Anybody using an external TC with the Nikon 600 TC?

[ssheipel]

Might be too expensive to simply play with, but wondering about having the extra reach for my Polar Bear trip in April by taking an external TC along with my 600 TC.

Anybody using either the 1.4x or 2x TC with the lens? Both? Recommendations?

Cheers.

Steven

 

[Art Rourke]

There is an elk rich area where I live where the bull elk most often stay on the back side of a river that you can not cross. I often will add the external 1.4 x TC to the 600 mm, particularly if the bull I am watching is bigger than a 6x6. If you look at my most recent post, you can see the results, at least to a degree. I will also use the combination in other areas if it is needed for reach. I recently got a decent shot of a black bear hibernating in Yellowstone with the external 1.4 TC added. I am not disappointed with the pictures. Were I going on that trip, I would for sure bring the 1.4 just in case.

 

[Krümelkraft]

I have used the 600TC with the 1.4x TC (paired with the internal TC). I have no complaints. It's comparable to using the 1.4 on the 800PF.

 

[Elbert]

I sometimes use the 2x TC on the 600mm TC. This post https://bcgforums.com/threads/tawny-owl-zoom-in.39017/ shows Some images. The short version is: It works, even with the internal TC engaged and IQ can be quite good. However using the 600mm at 1.200mm or 1.680mm requires a stable, heavy tripod, remote release, stable atmosphere and rigourous shooting discipline (focusing, waiting for vibrations to dampen). I’ve added an extra support bracket that supports the front of the lens on two bearings, this has enhanced stability considerably.

 

[Pat M]

I shot this with external 2xTC without internal 1.4 xTC engaged. I have also shot owls with external 2xTC with internal 1.4 x TC engaged. I will post them when I am able.

 

[ssheipel]

There is an elk rich area where I live where the bull elk most often stay on the back side of a river that you can not cross. I often will add the external 1.4 x TC to the 600 mm, particularly if the bull I am watching is bigger than a 6x6. If you look at my most recent post, you can see the results, at least to a degree. I will also use the combination in other areas if it is needed for reach. I recently got a decent shot of a black bear hibernating in Yellowstone with the external 1.4 TC added. I am not disappointed with the pictures. Were I going on that trip, I would for sure bring the 1.4 just in case.

Helpful; thanks!

 

[ssheipel]

I have used the 600TC with the 1.4x TC (paired with the internal TC). I have no complaints. It's comparable to using the 1.4 on the 800PF.

Thanks!

 

[ssheipel]

I sometimes use the 2x TC on the 600mm TC. This post https://bcgforums.com/threads/tawny-owl-zoom-in.39017/ shows Some images. The short version is: It works, even with the internal TC engaged and IQ can be quite good. However using the 600mm at 1.200mm or 1.680mm requires a stable, heavy tripod, remote release, stable atmosphere and rigourous shooting discipline (focusing, waiting for vibrations to dampen). I’ve added an extra support bracket that supports the front of the lens on two bearings, this has enhanced stability considerably.

Thanks! It was your owl shots with the added TC that got me thinking again about buying one. Will be almost entirely tripod-ed work given the subject. Won't be modifying support tho. Relative humidity at that time of the year rarely hits 15% so not much chance of too much fog or humidity haze. And while the environment will be entirely snow and ice , meaning there could be reflective shimmer issues, -- tho while the days will already be around 14 hours long that time of the year (we gain an hour of daylight over the 10 days we're there; gotta love the high arctic ) we'll be on a frozen fiord, so mountains at a height that at that time of the year will be higher than the sun is likely to get much above, so not a lot of heat shimmer of the sun heating the snow and ice. Cheers!

 

[ssheipel]

I shot this with external 2xTC without internal 1.4 xTC engaged. I have also shot owls with external 2xTC with internal 1.4 x TC engaged. I will post them when I am able.

Thanks. Nice shot; looking forward to your other 'examples.'

 

[thelordofthelight]

Hi Steven,

I do not own the 600TC but I own the 400 TC and use it with both the Z TCs and it is such a versatile combo. Stacking the internal 1.4TC with external 1.4TC or using just the 2X external TC (without the internal TC) gives you excellent results and the results for pretty much all use cases, including BIF. Now, If you are stacking the internal TC and the external 2X TC, the combo still produces excellent results but there are several caveats. 1. Very good light 2. Co-operative subjects, preferably perched birds or sitting animals 3.Subject fills the frame and 4. Stop down the aperture by a stop at least drastically improves the sharpness. I have used my 400Z at 1120mm several times and have been pleased with the quality, considering the focal length, atmospheric interferences etc.,

Z telephotos perform exceptionally well with TC compared to F mount glass, especially the Z 2X TC and when you stack TCs.

Adding a couple of shots with both the 1.4 Internal TC and 2X external TC, shot at 1120mm stopped down to F11

Portrait of a male lion by Ganesh B, on Flickr

Portrait of a young male lion by Ganesh B, on Flickr

 

[ssheipel]

Hi Steven,

I do not own the 600TC but I own the 400 TC and use it with both the Z TCs and it is such a versatile combo. Stacking the internal 1.4TC with external 1.4TC or using just the 2X external TC (without the internal TC) gives you excellent results and the results for pretty much all use cases, including BIF. Now, If you are stacking the internal TC and the external 2X TC, the combo still produces excellent results but there are several caveats. 1. Very good light 2. Co-operative subjects, preferably perched birds or sitting animals 3.Subject fills the frame and 4. Stop down the aperture by a stop at least drastically improves the sharpness. I have used my 400Z at 1120mm several times and have been pleased with the quality, considering the focal length, atmospheric interferences etc.,

Z telephotos perform exceptionally well with TC compared to F mount glass, especially the Z 2X TC and when you stack TCs.

Great stuff, thanks much!

 

[Wade Abadie]

Hi Steven,

I do not own the 600TC but I own the 400 TC and use it with both the Z TCs and it is such a versatile combo. Stacking the internal 1.4TC with external 1.4TC or using just the 2X external TC (without the internal TC) gives you excellent results and the results for pretty much all use cases, including BIF. Now, If you are stacking the internal TC and the external 2X TC, the combo still produces excellent results but there are several caveats. 1. Very good light 2. Co-operative subjects, preferably perched birds or sitting animals 3.Subject fills the frame and 4. Stop down the aperture by a stop at least drastically improves the sharpness. I have used my 400Z at 1120mm several times and have been pleased with the quality, considering the focal length, atmospheric interferences etc.,

Z telephotos perform exceptionally well with TC compared to F mount glass, especially the Z 2X TC and when you stack TCs.

Adding a couple of shots with both the 1.4 Internal TC and 2X external TC, shot at 1120mm stopped down to F11

Portrait of a male lion by Ganesh B, on Flickr

Portrait of a young male lion by Ganesh B, on Flickr

WOW! That’s pretty incredible image quality for stacking the TC’s. Very impressive.

 

[thelordofthelight]

Thanks a lot. I just recently started exploring stacking the 2X TC with the internal TC. With the 600 TC, I am not sure I would stack the 2X, considering its too much focal length and the combo will be at f11 and stopping down would mean something like f13 which is taking it too far…1.4TC is all that may be needed for folks using the 600TC one can extent the reach to 1176mm at f8 and stopped down to F11, I am sure the results will be similar or even slightly better than using the 400 TC with 1.4X+2X TC at 1120mm.

WOW! That’s pretty incredible image quality for stacking the TC’s. Very impressive.

 

[Pat M]

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As Elbert replied it is workable with all the items he listed.

 

[ssheipel]

Hi Steven,

I do not own the 600TC but I own the 400 TC and use it with both the Z TCs and it is such a versatile combo. Stacking the internal 1.4TC with external 1.4TC or using just the 2X external TC (without the internal TC) gives you excellent results and the results for pretty much all use cases, including BIF. Now, If you are stacking the internal TC and the external 2X TC, the combo still produces excellent results but there are several caveats. 1. Very good light 2. Co-operative subjects, preferably perched birds or sitting animals 3.Subject fills the frame and 4. Stop down the aperture by a stop at least drastically improves the sharpness. I have used my 400Z at 1120mm several times and have been pleased with the quality, considering the focal length, atmospheric interferences etc.,

Z telephotos perform exceptionally well with TC compared to F mount glass, especially the Z 2X TC and when you stack TCs.

Adding a couple of shots with both the 1.4 Internal TC and 2X external TC, shot at 1120mm stopped down to F11

Portrait of a male lion by Ganesh B, on Flickr

Portrait of a young male lion by Ganesh B, on Flickr

'Almost' too sharp

 

[ssheipel]

View attachment 101577
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As Elbert replied it is workable with all the items he listed.

Nice, and thank you!