SunBeach1962 Loc: Syrscuse, NY

I have the Nikon D500 and the Nikon D780 cameras. I bought the Tamron 70-200mm lens, I love it.
I next bought the 2X Tele Converter, it works great with the 2.8 70-200 mm, treats it like a 5.6 lens. I shoot a lot of BIF and want not need, a longer lens, I have the Nikon 500mm 5.6 pf. I am considering the Tamron 150-600mm, My local camera store tells me the lens with the tele attached will be very soft at the edges 300mm and 1200mm.
What are your thoughts? Is F/ 12.6 too slow to focus on my camera's? Does anyone have this combo? What are your thoughts?

Juy Loc: Delaware

I have the D500 and the Tamron 150-600 and I have the Tamron 1.4TC. The 150-600 is very good for the money and works well with the TC if the light is good. It does have a little softness but acceptable for when I use it. It does drop your apperture to f9 on the long end which cause the focus to struggle. I think you would be better off using the Nikon 500 5.6 pf. I believe you said you have. I don't know how it works with a TC , but believe you would be better off going that route.

Juy Loc: Delaware

I just reread your post, and the 150-600will not work with the 2x TC, nor would I use it on the 500 5.6 pf.

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

I shoot birds in flight for income. So my images have to be sharp. If you put a 150-600 on your D500, you will get a field of view of 300-900 mm. Your saying that is not enough reach?
I shoot with a FF camera and shoot with a 600 f4 and a 200-600 5.6/6.3. I do not use tele converters because they down grade MY images. A 1.4 would be the minimum I would except. A 2.0 is just not worth using in my opinion. Yes, your camera store was wise to caution you on using a 2.0. Focusing speed and sharpness suffer.
My suggestion is to learn more about the birds you want to shoot and practice hand holding and panning techniques.
The image below was taken of a Black-necked Stilt. They are very fast and you have to really practice to get them in flight because they have falcon like wings and can change direction quickly. If I was shooting with a 1200 mm lens it would be almost impossible to track that bird. And with a 1200 mm lens you would have to be shooting extremely fast to get the motion to stop.
If you want wing tips to be sharp, 1/4000 sec. is a must.
My advice, learn to use the Tamron WITHOUT any converter.
My other advice, you already have a much sharper lens in the 500 5.6 Nikon. My further advice, get a NIKON 1.4 for that lens. But, with the 500 you have a field of view of 750mm 5.6 lens. You should not need more than that to get great images. You really need to practice your getting close techniques.
And you can shoot the 500 5.6 wide open and still get great sharpness, at 5.6 your backgrounds would be more out of focus and your main image would stand out more.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For a Nikon D780, yes, this combo / effective aperture will not retain autofocus.

agillot

A 1.4 , maybe , a 2.0 not , just too much to handle .

SunBeach1962 Loc: Syrscuse, NY

Thank you for the advice I appreciate it I guess I’ll continue to explore this GAS attack before I buy.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

A 2X works quite well on GOOD 2.8 lenses and acceptable on GOOD f4 lenses ( GOOD = mostly primes !). In addition there is a point where the 2X magnification and stabilization and/or subject movement and/or atmospheric impediments and/or focus speed/accuracy make for serious degradations.
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cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

The G2 version will work with Tamrons 2x TC, scroll down to see a list of compatable lenses

https://www.tamron.jp/en/product/lenses/telecon.html

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

You have received great lens advice, spot on I'd say......depending on your mobility - stealth is your friend, learn to be photo sneaky!! If you observe the birds when they are stalking/hunting, or a cat in hunting mode, generally it is slow, methodical & unobtrusive movements that allow closing the distance to your pray (till they spring)....that will help you to close the distance as well. Blinds are another simple and very successful tool - even sitting/crouching under an umbrella works with songbirds/others (and can help you keep cool in hot climates/protect from rain) and the insertion of artificial light, flash/strobe/even floodlight under trees and such, does not bother most birds, or other creative lighting in smaller environments, under tree canopy, reflected light, etc..

I have used a 7.5' & 9' market/deck umbrella with mosquito netting around it here in florida, actually works well, and during summer in wooded environments can keep the skeeters off as well. I have and use the Tamron, and zoom is helpful, but the Nikon 500 (and possibly matching 1.4TC) should do very well indeed. If the D500 allows for FOV change (like the 1.3 X mode in D7xxx series) that can get you closer as well, and with target in lens center the loss of some pixels may not matter (try it and make your own determination).
Good luck and good hunting!!
My $.02

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

The D500 does have the 1.3X format option. Selecting it also increases the buffer from 22 exposures to 30 exposures. The image area is indicated by a "wireframe" indicator, not a mask as in the D850. Images are about 11.6 MP, close to those of a D300.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Before using a 2X TC on a slow (f5.6/6.3 lens) , I would use a 1.4X , optimizing my IQ and crop and use pixel enlargement software if making larger prints.
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olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

That DX 11.6mp in the center of a good lens will yield a mighty fine shot, and with todays AI processing, even better, I use that capability for Painted Buntings, Carolina Wrens and smaller natcatchers and such with my D7100, the close up effect and good technique can more than make up for the paltry 11.6mp. it also works very well with my Nikon1V1. The flange distance coupled with and longer lens of good quality yields a frame filling small bird at 2.7X.... .... We have these options, they can help us make wonderful photos...never mind the specs.....
I know from exp. that BIF is a greater challenge, and compromises for wildlife portraits may not work there...but, it's fun trying!

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Your D500 or D780 won’t autofocus over f/8. I tried a 1.4 with the Nikon 200-500 and even at f/8 it focused slow and the results weren’t great. I found I was better off just cropping. I know use the Z mount 100-400 with the the Z 1.4 TC on my Z9 and it’s a completely different story.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

But no advantage over shooting full sensor and cropping in post. Only time would be if you’re taking JPEG’s for immediate use.