New Nikkor 500mm and 600mm/f4 E Compatibility with TC-14E

<p>It looks like Nikon USA has corrected the rows for the 500mm E and 600mm E. However, unfortunately it is still incorrect for the 300mm/f4 E PF.<br>

Again, here is the link: http://www.nikonusa.com/en_INC/IMG/Assets/Common-Assets/Images/Teleconverter-Compatibility/EN_Comp_chart.html<br>

If anybody spots any other error, please let Nikon know or I'll be happy to forward the info.<br>

Thanks in advance.<br>

<img src="http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00d/00dR6J-558002984.jpg" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>As I pointed out earlier, it is not easy to maintain these compatibility charts. I ended up printing the chart and started marking all the errors:</p>

<ol>

<li>The 300mm/f4 E PF (#2233) should be fully compatible with both TC-14.</li>

<li>The line for the new 200-500mm/f5.6 E lens (#20058) is incorrect. If you put a TC-14 on, its maximum aperture drops to f8 such that AF is only possible with post-2012 bodies that can AF with f8 lenses.</li>

<li>For the three lenses that are max f5.6, namely the 80-400 (#2208), 200-500 (#20058) and 800mm (#2205), AF should be listed as not possible with either TC-17E or TC-20E, as maximum aperture will drop below f8.</li>

<li>Camera bodies that support AF with f8 lenses should include the D810A for astro photography.</li>

</ol>

<p>When you are dealing with a lens that long and a TC-14 in any variation, unless you are shooting very fast moving subjects I honestly don't know why you would not just focus<em> manually</em>. The depth of field is so shallow at that focal length(s) that the subject pops in and out of focus very easily, most especially if there is a specular highlight (like the sun reflected in a eye) in the frame.</p>

<p>Granted, I only own the 600mm f/4 ED-IF AIS and TC-14B and TC-300, but manual focusing is a snap with either one of them.</p>

<p>Nikon has gotten back to me. As far as I can tell, they have corrected everything I identified above on their teleconverter compatibility table: http://www.nikonusa.com/en_INC/IMG/Assets/Common-Assets/Images/Teleconverter-Compatibility/EN_Comp_chart.html</p>

<p>However, as new lenses and teleconverters are added in the future, so will new errors. Again, if you find anything or have questions, please let me know or post here.</p>

<p>I apologize again for the wrong information to start this thread.</p>

<p>Sorry for the late arrival to this thread. I thought Shun was saying that his "gentleman" had tried the new lens with some TC-14 variants and seen it not work; are we now confirming that everything is okay, as per Nikon's updated table, and the person Shun talked to either had camera-specific issues or hadn't actually tried it? I'm not prepared to take claims that other E lenses work with these teleconverters as an indication that the big telephotos do. Not that I'm shopping just now.<br />

<br />

On an unrelated note, I'm interested that the "TC80-125" (which I think is actually the TC80<b>0</b>-125e" - the 1.25x teleconverter for the 800mm) is incompatible with everything. I guess it's E-only? If so, I'd still expect it to work with the other recent E lenses.<br />

<br />

Scott: I find it a little hard to believe that you'd use a lens that long with a <i>static</i> subject, all that much. Maybe a nesting bird, but even then I'd tend to be trying to time it for some activity, where the AF starts to help. (I've also used mine for astrophotography, but frankly sticking an adaptor on a dobsonian telescope is cheaper.) When I've been birding with a 500 f/4 AI-P, the lack of autofocus has been hugely painful, to the extent that a modified TC-16A was a substantial help (but would be more so if the optics held up). I rarely use my 500mm mostly for this reason, which makes me more interested in the new 200-500 and saving up for a 400mm VR than I would have been.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>the "TC80-125" (which I think is actually the TC80<strong>0</strong>-125e" - the 1.25x teleconverter for the 800mm</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You just spotted yet another typo on that compatibility chart.</p>

<p>It has been my little on-going project with Nikon USA to correct that compatibility chart. Besides that TC-800-125e typo, currently they are missing three lenses on that chart:</p>

<ol>

<li>The first generation 300mm/f2.8 AF-S, without VR, Nikon product #1943</li>

<li>The second generation 300mm/f2.8 AF-S, also without VR, #2125</li>

<li>The current second-generation 200mm/f2 AF-S VR, #2188</li>

</ol>

<p>The 200mm/f2 AF-S VR they currently have listed is the older version 1, #2150. Both versions should be on the chart.</p>

<p>This whole thread started because I bumped into that person with a brand new 600mm/f4 E AF-S VR. He told me that it wouldn't work with some TC-14E and that limitation was "confirmed" with a phone call to Nikon. They might have worked off that same incorrect compatibility chart earlier, and Nikon's original press release is also wrong.</p>

<p>I don't even know that photographer's name, although I took a close look at his new lens and it has a serial number that is easy to remember.</p>

<p>Concerning that dedicated 1.25x TC, that is designed for the 800mm/f5.6 E AF-S VR only. In fact, it comes standard with the 800mm lens and is otherwise not sold separately.</p>

<p>Thanks, Shun - sounds (if I understand correctly) as though it would work fine, and he just never tried it. Good news, I guess!<br />

<br />

That's what I thought the TC800-125e was - I'm just curious as to why it wouldn't work on the other superteles! (At least, the "E" ones.) Maybe it clouts the rear element. I realise it would be a bit odd to use it on other combinations, although I gather the TC-14C from the 300 f/2 set is popular elsewhere.</p>

<p>Andrew, you can always buy a TC800-125E and find out whether it actually works on your 200mm/f2 AF-S VR. As a bonus, you'll also get a nice 800mm lens in the package. :-)</p>

Thanks for the suggestion, Shun. Perhaps you could get

one for me (at cheaper, U.S. prices), and I'll pay you back

in a couple of decades? :-)

 

Still, no harm in curiosity, unless you're a cat.