Should I get a teleconverter

SuperWoody101

Still new to photography and I was thinking of buying a teleconverter but wanted to know what you guys thought of it as I have never used one in the past. I have the Nikon D90 with a few lenses (18-55, 18-105, 50-200 & 70-300) I shoot a lot of event stuff (soccer games, street events, etc..) Is a teleconverter worth buying??

Thanks for the help.

Borderfox

No, a 1.4 is a compromise but only on good glass.

Ballyman

I don't think a teleconverter will work with any of the lenses you have listed either.

It's useful on f2.8 lenses from 70-200mm and upwards but the focussing does take a little longer to lock onto a subject especially when tracking in AI Servo

the_doctor199

As above really, I have one but that's on a 2.8 lens. On yours, your aperture won't be much use. As a sidenote, I'd also sell your 18-55 as the range is covered in the 18-105, could probably even sell the 50-200.

CabanSail

They can be of use BUT you have to have good quality fast glass to make it worthwhile.

pete4130

I got a Kenko pro 2x converter for some fun. It's anything but fun really. On overcast days its got no saturation or colour rendition and its not really sharp. I've used it on a D3 with a Nikon 80-200 2.8 and on a D90 so the glass and bodies have been good.
In bright light it works ok but still needs the contrast boosted a good bit before the results look acceptable....I don't think I've used it since January it was that disappointing.

This is the only ok shot I got with my TC. On a D90 with 80-200mm 2.8 @ 200mm, so its a 600mm equivelant focal length. You can see in the background on the rocks the shadows are pretty crushed and no detail from boosting the contrast up to get something with a bit of punch in it.




You just have to accept a TC's limitations.

pixbyjohn

If you use a X2 teleconverter it ups your Aperture by 2 also. For example if you use it on a constant 2.8 constant aperture then the aperture becomes 5.6 so on the lens you intend to use it on the aperture can become 11.2 in some cases. Not really great and some cameras will not autofocus with teleconverters and cheaper lens.

pete4130

Yeah, as John said a 2x will slow everything down by losing light. If your planning on using a 2x TC on a 70-300 4.5-6.3 lens then your going to have an aperture smaller than f/11 and most cameras can't focus with so little light coming through them.