BobinVa

Need help finding a suitable 2 x converter for my 5500. I realize its limitations having had one years ago. This is for a hobbyist on a retired budget. Thanks in advance.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Any Nikon mount teleconverter will fit your camera. Do you intend to use a lens also?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I would suggest that if you are on a budget to get a Kenko Brand. I would suggest you get the 1.4 teleconverter over the 2X. Your FOV on a crop will be multiplied 1.5 on your crop sensor. A 2X will increase degradation.The Kenko Brand is about $150 more or less. And before you buy any teleconverter, check to see what lenses are compatible with it. All teleconverters are not created equal, regardless of the name brand. Good luck.

OutBack Loc: North Central Florida

I have used a Nikon 1.6 with some of my old lenses because you can get the focus close and the converter finishes it. The 1.6 is the only one that will do that; or they used to.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

It's more about which lens you will use it on than the camera.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Sounds to me, according to his post, that the OP has used them and his question is the which is the best 2X for a limited budget. I heard a Kenko recommended. Makes sense to me.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

+1 Tenured wisdom...
I have the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter and use it on my AF-D Nikkor lenses...
Which will not accept Nikon AF Teleconverters... What was Nikon thinking?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/674566-REG/Kenko_PRO3001_4XDGXN_Teleplus_PRO_300_DG.html

Cost effective... and yes I agree with mas24 suggestion to avoid the 2X variant which is valid inference...
I won't even waste time trying to explain why... It's simply not optically reasonable by any standard...

However I would suggest considering the new AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR Lens
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275036-REG/nikon_20062_afp_dx_nikkor_70_300mm.html
Available for $395 with a 5 year Nikon warranty or $208 white box...
This in my humble estimation by far offers the highest price/performance ratio of any prosumer Tele Nikkor even the highly popular AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E VR at more than three times the price.

This new AF-P 70-300mm has VR to die for... seriously good for 4 stops (really)
The downside? It's definitely consumer grade build and likely will not withstand much abuse...

btw, I tested the AF-P 70-300mm against the AF-S 200-500mm and it's Pulse Stepper Motor drives the AF faster than the 200-500mm!
And there is virtually little difference in acuity between the two (yes I checked this repeatedly and at f/6.3 on both)
Stop the AF-P down to f/8 and it is tack sharp!

And please do not PM me for a source of a White Box version... Google it yourself...
I paid Nikon for my variant but did shoot a White Box version and could see no difference in my limited testing...

Hope this helps, or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well on your journey BobinVa

BobinVa

Thanks for all your help folks. I will be using it on a Nikon 5500 with a kit lens and a nikkor 55-300. The other lens is a 18-55 nikkor lens....sorry. Willing to spend $250. I live near Jamestown and want to capture some eagles and osprey that soar majestically across the sky in front of my home.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I'm no expert, but I would not use a teleconverter on your lenses. Check compatibility charts for the brand teleconverter you choose. To my knowledge, Nikon teleconverters won't even fit on these lenses. A 2X is an absolute waste of money. I missed where you stated these particular lenses earlier.

Bill_de Loc: US

Even the best converters are not much good on the back of anything but a very good lens. A 2x converter is a last resort, especially on a slow lens. You lose two stops, which in some cases negates the auto focus.

I know you don't want to hear this .... save your money and put it toward a better lens.

--

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

If the converters even fit, I think autofocus may be lost, to say nothing about the poor image quality. F11 is a tough minimum when the focal lengths are maxed out.

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

Bob, a 2X converter will rob you of 25% to 30% sharpness. So the most important part of your question is missing. What lens do you intend to use with a 2X converter. If you say a 70-200mm F2.8 VR II, 200mm F2, a 300mm F2.8, or a 400mm F2.8, I'd say go right ahead - these lenses are incredibly sharp - among the sharpest among the Nikon offerings. I would not advise using it with a zoom, particularly the consumer oriented ones with a max aperture of F5.6 or 6.3 at maximum zoom. They will not be sharp, they will not auto focus well, and if you have to manually focus, the viewfinder, which will be no brighter than a lens stopped down to F11, will be almost impossible to focus with. But some people do it, and their results are pretty mediocre at best. In fact, I would advise against even a 1.4X if you care at all about image quality. If you are on a budget, I'd hate for you to spend money on something that is just not going to make you happy. But it's your money and you are free to spend it as you wish. You can get a pretty sharp Sigma 100-400 for around $800, which will be significantly better than any lesser lens used with a 2X TC. You can also find used deals on Sigma 150-500 lenses but they are not as crisp as the 100-400.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Forget the TC. Maximize your camera/len's IQ and CROP - and if necessary, for larger viewings, use well applied pixel enlargement software to keep your pixel count up.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Funny you mentioned the Nikon AF-P 70-300mm with VR. Some Nikon DX cameras produced before this lens was produced, needed firmware updates to accept this newer AF-P type lens. There's also a non VR version costing $50 less. Senseless IMO.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...want to capture some eagles and osprey that soar majestically across the sky in front of my home..." then ignore my previous post BobinVa... Birds-In-Flight is possibly one of the most challenging of all missions to take on...

Might be best to repost your query in the Birds-In-Flight Forum
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-112-1.html
And please be certain to clearly state your mission intent...
Especially since your initial post stated "hobbyist on a retired budget..." as your priority

It is oft said that gear isn't important since it is the person behind the camera that makes all the difference...
However for BIF and Action Sports the Gear is equally important...
Here both a superb kit and an outstanding knowledge of shooting long glass must be present if there is any hope for success...

Those in the BIF Forum will likely provide you with far more meaningful guidance than you will find in this forum...
Again I wish your well with your Birds-In-Flight endeavor BobinVa