For travel and backpacking I would like to extend the reach of my Nikon AF 80-200 f/2.8 (tripod collar version) with a 1.4 x teleconverter, so that I do not have to carry a 300mm f/4 with me, knowing that it might no be used a lot anyway. The Nikon teleconverter is out of my price range, and also I like the idea of preserving AF function, so I have been looking at Tamron/Kenko Pro 1.4x teleconverters and Sigma APO EX 1.4x teleconverter(I know they are a compromise). Has anyone used and compared them? Do you know of any website I could get more info from? (I have seen reviews of the Tamron/Kenko but not Sigma). Thank you.

-- Tomas Roztocil (rozto@itsa.ucsf.edu), March 03, 2000

Answers

http://www.nikonlinks.com/lenstest.html

Try this.

-- Jim Bridges (jcbejb@worldnet.att.net), March 03, 2000.

I have both the Sigma APO 1.4x and 2x tcs.I personally feel that only the 1.4x is very good and to use the 2x if thereis no other alternative and high image quality is not necessary. Also I find that when I use the 2x on my F90x and F5 an exposure compensation of +.7 is necessary to avoid underexposure.There is no problem with the 1.4x.BTW I use it with the 180mm af Nikkor and 300mm f/4 nikkor. KK

-- kklow (sjlow@pl.jaring.my), March 05, 2000.

Having the Nikon 80-200/2.8 AF new I struggled a long time with the choice of a decent teleconverter. Having read photo.net thoroughly every time the TC 14B was mentioned. Other sources mentioned a modified TC 14E. Last month a test of the TC14E was published by the famous french magazine Chasseur d'Images. Its optical performance was very good. According to the author the price was really too high, for a third of the price you could acquire the almost equally performing New Sigma EX 1.4 APO Teleconverter. Keeping that in mind I started calculating. In Belgium the TC 14B costs 1000 US$ and gives me no AF, the TC 14E needs modification (losing garantee when something goes wrong)and costs 800 US$. And the Sigma costs only 225US $. Years before, when I was using Minolta cameras I had the first generation teleconverter from Sigma attached on a quality lens. The results were not so good. So for now I was in serious doubt. I finally bought the new Sigma 1.4 EX Apo TC. I took it for a test to a local wildlife park and shoot at all apertures with my 80-200/2.8 and Fuji Astia. Verdict: AF worked somewhat slower but still very well, light measuring was accurate - no under or overexposure (only the LCD display did not mention the right f-stop). At home I saw (to my own surprise): no visible vignetting, very sharp and contrasty slides. I know that the optical performance of a fixed 300/4 will be better, but as I like to travel a lot and want to take as little as possible, I think the New Sigma TC is a clear winner for me. Ivan

-- Ivan Verschoote (ivan.verschoote@rug.ac.be), March 08, 2000.