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Z Mount 1.4x Teleconverter


ShunCheung

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Received my first Z-mount teleconverter, a 1.4x. It is quite a bit larger than the F-mount TC-14E III and noticeably heavier, but that is expected due to the wider lens mount. The front element of the Z converter sticks out quite a bit. And similar to its F-mount counterpart, it has an extra notch on the bayonet.

 

I tried mounting the 1.4x TC behind the FTZ adapter, and as expected, the baffle on the FTZ blocks the long front element of the TC. The rear mount of the FTZ is also missing that notch, which is required to mount the 1.4x TC.

 

 

F mount TC-14E III on the left, Z mount on the right.

Teleconverters14_2132.thumb.jpg.f6fbf32b7511dabc40614aa13006366d.jpg

 

 

Both converters have an extra notch.

TC14_TopView_2134.thumb.jpg.997bf0ac05cd3dcb0b8d2ea8c81da6cd.jpg

 

 

Notice that the mount on the 1.4x TC has that notch in the 9 o'clock position. The Z6's mount has no such notch.

Body_vs_TC_mount_2138a.thumb.jpg.ea0c2b79f9804382bfb678ace0817cea.jpg

 

 

On the rear mount of a long Z tele, such as the 70-200/2.8, there is a matching notch in the 4, 5 o'clock position, left. On the rear mount of the 1.4x TC and other shorter lenses, there is no such notch. Therefore, Nikon is preventing people from mount one TC behind another TC.

70-200_mount_2143.thumb.jpg.101c1e34dfb6a898d866b9760a291fa7.jpg

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These z-mount teleconverters are high quality but, unfortunately, they can only be used on the 70-200 S lens at this time. With the 2X mounted, the 70-200 is ridiculously long and clunky but it takes the focal length to 400mm @ f/5.6 (not too bad) with good image quality. The focus speed is excellent too - did not notice any slow-down if any. I can't wait to try them on the 100-400 S, which I believe will be available in the "foreseeable future" (LOL) - but the downside is the F-stop will be higher than 5.6.
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These z-mount teleconverters are high quality

I used the TC-17EII for years on an AF-S 300/4 lens on the D200 and D300 - unfortunately there were substantial costs in terms of image quality loss and reduction in AF speed. Never bothered with the 2x. Nowadays, I even question the use of the 1.4x ones (I own the TC-14E and the TC-14EIII) - cropping the image in most cases yields better results.

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A part of the image quality loss from TCs with DSLRs is that the focus becomes less accurate (often with TC you need to adjust the focus fine tune setting) and there is also more variability from shot to shot especially at longer distances. Additionally as the maximum aperture gets smaller, the autofocus becomes less good. With mirrorless cameras, AF with TCs even when the maximum aperture is smaller is quite good, and one can expect that useful results would be obtained with the Z 100-400mm + 1.4X TC with sufficiently capable camera body and bright enough light.
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With relatively grainy high speed film and then earlier lower resolution DX format DSLRs, use of a TC that was well matched to a lens probably helped. But I have generally been in the "just crop" camp for a while. Not even sure where my TC-17e is. I do think it was beneficial behind a 300/4AFS on a D300 when shooting sailing racing a while back.

 

I would be interested to see the Z-TC + 70-200/2.8S and/or 100-400 compares to a cropped Z7 image under careful testing and then in actual use. The potential for improved AF accuracy that Ilkka refers to should help.

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I am going to check out how well the Z 70-200 works with this 1.4x TC. At this point I am not planning to get the 2x version, as I think the 100-400 S will be an excellent lens with a nice zoom range.

 

The cross-section diagram is from Nikon, of course. This 1.4x TC has an interesting construction with a very large and thick rear element. Also since the front is protruding quite far, the front cap is very thick. I guess Nikon doesn't want us to use that thick cap on camera bodies.

 

CrossSection.jpg.f4c576031bf9ee294fe35bd49399bd2c.jpg

 

_DSC2150.thumb.jpg.58efb654e311f35e4eae9bb6cb7db073.jpg

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A part of the image quality loss from TCs with DSLRs is that the focus becomes less accurate (often with TC you need to adjust the focus fine tune setting) and there is also more variability from shot to shot especially at longer distances. Additionally as the maximum aperture gets smaller, the autofocus becomes less good.

Exactly my experience. AF fine tune with a TC behind a lens of f/4 or even f/5.6 maximum aperture (I have used the 300/4PF, 500/5.6PF and 200-500/5.6 with both the TC-14E and the TC-14EIII) becomes quite difficult to accomplish and it is possible that the tune cannot be accomplished because the available parameter range is insufficient. None of the lenses I mentioned needed AF fine tune on the D850 - I got quite lucky in that regard. Adding the TC changed that behavior - it appears that only the 300/4 PF with the TC-14EIII worked without adjustment. Using any 1.4x behind the AF-S 80-400 is pointless - the optical quality just isn't there. I'll use my existing TCs when the situation warrants it and only with the combos I have thoroughly tested out - but I won't be buying any TC anymore.

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I used the TC-17EII for years on an AF-S 300/4 lens on the D200 and D300 - unfortunately there were substantial costs in terms of image quality loss and reduction in AF speed. Never bothered with the 2x. Nowadays, I even question the use of the 1.4x ones (I own the TC-14E and the TC-14EIII) - cropping the image in most cases yields better results.

True, the previous crop of TC's render image degradation and the prior 2x's focus speed also suffer. However, the Z-mounts are excellent in these two areas. It may not be cost-effective to buy them at this time as they can only be used on the 70-200 S lens.

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I think that my TC1.4eii mounted with my 500mmPF on my Z6ii via FTZ gives much more accurate AF than the same combo on my D850. Speed feels about the same.

 

However, for anything moving quickly, the D850 wins even if they're not pin sharp, the Z6ii is consistently missing by some margin.

 

I guess the combination of phase and contrast detect gives accuracy but not speed.

 

Bring on the Z9!

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  • 1 month later...
I had no AF fine tune issues with any of the current Nikon TCs being calibrated well within the +/- 20 range on my D500, D850 or D750. I did learn from a Nikon ambassador that a fine tune greater than +/-10 indicates someting may be off on the camera or lens. I don't know if this also applies to calibration with a TC.
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Shun, great pictures.

 

Not sure what this means:

 

"I tried mounting the 1.4x TC behind the FTZ adapter, and as expected, the baffle on the FTZ blocks the long front element of the TC. The rear mount of the FTZ is also missing that notch, which is required to mount the 1.4x TC."

 

Is this the proper way to use a Nikon TC 1.4E III on a Nikon Z body with the FTZ or FTZ II?

 

Nikon Z body + FTZ or FTZ II + TC 1.4E III + F mount Nikon tele?

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Is this the proper way to use a Nikon TC 1.4E III on a Nikon Z body with the FTZ or FTZ II?

 

Nikon Z body + FTZ or FTZ II + TC 1.4E III + F mount Nikon tele?

Joseph, that is correct. If you are using an F-mount lens via the FTZ on a Z body, and you would like to add a teleconverter, you need to use an F-mount teleconverter and place that TC between your F-mount lens and the FTZ (either version).

 

The front side of the Z-mount teleconverters cannot fit behind the rear, Z-mount side of the FTZ adapters.

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Ordered the 1.4x today for my 100-400 Z. Looking forward to seeing how it compares to the 500PF. The 100-400mm by itself is a real treat so far. Incredibly sharp and significantly faster focus compared to the 500PF on my z7ii. Miss not having a focus recall button.
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  • 2 weeks later...
Update - After receiving and using the 1.4 TC on my 100-400mm Z lens for a couple of weeks, I returned it today. As I mentioned in my previous post, I was looking forward to how it would compare to my 500PF. I was initially disappointed in its sharpness at 400mm (560mm). I originally felt as if I just need to get used to it a bit more since I had only had the 100-400 for a short period of time. But I decided to return it when I discovered that it might actually be defective. The rubberband type of material that protects the lens housing. (see Shun's first picture above in which he compares the 1.4x F mount to the z mount) was torn in places which resulted in it not fitting tightly around the housing. I don't think this in itself was causing the softness. However, when I began to remove the TC from the 100-400 lens, I noticed that the piece of rubber was actually slightly sticking up over the top of the housing, I was able to re-fit it to the housing and reinstall to the lens. However, when I removed the TC, the rubber protector was again coming off the housing. I felt like it might possibly be interfering with the glass. So, I have returned and am waiting on a replacement. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident. I will update once I receive its replacement.
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But I decided to return it when I discovered that it might actually be defective. The rubberband type of material that protects the lens housing. (see Shun's first picture above in which he compares the 1.4x F mount to the z mount) was torn in places which resulted in it not fitting tightly around the housing. I don't think this in itself was causing the softness. However, when I began to remove the TC from the 100-400 lens, I noticed that the piece of rubber was actually slightly sticking up over the top of the housing, I was able to re-fit it to the housing and reinstall to the lens. However, when I removed the TC, the rubber protector was again coming off the housing. I felt like it might possibly be interfering with the glass. So, I have returned and am waiting on a replacement. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident. I will update once I receive its replacement.

Currently, that Nikon Z 1.4x TC can only be used with three Z lenses, the 70-200/2.8 S, 100-400 S and that $14K 400mm/f2.8. I don't have the 100-400 yet but mine works fine with the 70-200.

 

In your case I would check the rear end of the 100-400 also, just in case the problem comes from there.

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Update - After receiving and using the 1.4 TC on my 100-400mm Z lens for a couple of weeks, I returned it today. As I mentioned in my previous post, I was looking forward to how it would compare to my 500PF. I was initially disappointed in its sharpness at 400mm (560mm). I originally felt as if I just need to get used to it a bit more since I had only had the 100-400 for a short period of time. But I decided to return it when I discovered that it might actually be defective. The rubberband type of material that protects the lens housing. (see Shun's first picture above in which he compares the 1.4x F mount to the z mount) was torn in places which resulted in it not fitting tightly around the housing. I don't think this in itself was causing the softness. However, when I began to remove the TC from the 100-400 lens, I noticed that the piece of rubber was actually slightly sticking up over the top of the housing, I was able to re-fit it to the housing and reinstall to the lens. However, when I removed the TC, the rubber protector was again coming off the housing. I felt like it might possibly be interfering with the glass. So, I have returned and am waiting on a replacement. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident. I will update once I receive its replacement.

Currently, that Nikon Z 1.4x TC can only be used with three Z lenses, the 70-200/2.8 S, 100-400 S and that $14K 400mm/f2.8. I don't have the 100-400 yet but mine works fine with the 70-200.

 

In your case I would check the rear end of the 100-400 also, just in case the problem comes from there.

Thanks Shun, I just checked the 100-400. It looks fine.

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I used the TC-17EII for years on an AF-S 300/4 lens on the D200 and D300 - unfortunately there were substantial costs in terms of image quality loss and reduction in AF speed. Never bothered with the 2x. Nowadays, I even question the use of the 1.4x ones (I own the TC-14E and the TC-14EIII) - cropping the image in most cases yields better results.

 

I use the TC-14eII with my AF-S NIKKOR 70-200/2.8 VR on my D800. Using that combo wide open and zoomed to 200mm I see no difference between it and using the lens without the teleconverter at that same focal length and stopped down to f/4. By stopping down to f/5.6 with the teleconverter I can zoom out to 280mm and I definitely get more resolution than I can get by cropping a shot taken without the teleconverter.

 

BTW, the lens without the teleconverter requires an AF fine-tune adjustment, but with the teleconverter AF fine-tune is set to zero -- go figure.

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I'm such a sucker for these "camera porn" posts. Thanks for tickling my fancy, if that's what you call it:)

 

This one works very well indeed with the Reflex-Nikkor 500mm, but a lot of Nikkor lenses have conflicting baffles ....

Nikon-Teleconverter-TC-1-2x-04.jpg.e3223bd21fdbfdf953f667bd5bbc164e.jpg

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