VeraP

After much angst, study, and comparison to the popular 150-600 lens offerings from Sigma and Tamron, I have decided to purchase a Nikon 200-500 mm lens to go on my D500 for wildlife, BIF, etc. Thought I would grab a teleconverter also, and I can use that on other lenses. I have reviewed the compatibility tables on the Nikon site; I understand the loss of light, etc. as you go from 1.4x to the 1.7x and 2.0x. It seems that most people use the 1.4x. I have read some of the threads on teleconverters on this site and would be interested in your comments about how you use different power teleconverters to better understand how to maximize their usefulness. Thanks in advance - your knowledge is always appreciated. Vera

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

You do not mention what camera you use - with the light loss a TC creates you must check to see if that camera body's autofocus will be capable of working at f8 (or f11 is you get a 2X TC).

VeraP

I’m using a Nikon D500 and the teleconverter chart on the Nikon site has provided guidance on that. Says D500 provides autofocus support at f8 for the 1.4x.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Get the TC14III, its fully compatible with your camera/lens combo and focuses fast.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

There you go, Vera. You can take MT_Shooter's advice to the bank. Good choice on selecting a Nikon lens.
--Bob

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Check out the Kenko 300 Pro 1.4. I have this and find it to be an excellent unit with great sharpness. It will cost you less than half what the Nikon will and you will not be unhappy with the results. It may not be as beefy as the Nikon but these are small units and do not get thrown around. I keep mine in a soft pouch and have not had any damage to it in years of use. Kenko is not an off-brand but rather one of the major producers of photographic equipment. Just because it is not OEM, doesn't always make something inferior.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

When using the 1.4x with the 200-500 make sure you have the required stabilization and shutter speed to mitigate motion blurring - this will mostly require something other than hand holding ! I think I would try using the 200-500 @ 450 with the extender (630mm instead of 700) to increase IQ and then CROP and use well applied pixel enlargement software if needed for larger print making. Also be mindful that your AF will not be as good with the extender and should only be used in better light for tracking moving subjects.
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Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Have the exact same setup with a D500, Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 and I keep a Nikon TC-14E III 1.4x teleconverter in my birding backpack. You will be pleased with the 200-500mm. It sharper than my Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 G2 out from the center and certainly in the corners and AF is faster than the G2 at longer zoom factors. I use it handheld much of the time, but it is a bit heavy. I almost always take a tripod with a Nest gimbal head along with me.

You will need to be careful using the teleconverter as it takes you to f/8. Out of the D500s 153 AF sensors, 15 support f/8, but only 9 of those are cross type sensors (if I read the specs correctly), so AF is slower and you'll want to focus using the center of the viewfinder. BBF really helps here.

It's a great setup for birding / wildlife. Enjoy!

d3200prime

Don't waste your money on Nikon's latest 1.4x teleconverter. I have the TC 14-1.4x and it works just fine for much less money. Actually from what I researched there is no difference in the TC-1.4x and the TC-1.4x ll and picture quality is only minimally improved on Nikon's new TC-1.4x lll. Unless you are one of those who just have to have the latest and greatest and are a pixel peeper you will be satisfied with the TC-14 1.4x. I purchased mine to compare IQ on the Nikon 300mm PF prime and the Nikon 200-500 super-telephoto. Try it on your 200-500 and see how you like it. That's the only way you will know for sure. Some like the teleconverter and some don't get along very well with it. BTW: With that combination, you will have an equivalent of a 420-1050 mm lens. I wouldn't try shooting without a very steady tripod.

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

The 1.4X TC will rob some sharpness from the 200-500 and it will affect AF performance, especially with older cameras. If you want a 600mm lens, then get one. The image quality of a 150-600 Tamron G2 and the Sigma Sport 150-600 will be better than the 200-500 with a TC attached.

You may want to look at this extensive article, with comparisons between the Nikon and the Sigma Sport. In my experience with 2 different copies of the Tamron G2 - it has proven to be equally crisp and sharp as the Sigma @600mm, and a little sharper at shorter focal lengths. Also, both have good weather sealing and hard, anti-smudge coatings on the front elements.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Have both the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 G2 and Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 along with the Nikon 1.4TC III on both a D500 and D850. Did a side by side comparison of the Nikon and G2 and both are about as sharp in the center, but G2 sharpness falls off quickly just off center and the Nikon is much sharper right out to the corners. Although the Tamron claims it is a 600mm lens, mine is not. It is closer to 550mm and I have read reviews saying the same thing. AF is much faster with the Nikon at longer focal lengths, probably because the Nikon is at f/5.6 throughout the zoom range where the G2 gets to f/6 somewhere around 325mm and to f/6.3 around 450mm.

Yes AF is slower using the 1.4x teleconverter, but AF in daylight conditions is OK using the center AF sensors (BBF is a must here), but I go to manual focus in deep shadows and as the light starts to fail. For a reach of 1.5 x 500 x 1.4 = 1050mm, I'm not complaining. I'm sure there is some degradation in IQ with the 1.4x teleconverter, but I it hasn't bothered me.

I also have a Nikon 600mm f/4 G, which I usually team up with a D850, but also use it on the D500. The IQ is amazing even compared to the 200-500mm f/5.6. When you need it, you need it and I have hiked long distances with that lens for those special situations, but for 90% of what I do the 200-500mm f/5.6 along with the 1.4x III teleconverter is more than adequate, especially for display on digital media even at 4k.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

if the lens is a fx lens,then use it on a dx body and take advantage of the 1.5 crop factor.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

I have the same gear as the OP (D500/200-500) and did my own real life testing of this question. Setting up with a tripod and remote trigger on the banks of a pretty wide river, i took a series of shots of the signs posted in the channels, to compare the clarity of the lettering with and without the TC-14III. No wind to speak of and good sunlight. The cropped images without the TC were more legible and the detail of the signs clearer than those with the TC. There may be circumstances in which the TC provides superior results, but this testing made my decision for me.

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

First of all, I do not use any teleconverter. But, if you want to retain auto focus with it, then the 1.4 is the one to get, you will be at f8 with it, which is the maximum f stop for auto focus on your D500. If you go with the 1.7 or 2.0 you will not be able to auto focus, and since you said you like BIF, auto focus is essential.
I have used that combination in Florida for 4 years without the aid of a teleconverter, you get a field of view of 300-750mm with that lens on your D500, what else could you possibly need.
Besides, with the 1.4 your auto focus slows, something that is not good for BIF. Below is an example of what I get with the 200-500 on my d500 without the benefit of a teleconverter.
My suggestion, get the lens and start shooting, if, after you have broken it in, if you feel the need for a teleconverter, then continue to think about it.