Teleconverters - A test
I am near the point of swapping a 80-400VR f4.5-5.6 for 70-200VR f2.8 but need to replace some ‘reach’. I do have 200-400VR f4 and a range of Nikon AF-S teleconverters to give focal lengths way beyond what I would normally use. I looked around the Internet and found only one limited test so I decided to do my own.
The Test
I used the same camera and lens taking every shot at 400mm and kept the master lens at f4 so to gather as much light as possible without varying ISO and aperture that may affect the end result. The master lens is sharp at f4 and only the shutter speed varies an effect of losing f-stop(s) I used a tripod and VR was set to ‘Normal’. The two teleconverters tested are TC14EII and TC17EII. Camera was set to ISO200 to allow fair shutter speeds using TC17EII. Unfortunately the light changed half way though and shows slightly. A pure lens will provide 400mm, TC14IIE – 560mm and TC17IIE – 680mm
Subject
The subject is a model traction engine with dimensions of around 400mm x 250mm each photograph had the subject framed full in the viewfinder and I moved backwards adding teleconverter reach. I wanted to use a car number plate but I did not want to look a narner walking up and down our street with a monster lens photographing a car number plate so I chose something small I could use on my own private property.
Results
Pic1 – 100% crop without teleconverter (1/125)
Pic2 – 100% using TC14E II (1/80)
Pic3 – 100% using TC17E II (1/60)
I think exif for shutter has been lost and if recovered above is from memory. Please ignore colour balance and contrast a symptom of varying light
A huge difference I am sure you’ll agree however shutter speeds were extremely low considering 680mm was the maximum focal length under test.
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