Nikon D500+500mm pf + 1.4xiii teleconverter

[Telscossie]

Hi does anyone use this combination at anytime D500 + 500mm pf +1.4 iii teleconverter , I don't normally but after reading on different sites that people have found it very good I tried mine and was awful very soft and out of focus , I had it all calibrated about a month ago but the guy said with the teleconverter on it didn't need any calibration and find that hard to believe
, If possible could some of you post a pic or 2 using that combo so I can see the difference please . Many thanks .

 

[Warren D]

Sorry I didn't keep any pics when I tried the 1.4 TC EIII on mine. I don't like it, even with my D6 it struggled to af lock in noon day sun. Pics weren't worth the struggle, I had tried to do an AF Fine tune with the tc but couldn't. The lens without TC is basically zero on all my bodies.

 

[DRwyoming]

Hi does anyone use this combination at anytime D500 + 500mm pf +1.4 iii teleconverter

I didn't keep any of my test shots of that combo either but to me the big deal wasn't image quality, it was the way AF hunted and failed to acquire on all but the highest contrast static subjects. That was true with the D5, D850 and D500 I tested, AF performance was just awful even when using the center AF sensor point which should be the best choice for a wide open f/8 lens and TC combo.

 

[Charlie Lasswell]

When I tried to fine tune my 500mm with teleconverters, I found that my D850 worked well but the D500 had trouble locking on with the 1.4. I had better performance with group area, but overall I didn't care for the combo. The main reason I got the 500pf was because I was unhappy with the focus speed on the 200-500 so I don't use the 1.4 with the D500/500pf combo. I had much better luck with the D850. On the D850, I got better performance with the 1.7 and 500pf that I did with the 1.4 and D500. Sometimes, I have used the D850, 500pf, 1.4 combination and below are a few with that combo. Generally, these days I only use the 1.4 with the 600mm because it is a bit soft on the 500pf.

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[BillW]

I have used the 500 mm PF with the 1.4x TCIII on a D500, D850 and Z7. I have had the best luck on the Z7. With the Z7, all the focus points work with the combo, covering the full frame, even though it it is f8. On the D500 and D850, only a small number of focus points work near the center of the frame. I did not try to focus tune the combo on my D500 and D850, although I have read that that is often needed and may be different than the tuning (or not) you do for the bare lens. Using the Z7 with the 500 mm PF + 1.4x TCIII should minimize the need to focus tune. I have quite liked the images I get with the Z7 + 500 mm PF + 1.4x TCIII. I’ve even used it for some birds in flight, although it is not ideal for that.

 

[Tom-Neth]

I have used my D850 with the 500mm PF and 1.4 TCIII on different occasions but was not completely happy with it. The AF is really much slower, less accurate. And when you don't have a lot of light, the quality of the pics at 8.0 are not so great either.
Took a couple of pics of a Kingfisher in the Algarve, Portugal last year. Nice weather and good light and at a range of approx. 8 meters.
Pics are not bad but not as tack sharp as without the TC at 5.6. You can see it on the head-eyes.

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[Apija]

D500, 500PF + TC 14E III, f8, 1/5000, ISO 1600

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Z6, 500PF + TC 14E III, f8, 1/800, ISO 110

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I only use the 500mm Pf with the TC-14E III on my D500 or Z6 for rather static subjects and in good light. For BIF I don’t use the TC 14E III anymore; too much struggle with AF-performance on both cameras.

 

[joe43]

Like others, I use my Nikon 1.4xtc and 500mm f5.6 pf and D500 mostly for static shots, like full moon images. I have not tried it on BIF, but would expect AF to be sower or more sluggish.

 

[Venkatesh VT]

I did try to use 1.4 TC with D 500 & PF & was unimpressed with it .I have stopped using it now.It focuses pretty slow & can use only cenre points

 

[pkk]

Does anybody think the TC 14E lll is noticeably better than the 14E ll? I've used my TC 14E ll for years with my 600 f/4 on my D7100, D500 and now the D850. It is a little hit or miss with getting really good IQ so I'm wondering if the new version is better. I've stopped using my TC 17E ll on anything but static subjects.

 

[DRwyoming]

Does anybody think the TC 14E lll is noticeably better than the 14E ll? I've used my TC 14E ll for years with my 600 f/4 on my D7100, D500 and now the D850. It is a little hit or miss with getting really good IQ so I'm wondering if the new version is better. I've stopped using my TC 17E ll on anything but static subjects.

I think the iii version is a bit better with my 70-200m E-FL but honestly I can't really see a noticeable difference between the ii and iii version on my 600mm f/4 G lens.

 

[crjPO]

I too would be interested in the performance difference between the different 1.4 teleconverters. I've read elsewhere here that there's no difference between the version i and ii. Is the newer version designed for newer glass?

 

[EricBowles]

I think the iii version is a bit better with my 70-200m E-FL but honestly I can't really see a noticeable difference between the ii and iii version on my 600mm f/4 G lens.

I did some side by side testing with the II and III teleconverters using my 600 f/4 G. I found the III had slightly better microcontrast - particularly in midtones - but I could only see it at 200% or higher. Sharpness was very close even at 200%. I have heard the III is slightly faster with the latest lenses.

Only the II will work normally with the older 300 f/4 AFS or the 105 f/2.8 VR Macro.

If buying today, I'd get the III, but if you have a II I don't see any compelling reason to buy the III now. On a tight budget, if you can find a II that is used and in VG or EX condition, I'd strongly consider the II.

I generally avoid using the II or the III on f/5.6 lenses with a DSLR. While in theory it works, AF is slow and images are almost always soft. If you have a Z camera, the 1.4 teleconverters work much better with f/5.6 lenses and are actually usable in excellent light.

 

[Paul4707]

Hello Telscossie,
While I agree with the use of the 500mm PF and teleconverter regarding moving objects, I am pleased with the performance of the combination on stationary objects. I have included an example (full frame) taken with my D500; the only manipulation was a slight curves adjustment (no sharpening). Considering that the heron was 240 feet from me, I think the overall image quality -- especially sharpness -- is very good.

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[Keithmac]

I have tried the 500 PF on my d850 and d500 and have not gotten anything that I have bee happy with. On the other hand I have used it on my d4 and have had some success with this combo. As others have said the 1.7 seems to get better results on all three camera bodies.

 

[Ken Miracle]

I used to use my TC-14 E III on my 200-500 ... it just refused to focus properly I had to send it in to Nikon 3 times and the 3rd time it came back with no note of what was done or other comments but it worked. I used it later on the 300 PF and it worked ... After reading @Steve on his experience with it I have not bothered to try it on my 500 PF.

 

[janzin]

I'm pretty surprised at all the negative reviews of this combo. I've used it quite a bit on the D850 and D500 with much success, as long as its a bright sunny day (I wouldn't bother otherwise.) And I wouldn't use it for birds in flight, but I have used it for running shorebirds with success. Definitely has a place in my bag. All of the following with the D850 + 500PF + 1.4III. (I know the original question was for the D500 but I think the larger point being the 500PF + 1.4TC, I can't seem to find any right now I took with the D500 but I have used it with both.)

 

[Neil H.]

Hi! Just have look at Ari's review of the 500PF lens. At the end most of the BIF examples are with the D850, 500mm PF and the 1.4 TC. He also has images in his review of the D850 which is also worth a look. Note the highly variable ISO values for each image. He obviously uses Steve's technique. Most will be fully open at f8, with shutter at 1/3,200 AND FLOAT THE ISO.

Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/5.6 PF VR field Review – Ari Hazeghi Photography

 

[uday592]

Just looking at the discussion trail. Maybe stopping down a little (F9) on the 500PF+1.4Tc maybe of help to get sharper images. The focus hunting will be an issue with f8 glass but prior manual focus to get in ball park and than trying autofocus will help. Steve talks about this technique.

 

[uday592]

Thanks Neil for the link for Ari's review on 500pf+1.4tc. I will buy the 500pf lens. Most of the flight shots are against a blue high contrast background.

 

[Spelzar]

My experience is the same as janzin's. With a D850, 500pf and a 1.4tc acceptable images can be obtained providing the light is good. On a dull winter day the tc stays in my bag.
This is at ISO 2800, 1/3200, f9 which is the best aperture for my lens/tc combination. I could have dropped the shutter speed but the bird was restless and there was a breeze moving the vegetation. Hand held. Without the tc f6.3 gives the best IQ, this image has been through Denoise but I have not used Lightroom or Photoshop. Just purchased Capture One and Affinity photo so a steep learning curve ahead for a recent digital convert!

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