90 had ~12mp and and it didn't stunt my growth any. Even my 6mp D50 gave no problems with enlargement. The increased "crop factor" uses the center portion of the lens, which is the sharpest and most highly-corrected portion of any lens.

You have a fantastic lens already, and the advice to get closer to your subject is right on point. Camouflage is not much use, (but don't wear white, which is a "danger color" for many birds and animals.) because they KNOW we are there!

If we are not perceived as a threat, it is possible to get reasonably close, but it will still be further away than you might like. Best is to go where animals or birds are habituated to people. Parks, zoos, aviaries...THAT'S where you can get closer.

With long lenses, you are fighting camera shake, heat mirage, and other factors that make our pixes less than we might wish.

Good Luck!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I don't think the Nikon TC is compatible with the lens. The Tamron TC might be.

But it doesn't really matter. Adding any teleconverter to that lens, you will likely be disappointed:

Any short-comings of the lens will be amplified... image quality will suffer.

You'll be trying to photograph more distant subjects and shooting through more atmosphere... image quality will suffer.

Teleconverters work best with prime lenses, worse with zooms... image quality will suffer.

You'll lose a stop of light to the teleconverter, so the f/5-f/6.3 lens will "become" an effective f/7.1-f/9. The D7100 is "f/8 capable" with one or more of it's AF points. The lens/TC combo might "fool" the camera into trying to focus with an f/9 aperture, but less light for the AF to work with will cause it to be slower, hunt more and fail to achieve focus sometimes. You'll need ideal lighting conditions to get AF to work.

Manual focusing will be more difficult too, because your viewfinder will be a stop dimmer.

Better have a sturdy tripod and be prepared to use it. Adding a teleconverter increases focal length and magnifies shake blur effects in images.

600mm is already an extremely long focal length on a crop sensor DSLR like the D7100. A better bet would be to simply get closer to your subjects or get your subjects to come closer to you.

No matter how long a lens you have, there will always be subjects that are just too far away to be practical to photograph. Sometimes you just need to put the camera aside, enjoy the show and wait for a better opportunity.

If you want to give it a try, order the Tamron 1.4X from a store that allows you to return it for a refund, if the results are unsatisfactory and run some tests with it immediately when you get the TC to be sure you want to keep it. Don't be surprised if you end up returning it.

Note: Tamron lists their 1.4X as compatible with their 150-600mm "G2". They don't mention it being compatible with the first version of that lens. Not sure which version you have and this might be a consideration. I'd recommend you first check with Tamron to be sure about compatibility, if you have the first version of the lens.

Homesinaz4u

I have the D7100 also and when I want to try something I rent it from lensrentals.com first. If I like it I just purchase it from them at a reduced price and you get part of your rental fees applied to the purchase price. Just a thought and good luck.