Teleconverter Disappointment (Page 2): ...Or dim ambient light conditions? Or a hard to lock onto, low contrast subject?

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Peterff wrote:

Is it the TC, the camera, or the combination?

....

...Or dim ambient light conditions? Or a hard to lock onto, low contrast subject?

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

jkm757 wrote:

I recently picked up a used Nikon TC-2E lll teleco... (show quote)

How do you know it is in "like new condition?" The 2x version is the least recommended of the 3 options for slower response and focus hunting. Which camera bodies are you using it on? Only the fastest D810 and D800 will autofocus to f8, I believe it requires a D7200 in DX for f 8 focus?

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

AzPicLady wrote:

Maybe you need to ask for a definition of "fully compatible." That may mean different things to different people.

My bad for using the term fully compatible. The term Nikon uses is "no limitations".

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

jkm757 wrote:

I recently picked up a used Nikon TC-2E lll teleco... (show quote)

I have a Nikon TC-2E III and a Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VRII lens. I no longer use a D3, but did at one time. That combination worked very well. Better than expected in fact.

In very poor light it would be more prone to focus hunting, but in reasonably good light that did not often happen. It was slower, but not much and way faster than some lenses. Back then I used an 80-400mm AF-D lens that was slower and more prone to hunting.

It also happens that the Kenko 2X TC worked just about exactly the same, except the build quality is not nearly as good.

The above suggests the problem is unique to your equipment. The only thing I can suggest is carefully cleaning all electrical contacts with a lint free swab and isopropyl alcohol.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

IMHO a 2X TC has limited usefulness. You just don't get anything for free with them. I do own one, and I use it, upon occasion, on my 400/2.8 to shoot baseball outfielders. When shooting sports action, I often use a 1.4TC on that same lens, unless I'm shooting something in the evening when I need all the light I can get. Aside from that, I do use my 70-200/2.8 quite extensively for sports work as well as just about everything else! Best of luck.

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

romanticf16 wrote:

How do you know it is in "like new condition?" The 2x version is the least recommended of the 3 options for slower response and focus hunting. Which camera bodies are you using it on? Only the fastest D810 and D800 will autofocus to f8, I believe it requires a D7200 in DX for f 8 focus?

KEH (where I buy most all my used gear) had it rated as "like new". As for camera bodies, I use a D3 and a D7000.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

romanticf16 wrote:

... the fastest D810 and D800 will autofocus to f8, I believe it requires a D7200 in DX for f 8 focus?

What is your point? The 70-200mm is an f/2.8 lens that has an effective f/5.6 maximum aperture when a 2X TC is attached.

That will correctly auto focus with every Nikon DSLR ever made.

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

Apaflo wrote:

I have a Nikon TC-2E III and a Nikkor 70-200mm f/2... (show quote)

The first thing I did when it didn't perform properly was to clean the contacts with alcohol but it didn't help. I was also shooting in the bright afternoon sunshine so lighting should not have been an issue.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

cjc2 wrote:

IMHO a 2X TC has limited usefulness. You just don't get anything for free with them. I do own one, and I use it, upon occasion, on my 400/2.8 to shoot baseball outfielders. When shooting sports action, I often use a 1.4TC on that same lens, unless I'm shooting something in the evening when I need all the light I can get. Aside from that, I do use my 70-200/2.8 quite extensively for sports work as well as just about everything else! Best of luck.

There is a point of significance hiding there. A 2X TC is very useful with any of the fixed focal length 400, 500, or 600mm lenses, and can save a frugal photographer several thousand dollars and or provide functionality that simply does not exist otherwise.

But in the range provided with a TC and a 70-200mm lens there is only a few hundred dollars difference between other options, and the other options are generally better quality. The one remaining advantage is a lighter total kit weight to carry when hiking, which might be very significant too.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

jkm757 wrote:

The first thing I did when it didn't perform properly was to clean the contacts with alcohol but it didn't help. I was also shooting in the bright afternoon sunshine so lighting should not have been an issue.

It shouldn't be a problem. Since you see it on more than one body it must be the lens/TC combination. I would return the TC if that is still possible, and then try another TC. Otherwise, send the pair off to a repair facility.

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

cjc2 wrote:

IMHO a 2X TC has limited usefulness. You just don't get anything for free with them. I do own one, and I use it, upon occasion, on my 400/2.8 to shoot baseball outfielders. When shooting sports action, I often use a 1.4TC on that same lens, unless I'm shooting something in the evening when I need all the light I can get. Aside from that, I do use my 70-200/2.8 quite extensively for sports work as well as just about everything else! Best of luck.

When you do use your 2x TC does the lens still autofocus like it should. The TC that I got is so slow and hunts so much that I can't even use it on a moving subject.

jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

Apaflo wrote:

It shouldn't be a problem. Since you see it on more than one body it must be the lens/TC combination. I would return the TC if that is still possible, and then try another TC. Otherwise, send the pair off to a repair facility.

The TC will be returned. Since I bought it used, I'm wondering if the previous owner had the same problem and that's why they got rid of it.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

jkm757 wrote:

When you do use your 2x TC does the lens still autofocus like it should. The TC that I got is so slow and hunts so much that I can't even use it on a moving subject.

Yes, it still does autofocus, but the autofocus speed is slowed down by the convertor which changes the maximum aperture from 2.8 to 5.6. How much depends upon camera body. I use the D810, D500 and D5 which all will focus properly at that aperture. They will NOT focus as fast though. For everything you get, you give something up. Best of luck.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

jkm757 wrote:

I recently picked up a used Nikon TC-20E lll telec... (show quote)

Maybe you have a faulty converter.

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

jkm757 wrote:

I recently picked up a used Nikon TC-20E lll telec... (show quote)

Before you do anything else take your converter and lens to a camera store and try the same rig on a Nikon D500, D810, or a D4s, or D5. If you have the same problem, then you know where the problem lies. The D7000 is notorious for slow focus cause your at F8, and the same is true with the D3, I believe both above F5.6 problems occur. I believe on more modern Nikon's the problem is not as bad. But, you SHOULD try it out before doing anything else.