Soft focus using a TC on a Nikon D500 (Page 2): I knew it would take the lens to F8 but with knowing how the D500 can handle high iso and low light, was hoping to get better results.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

MT Shooter wrote:

Your combo yields a max aperture of F8, this means you will need some very good light to get good results regardless of anything else.
Your 2 sample pics are under heavy clouds and very poor light. I see no way at all to get good results under that bad of light with your combo, it is hard enough with just that bare lens in those conditions, the TC just cripples it further.

I knew it would take the lens to F8 but with knowing how the D500 can handle high iso and low light, was hoping to get better results. I'm going to give the fine tuning option a go and see if that helps. If not...guess the TC will be going up for sale.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Basil_O wrote:

Are you using a remote release? Any vibration caused by using your finger on the shutter button gets really magnified on a long lens an TC combo.

No I didn't use a remote but I did test with the 2 second delay and that didn't make any difference. I wouldn't be using a remote release while in the woods anyway and that's where I normally use this set.

I use it for wildlife in the wild and a remote trigger just wouldn't work for me, normally I don't even have a tripod...I just use a tree or whatever is available to stabilize the lens on.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

joer wrote:

Low contrast soft light equals soft focus. With this combo you need to shoot in bright light at f11/f16, while maintaining 1/1000s +, depending on the subject.

Using the TC just might not work for me...oh well...it was worth a try.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

You may want to take a look at this review of the d500 teleconverter review. It may help. I have not heard great comments about Nikon teleconverters on their DSLR cameras.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

olemikey wrote:

To my eyes nothing is in focus. The suggestion to ... (show quote)

The TC is the Nikon AF-S TC-14E III new but I guess it could be a bad one. Good idea to test with a different lens as well.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

charlienow wrote:

Try using the self timer to activate the shutter. This might help keep the camera steady.

Chuck

I did that but it didn't make a difference.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Nalu wrote:

You may want to take a look at this review of the d500 teleconverter review. It may help. I have not heard great comments about Nikon teleconverters on their DSLR cameras.

I did look at various reviews before I purchased this specific model since it was the only one that would work with AutoFocus on the D500 with the Nikon 200-500 lens. Can you provide the link to the review your talking about?

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

CindyHouk wrote:

I knew it would take the lens to F8 but with knowing how the D500 can handle high iso and low light, was hoping to get better results. I'm going to give the fine tuning option a go and see if that helps. If not...guess the TC will be going up for sale.

Keep in mind that the amount of light needed to focus is completely independent from the ability of the sensor to capture an image in low light. Also keep in mind that if you fine tune the focus for low light, you may very likely upset autofocus accuracy in good light. If you feel focus is correct in good light, you may want to consider carefully whether you want to disturb the calibration.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

larryepage wrote:

Keep in mind that the amount of light needed to focus is completely independent from the ability of the sensor to capture an image in low light. Also keep in mind that if you fine tune the focus for low light, you may very likely upset autofocus accuracy in good light. If you feel focus is correct in good light, you may want to consider carefully whether you want to disturb the calibration.

I didn't even think about that! Thanks for commenting, I just might have to wait till we have a nice sunny day to test with, it's supposed to be cloudy and raining all week.

bruswen Loc: Eugene OR

I have a few questions to ask regarding your set up. You say you are using a tripod but there is no mention of what your tripod/ball head set up is. You are shooting at 700mm fully extended and your field of view is 1050mm equivalent. At focal lengths like that a stable platform is critical. The second aspect of shooting at very long focal lengths is your camera technique. I am attaching a link to an article from Moose Peterson on long lens on tripod technique. The most important parts are rolling your finger on the shutter and using your left hand on the camera barrel to dampen any vibrations. These are factors that can affect your images that should be checked, I remember I was getting similar results at one time and the culprit turned out to be the ball head that I was using. I switched to a Feisol CT3342 tripod and a Really Right Stuff BH-55 and my images improved significantly.
Here is the link to the article on long lens technique:

https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/tips-techniques/wildlife-techniques/long-lens-techniques/

CindyHouk wrote:

I am using a nikon d500 with the Nikor 200-500 and... (show quote)

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

CindyHouk wrote:

The TC is the Nikon AF-S TC-14E III new but I guess it could be a bad one. Good idea to test with a different lens as well.

And any vibration/movement (even the soft push on shutter button) can and will make a difference, usually for worse..... good luck and keep trying!!!!

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

bruswen wrote:

I have a few questions to ask regarding your set u... (show quote)

I will check out that link. I use the Manfrotto 290 xtra tripod. The tripod and ball head your suggesting is a little over my budget....oh well, will just have to stick with what I got for now and see if I can make it work.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

olemikey wrote:

And any vibration/movement (even the soft push on shutter button) can and will make a difference, usually for worse..... good luck and keep trying!!!!

I will keep trying...not gonna give up just yet. Hopefully I can get it to work the way I want...if not...it was a learning experience anyway.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Cindy, perhaps it may be just me, however, I found that I was missing sharpness in my photos and I discovered that my diopter was off a bit. I did a few vision tests and tuned the diopter where it best fit my eyesight. I'm not saying that what I see in the viewfinder and what the AF system locks in on are the same, yet getting them in sync worked better for me and my style of shooting.

Markag

Fine tuning plus self timer might help. Certainly can't hurt. I'd add that it seems silly giving you advice on how to improve your excellent photography skills.