SLR newbie needs help

TwistedJTwistedJ Registered Users Posts: 193 Major grins
edited May 4, 2008 in Accessories
:scratch I am only a few months into the SLR world. I have a Nikon D40 and bought the Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 DI with the built in motor for Nikon. My question is will this converter work? I'm looking to increase my focal length at an affordable way right now. Thanks for any help....

Tamron Autofocus 2x Teleconverter Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/53249-REG/Tamron_AF20N700_2x_AF_Teleconverter_for.html

Comments

  • KennySKennyS Registered Users Posts: 85 Big grins
    edited May 3, 2008
    Teleconverters really work best with prime lenses so it's hit and miss in my experience, and will knock you down 1 to 2 stops as well, so be prepared to compensate.
    http://www.sopicturethis.net
  • TwistedJTwistedJ Registered Users Posts: 193 Major grins
    edited May 3, 2008
    Birds, Squirrels
  • RobinivichRobinivich Registered Users Posts: 438 Major grins
    edited May 4, 2008
    How do you like the quality of the lens? I'd imagine it's got less sharpness than even a D40 could use. A teleconverter is only going to magnify the image already being projected by the lens, flaws and all, and even the best 2x converter is going to introduce some new flaws of its own. I don't think the tamron would be a bad one, though I think they do make a higher end one designated SP which would be better.

    You'll be shooting without autofocus, 600mm (equivalent to 900mm) at F11 wide open. Handheld you'll want 1/1000s minimum. This means sunny days only and high ISOs. Sunny 16 rule says f16+ISO100+1/100s is a sunny daylight exposure. Therefore F11+ISO800+1/1000s is the exposure you'd need to avoid shake. This or a very steady tripod.

    ISO800 is leaving the ideal image quality range for most any camera out there, and the image is going to be soft in the first place, assuming you can even eyeball the focus on a 600mm with an f11 viewfinder.

    I'd just keep saving, $200 is a good chunk of budget that could go towards something like a 200-500, or even the new sigma OS telephotos.

    In the meantime just work on getting closer with your feet, even the best shooters with the biggest budgets don't rely purely on focal length to get close. If it's any consolation, I'm in the same boat, saving up for a 400mm prime. thumb.gif
    http://taylorinlight.com
  • TwistedJTwistedJ Registered Users Posts: 193 Major grins
    edited May 4, 2008
    Robinivich wrote:
    How do you like the quality of the lens? I'd imagine it's got less sharpness than even a D40 could use. A teleconverter is only going to magnify the image already being projected by the lens, flaws and all, and even the best 2x converter is going to introduce some new flaws of its own. I don't think the tamron would be a bad one, though I think they do make a higher end one designated SP which would be better.

    You'll be shooting without autofocus, 600mm (equivalent to 900mm) at F11 wide open. Handheld you'll want 1/1000s minimum. This means sunny days only and high ISOs. Sunny 16 rule says f16+ISO100+1/100s is a sunny daylight exposure. Therefore F11+ISO800+1/1000s is the exposure you'd need to avoid shake. This or a very steady tripod.

    ISO800 is leaving the ideal image quality range for most any camera out there, and the image is going to be soft in the first place, assuming you can even eyeball the focus on a 600mm with an f11 viewfinder.

    I'd just keep saving, $200 is a good chunk of budget that could go towards something like a 200-500, or even the new sigma OS telephotos.

    In the meantime just work on getting closer with your feet, even the best shooters with the biggest budgets don't rely purely on focal length to get close. If it's any consolation, I'm in the same boat, saving up for a 400mm prime. thumb.gif

    Best advice I've heard and thank you. No I won't be getting the teleconverter but will be practicing with what I have and saving for a larger lens in time.

    The Tamron lens itself is pretty fair. It does have the built in motor for the D40. Pictures are nice but the Auto focus is a little slow. I use it more in manual now. The LD Macro 1:2 built in it is a plus.
  • RobinivichRobinivich Registered Users Posts: 438 Major grins
    edited May 4, 2008
    TwistedJ wrote:
    Best advice I've heard and thank you. No I won't be getting the teleconverter but will be practicing with what I have and saving for a larger lens in time.

    The Tamron lens itself is pretty fair. It does have the built in motor for the D40. Pictures are nice but the Auto focus is a little slow. I use it more in manual now. The LD Macro 1:2 built in it is a plus.
    Sounds about right. I have the sigma equivalent :D
    http://taylorinlight.com
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