sinderone

Will my Nikon 55-300 work with a Teleconverter and if so which would be the best and most cost effective for it? I am heading to Alaska and would like a bit more reach.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots of choices -
https://www.google.com/search?q=teleconverter+for+Nikon+55-300&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS716US717&oq=teleconverter+for+Nikon+55-300&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.5655j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I use a Kenko 1.4 TC on my 28-300mm and other lenses. It's a lot cheaper than buying more lenses.
https://www.amazon.com/Kenko-1-4X-Teleconverter-Nikon-Digital/dp/B002C6QE00
https://www.amazon.com/Kenko-1-4X-Teleconverter-Nikon-Digital/dp/B002C6QE00

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

What are you thinking of using this for and on which camera? If it is wildlife, you may be in for some frustration, particularly if you have a camera that cannot auto focus with and F8 lens, which is what your zoom would be at 300mm, with a 1.4x TC on it. If you were able to get it to focus, the focus mechanism will hunt and not settle down very easily. Lastly, a 1.4 TC will only take about 5% of your image quality, but your lens is not particularly sharp at 300mm, so it may be enough of a penalty to make you reconsider. Shooting wildlife that is moving about will be challenging, and you can just about forget about shooting birds in flight.

You may want to consider renting a Tamron 150-600 G2 or a Sigma 150-600 Sport. You will get considerably better results and a better shooting experience.

https://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=4568

The Tamron will cost you $84/wk, or $147/2 wks from LensRental.com

https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/tamron-150-600mm-f5-6.3-sp-di-vc-usd-g2-for-nikon

Given the special nature of the trip, I wouldn't want to come back with anything but the best images possible.

cthahn

You can not have the best and the least expensive at the same time.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

If you shot a lot of wildlife I'd bite bullet and buy the Tamron 150/600 G2. We've driven to AK twice and spend 45 to 60 days in AK each time. If you're there in July when the salmon are running take a float plane to Katmia and walk to Brooks Falls you won't regret it. I don't use a TC .

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

See this chart from Nikon

http://cdn-5.nikon-cdn.com/Assets/Common-Assets/Images/Teleconverter-Compatibility/EN_Comp_chart.html (paste in browser)

sinderone

Thank you but the 55-300 is not on the list.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Nikon does not list that lens as being compatible with Nikon teleconverters. You should consider renting a Tamron 150-600mm for your trip. The image quality will far exceed what you will achieve with your lens and a third party TC. The cost of renting is insignificant when compared to the cost of your trip.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

That's because it's not compatible with any of the Nikon TCs.

Notice that the only zooms listed to be compatible with Nikon TCs (with various limitations), are all relatively high end models and FX lenses.

Your best bet would probably be a Kenko 1.4X DGX, probably the "MC-4" version. It costs $99 and is sharp in the center, which is fine on APS-C/DX cameras (which I suspect is what you have, because I believe the 55-300mm Nikkor is a DX lens). If you had a full frame camera, the slighlty more expensive Kenko "Pro 300" 1.4X DGX would be a better choice, because it's sharper toward the edges and in the corners of the image. Those are "cropped away", though, when using the lens and TC on a DX camera. So the 1.4X MC-4 should be fine.

Forget about any 2X teleconverter. There would be too much loss of light of autofocus to work at all, your viewfinder would be quite dim to try to manually focus, and the loss of image quality is much greater with the stronger 2X teleconverters.

As others have already mentioned, be prepared for noticeable image quality loss and, at best, slower autofocus that hunts more. In general, teleconverters work best on prime lenses, rather than zooms like yours... and best on very high quality lenses that can "tolerate" some loss of image quality. I'd strongly recommend you get whatever TC you want to try as soon as possible and test it thoroughly on your lens, to see if the AF performance and image quality are acceptable to you, with plenty of time to try a different solution (such as renting a more powerful telephoto lens) if not satisfied with the TC on your lens.