T/C with a 300 lens . . .does it really work?

[davidmelville]

Hi. I am a very happy user of the 150-500 on a Nikon D300s but want more speed and looking at 300 /2.8mm but would need to use it with the t/c2 to get the reach I want. The new zoom would possible be perfect but it could be ages before it hits the shops and so I was exploring alternatives in the meantime.
My question is really which 300 lens with 2.8 could I consider and what is the result with the tc,s.
Oh by the way I am a birder!
Thanks guys,
David

 

[tc95]

David,

The Sigma 300 2.8 works well with any of the nikon or sigma TC's....sometimes it hunts but most of the time it is right on...

For the longer focal lengths...I personally went with the older Nikkor lenses...600 f5.6 or 800 f5.6 MF lenses...it takes a little to get used to but works great...

Good Luck...

Tony C. :z04_cowboy:

 

[davidmelville]

Sigma AF 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM (Nikon Mount)

Thanks Tony,

I notice there are two 300 f2.8 lens the prime and the zoom [Sigma EX Telephoto lens - 300 mm - F/2.8 - Nikon F]. Which is the better lens, especially bearing in mind that I will be using both TC,s on it . . . . .

Thanks for the input,
David

 

[tc95]

I would personally do 120-300 f2.8 with the TC's for the same price as the 300 f2.8 Sigma...Sigma makes some really nice prime lenses...so for the price of the Nikon 300 2.8 VRii you can buy both the Sigma 120-300 and the 300....

Really, when I was shooting Nikon I got rid of my Sigma 300 2.8 for the 120-300 f2.8 and did not look back...the only Nikon Nikkor lens I have is an MF 300 2.8 that I picked up at what I think was a good buy...

Hope this helps a little...

Tony C. :z04_cowboy:

 

[Dushi]

300mm with TC

Hi folks,
I am new here. I have a D300s and several Sigma lenses. The use of the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 with the 1.4 TC iis very easy, but in combination with the 2.0 TC the lens gets slow and sometimes closes unexpected to f/64 which of course is unusable.

 

[DSG]

Hi. I am a very happy user of the 150-500 on a Nikon D300s but want more speed and looking at 300 /2.8mm but would need to use it with the t/c2 to get the reach I want. The new zoom would possible be perfect but it could be ages before it hits the shops and so I was exploring alternatives in the meantime.
My question is really which 300 lens with 2.8 could I consider and what is the result with the tc,s.
Oh by the way I am a birder!
Thanks guys,
David

I use a Tamron SP 300mm f2.8 LD IF. If I need 600mm (at f5.6) I wack on the Tamron SP 2x BBAR teleconverter.
Its an Adaptall lens so it can fit on virtually any DSLR...I use mine on a Sigma SD14.
Dont have many bird pics taken with it but heres a sample anyway:

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8628/300mmc.jpg

And with the 2x TC:

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/2802/600mmc.jpg

 

[ambaker]

I use a Tamron SP 300mm f2.8 LD IF. If I need 600mm (at f5.6) I wack on the Tamron SP 2x BBAR teleconverter.
Its an Adaptall lens so it can fit on virtually any DSLR...I use mine on a Sigma SD14.
Dont have many bird pics taken with it but heres a sample anyway:

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8628/300mmc.jpg

And with the 2x TC:

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/2802/600mmc.jpg

Is there an adaptall mount that fits the Sigma, or did you convert your Sigma to a different mount? I wouldn't mind trying some of their lenses on my SD14.

 

[tc95]

There is a third party HK mount for the Adaptall-2 lenses...if you keep an eye on ebay they show-up every now and again...took me like 6 months to get it...

The other way...get an m42 adaptall adapter...then get an m42 to SA probably will be cheaper...I think I paid 60USD for the Adaptall to SA and about 30USD for the two other-ones together...

There are some great prices and awesome lenses...to be picked-up...

Tony C. :z04_cowboy:

 

[DSG]

Is there an adaptall mount that fits the Sigma, or did you convert your Sigma to a different mount? I wouldn't mind trying some of their lenses on my SD14.

There are two Adaptall mounts that fit the SA mount, Pentax K (PK) and M42. The PK bayonet is almost the same as the SA bayonet but its a tiny bit smaller in diameter. This means PK lenses can fit the SA mount but SA lenses cannot fit the PK mount.
However, most PK lenses have two protruding parts that need to be cut-off or otherwise removed before they will fit the SA mount...The metal AA lever and the plastic AA lever protector "outcrop" on the bezel ring.
The easiest way to remove the metal AA lever is to snip it off with tinsnips and the protector outcrop can either be sliced off with a sharp Stanley knife or the bezel ring can be removed and left off the lens, although this may allow dust to enter the rear of the lens.
There is a tiny bit of play in the fit with PK lenses on the SA mount.
I use Adaptall-M42 plus an M42-SA adapter as unlike PK lenses M42 lenses fit perfectly via the M42-SA adapter.