Soft focus using a TC on a Nikon D500: I am using a nikon d500 with the Nikor 200-500 and the Nikon TC 14E III. I am having a hard time getting critters in focus using the TC at the...

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

I am using a nikon d500 with the Nikor 200-500 and the Nikon TC 14E III. I am having a hard time getting critters in focus using the TC at the top end of 500mm .... anyone have any experience with this setup? I have tried with single point focus as well as group focus settings and I was using a tripod as well, the vc was off. I have had the TC now for a few months and just can't seem to get good shots using it. I have messed around with various shutters speeds as well as ISO's....so is it me - is there something that I am doing wrong or is it the TC?

I only opened these photo's in the Photo's program so that I could save them as jpg's to upload.

F8, 1/2000, iso 220
F8, 1/2000, iso 220...

(Download)

F8, 1/1250, iso 1100
F8, 1/1250, iso 1100...

(Download)

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Sounds like you are good on technique. Try working on a static subject using manual focus in magnified live view for the focus. Exit live view and take the shot carefully. If that is subpar suspect the tc. If sharp then fine tune autofocus.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Orphoto wrote:

Sounds like you are good on technique. Try working on a static subject using manual focus in magnified live view for the focus. Exit live view and take the shot carefully. If that is subpar suspect the tc. If sharp then fine tune autofocus.

Thanks for the suggestion and I will give that a try tomorrow!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Neither example image has any EXIF data. Although titled "unedited", these don't seem to be the original JPEGs. The community might add more information / ideas with access and analysis of the shooting parameters of each image.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I use that combination fairly often and yes, you can expect issues. It turns your 200-500mm f/5.6 into an f/8 lens. The D500 only has a small number of f/8 cross sensors, which are in the center of the frame. I believe the number is 5. My experience is that you have to use the center of the frame and AF is slower, but it does work. When it has a problem locking, try manual focus to get it close, then retry AF. This problem caused me to by a used 600mm f/4G. Even with the 1.4x it's a f/5.6 lens. Problems solved.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

CindyHouk wrote:

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

I found after extensive testing that when using the Nikon TC 14E III with my Nikon 80-400mm/D800 it required a +18 AF fine tune for best performance at 400mm.

The lens without the TC at 400mm required no AF fine tuning. As I only ever used that lens at max focal length with the D800 and the camera recognizing the combination, a simple fix.

If you are doing everything else correctly it may be worth you considering AF fine tune adjustment to see if you can improve things.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

CindyHouk wrote:

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

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.

gcolegate1

Orphoto wrote:

Sounds like you are good on technique. Try working on a static subject using manual focus in magnified live view for the focus. Exit live view and take the shot carefully. If that is subpar suspect the tc. If sharp then fine tune autofocus.

Why exit live view, isn’t the mirror already in the up position.

Basil_O Loc: Minneapolis, MN

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.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

CindyHouk wrote:

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

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.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

CindyHouk wrote:

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

To my eyes nothing is in focus. The suggestion to do a manual test session is a good one...test with and without TC....and try the TC with another (known sharp) lens as a test also. The suggestion to check the plus/minus focus adjustment (with a known good lens) .... then with the 200-500 with/without TC should tell you what is causing the issue. If the lens alone is sharp and operates correctly then the TC is looking suspicious. The shots do remind me of using a poor/low quality TC years ago.....so test, test test!!!!!

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

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

Chuck

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

CHG_CANON wrote:

Neither example image has any EXIF data. Although titled "unedited", these don't seem to be the original JPEGs. The community might add more information / ideas with access and analysis of the shooting parameters of each image.

That's strange. All I did was copy from the sd card to the computer - open with Photo's program - selected Save As and saved as jpg. No other edits done, not sure why the EXIF data is not there.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Strodav wrote:

I use that combination fairly often and yes, you c... (show quote)

Thanks and I knew it would take my lens to the F8 but was hoping it would work better than what it is. Someone suggested using the Fine tune feature....I am going to text with that today.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Grahame wrote:

I found after extensive testing that when using the Nikon TC 14E III with my Nikon 80-400mm/D800 it required a +18 AF fine tune for best performance at 400mm.

The lens without the TC at 400mm required no AF fine tuning. As I only ever used that lens at max focal length with the D800 and the camera recognizing the combination, a simple fix.

If you are doing everything else correctly it may be worth you considering AF fine tune adjustment to see if you can improve things.

I didn't even know that fine tuning was an option until you mentioned it. I watched a few video's on how to do it and will do that today and see if it helps.

Thank you!