Looking for a recommendation: Hello to all, Hope you all are well . I have a general question.I have a Nikon D7100 and I'm using a new Tamron 70-200 2.8G2 on it that I love. Here is my...

Sparky54 Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Hello to all, Hope you all are well .
I have a general question.I have a Nikon D7100 and I'm using a new Tamron 70-200 2.8G2 on it that I love.
Here is my question,I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Tamron 150-600 G2 or a Tamron T/C to get more reach.What experience have you had with this issue and what would you recommend? At some point I plan on buying a Nikon D500.
Thank you,
Sparky54

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Sparky54 wrote:

Hello to all, Hope you all are well .
I have a general question.I have a Nikon D7100 and I'm using a new Tamron 70-200 2.8G2 on it that I love.
Here is my question,I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Tamron 150-600 G2 or a Tamron T/C to get more reach.What experience have you had with this issue and what would you recommend? At some point I plan on buying a Nikon D500.
Thank you,
Sparky54

Experience with what issue?

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Sparky54 wrote:

Hello to all, Hope you all are well .
I have a general question.I have a Nikon D7100 and I'm using a new Tamron 70-200 2.8G2 on it that I love.
Here is my question,I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Tamron 150-600 G2 or a Tamron T/C to get more reach.What experience have you had with this issue and what would you recommend? At some point I plan on buying a Nikon D500.
Thank you,
Sparky54

Good morning, Sparky. The TC will boost your 70-200 to 105-300 or 140-400, depending if you get the 1.4 or 2.0. It will also reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor. If it were me, and I wanted the lens for birding, and could afford it, I’d go with the 150-600 G2. That would give you, (using the crop factor) and effective 35mm equivalent of 225-900mm.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Wingpilot wrote:

Good morning, Sparky. The TC will boost your 70-200 to 105-300 or 140-400, depending if you get the 1.4 or 2.0. It will also reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor. If it were me, and I wanted the lens for birding, and could afford it, I’d go with the 150-600 G2. That would give you, (using the crop factor) and effective 35mm equivalent of 225-900mm.

I agree with wingpilot!

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

Sparky54 wrote:

Hello to all, Hope you all are well .
I have a general question.I have a Nikon D7100 and I'm using a new Tamron 70-200 2.8G2 on it that I love.
Here is my question,I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Tamron 150-600 G2 or a Tamron T/C to get more reach.What experience have you had with this issue and what would you recommend? At some point I plan on buying a Nikon D500.
Thank you,
Sparky54

A 1.4X TC should be fine - you'll lose about 5% sharpness and the A/F performance will take a slight hit. The Tamron 150-600G2 will be sharper than the 70-200 with a TC. However, hand-holding a 600mm lens on a crop camera is likely to be very frustrating. A good solid top of the line tripod will be something you'll need to figure on - which at the very least will cost you around $800 (Feisol CT-3472+Manfrotto 393 gimbal). Any less and you will be throwing your money away. On the other hand, if you decide to use the lens at 400mm hand held, you should be fine, with your percentage of keepers diminishing as you increase your focal length. The nice thing about the G2 is that it is very sharp at shorter focal lengths, unlike the Sigma Sport, where you lose a tiny bit. Reach is overrated. Patience, learning your subject's habits, revisiting sites is similarly underrated. While the gear helps, the best strategy is to get as close as you can.

tramsey Loc: Texas

But how will it effect your f rating?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Sparky54 wrote:

Hello to all, Hope you all are well .
I have a general question.I have a Nikon D7100 and I'm using a new Tamron 70-200 2.8G2 on it that I love.
Here is my question,I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Tamron 150-600 G2 or a Tamron T/C to get more reach.What experience have you had with this issue and what would you recommend? At some point I plan on buying a Nikon D500.
Thank you,
Sparky54

Theoretically, you CAN use a 2X with the 70-200 - but you may or may not be satisfied with results. I would be more inclined to get the Tamron 100-400 instead for a couple hundred more $$.

If you TRY the 2X, rent it or be able to return it - OR, if you like the results keep it.

IF you decide on the 150-600, be ready willing and able to manage the size and WEIGHT.
.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I would go with the lens instead of the TC.

david vt Loc: Vermont

I think @wingpilot and @Gene51 give a nice summary of the sharpness trade-offs. I have almost your setup (D7200 with Nikon 70-200 f2.8). After researching, I searched for and found and older (Ver 2 of the 3 out there) of the TC1.4. For me, the further loss of light (2 stops vs 1) was not worth it as I, mostly shooting sports and moving subjects) needed SS. I also found the weight trade-off advantageous (far lighter to carry the TC1.4 than an extra lens - I often am walking around and the 150 end on the D7100 would be too much lens)

So, it depends on your range of subjects, how often you want this longer combination (i.e. how often will go you go birding), and $$.

Final suggestion, given weight, as mentioned by several folks, and $$, I would recommend renting these much bigger lens first to make sure you like it, AND are willing to carry it!

Good luck with your decision

Sparky54 Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Thank you, much appreciated

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I think it's safe to say you would get better quality images with a lens rather than a T/C, but look at the difference in price. You could try the T/C, and return it if you don't like the performance. It's $439 for a 2X vs $1,200 for the lens. Big difference. Will you see a big enough difference in your images to spend almost $800 more? And that T/C can be used on other lenses.

Sparky54 Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Thank you

Sparky54 Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Do you have recommended lens rental places ? real life experience ,
Thank you

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Sparky54 wrote:

Do you have recommended lens rental places ? real life experience ,
Thank you

LensRentals ...

R.G. Loc: Scotland

A smaller, lighter and cheaper option that was discussed recently was a 100-400mm which will give you the FF equivalent of 150-600mm.