1 HOUR Telephoto primes like the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR or Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM are razor-sharp,super-fast and built like tanks – and they’re also eye-wateringly expensive. Fortunately for us photography mortals there are cheaper alternatives. Sure, they won’t match the performance of a premium super-telephoto prime, but they’re the next-best thing.
By pairing the Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR with Nikon’s AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III we’re able to shoot at 600mm with an aperture of f/8. At the time of writing this combo still totalled around £2,280 or $2,500, but depending on the lens you choose (and if you’re prepared to shop secondhand) this could be a lot cheaper.
Teleconverters boost magnification and come in a variety of strengths. Unsurprisingly, increasing magnification can impact image quality; by how much will depend on a number of variables including the brand, strength of magnification and the lenses used. Light gathering is also affected by teleconverters, with 1.4x, 1.7x and 2x losing 1 stop, 1.5 stops and 2 stops of light respectively. With that in mind our 300mm f/4’s widest aperture was f/8 (right on the AF threshold) when paired with our 2x teleconverter.
Overall, though, the extended reach of a quality teleconverter far outweighs the negatives. So if you’ve been struggling to get close to your wildlife subjects, here’s how to use one.
This story is from the August 26, 2021 edition of Photography week.
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This story is from the August 26, 2021 edition of Photography week.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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