Posted by Andy Astbury on February 22, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Does anyone have experience with both Nikon and Sigma (nik fit) converters?
I have both Sig converters - the 1.4 I find gives pretty good results on both my 300 2.8 and 500 4.5 lenses but the 2x performance seems really poor - though when I use the same 500m + 2x combo on my video camera the results are pretty impressive, even taking into account the image is only 720 x 480.
I was just wondering if the Nikon 2x would give much impovement over the Sig 2x.
I'm a bit miffed this afternoon as my retailer got me a Nikon 1.7x to try but it won't fit the Sigma nik fit lens.
So the question I'm asking is does anyone KNOW that the Nikon 2x tc will fit the big Sig primes and is it optically better than the Sigma 2x tc?
Regards
Andy
Posted by Rob Chace on February 22, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Andy,
The Nikon converters will not physically fit a Sigma prime unless it is modified. I have a TC-14e & a TC-17eII converters which i use with my Sigma 500mm f4.5 & D2x. I have modified both to fit, which means grinding off a small tag on the mounting ring (not as brutal as it sounds!).The 1.4x is brilliant, super sharp, & af does not seem any different. The 1.7 on the other hand will af of sorts but it is better to focus manually & then use the af to lock on. The 2x i have heard is a tad soft, but i have no experience with this. I had kenko pro 300's before & i have to say the Nikons are streets ahead.
Look here for details of the modification:
http://nikonpages.heymanphotography.com/tcmod/index.html
Also look at http://www.digiscoped.com/teleconverters.html for more info on Nikon coverters.
Regards Rob.
Hi I have had both the sigma is the same as the nikkor.
Phillip.
Posted by Andy Astbury on February 23, 2007 at 3:10 AM
Rob - do I understand you correctly, by going to a nikon tc14 or tc17e2 and doing the tag mod I can get af to work (albeit maybe of a fashion with the tc17e2)???
I thought this couldn't happen with any lens below f4????
I know the tc17e2 fits the 600mm f4 Nik out the box - if I buy a 17e3 now and mod it would it still fit a 600mm Nik if I got one later on?
Hi Andy all the nikon tc's will try to af when fitted to any sigma hsm lens after the modification has being done to the nikon telly converters the 1.7 and two times nikon converters will cause the lens to constantly overshoot because the camera/lens does not know it has a converter attached.
The modification doesn't affect their operation on any of the nikkor prime lenses they were designed for, the sigma of 1.4 telly converter can be modified extremely easily to autofocus on both the 500 and 800 which I own.
Phillip.
Posted by Andy Astbury on February 23, 2007 at 9:34 AM
Hi Phillip - are you saying the Sig 1.4 tc can be made to af with my Sig 500??
How do I acheive that one because that would be a real plus - I must be getting really old and slow 'cos I'm okay manual focussing on most things but tits, finches and smaller jobs are just way too fast for me
AF with the 1.4 + 12mm extension would get me right where I want to be and if I can get there without resorting to a nik tc then that would be even better.
Regards
Andy
Posted by Rob Chace on February 23, 2007 at 4:59 PM
Andy,
The Nikon tc's will still fit f4 nikon 500 & 600's after modification. The only purpose this tag serves is to stop third party lenses being attached. The Af still works because the camera does not recognise the tc. Because of this you will not get a true aperture reading in your exif data. (But who cares!!!). Im not sure what Phil does to get the Sigma converters to work, but probably invloves electrical tape! If this does work, it will save you a bundle!
Please note that these Nikon converters do not have any linkage for screw drive lenses, so only work on Nikon AFS or Sigma HSM lenses (which have internal focusing motors).
Regards Rob.
Posted by Rob Chace on February 23, 2007 at 5:01 PM
Phil,
Just out of interest, how do you rate the Sigma tc's optically against the Nikons?
Regards Rob.
Hi Rob I found very little difference in fact when I think about it again the sigma 2x was marginally better and I couldn't find any difference in the 1.4.
Hi Andy yes once modified the sigma 1.4 will autofocus on both the 500 and 800 it is a very simple modification.
Follow this link and scroll down the page until you see the telly converter this is a hidden page on my web site the image of the telly converter is towards the bottom of the page.
Discussion
9 repliesI have both Sig converters - the 1.4 I find gives pretty good results on both my 300 2.8 and 500 4.5 lenses but the 2x performance seems really poor - though when I use the same 500m + 2x combo on my video camera the results are pretty impressive, even taking into account the image is only 720 x 480.
I was just wondering if the Nikon 2x would give much impovement over the Sig 2x.
I'm a bit miffed this afternoon as my retailer got me a Nikon 1.7x to try but it won't fit the Sigma nik fit lens.
So the question I'm asking is does anyone KNOW that the Nikon 2x tc will fit the big Sig primes and is it optically better than the Sigma 2x tc?
Regards
Andy
The Nikon converters will not physically fit a Sigma prime unless it is modified. I have a TC-14e & a TC-17eII converters which i use with my Sigma 500mm f4.5 & D2x. I have modified both to fit, which means grinding off a small tag on the mounting ring (not as brutal as it sounds!).The 1.4x is brilliant, super sharp, & af does not seem any different. The 1.7 on the other hand will af of sorts but it is better to focus manually & then use the af to lock on. The 2x i have heard is a tad soft, but i have no experience with this. I had kenko pro 300's before & i have to say the Nikons are streets ahead.
Look here for details of the modification:
http://nikonpages.heymanphotography.com/tcmod/index.html
Also look at http://www.digiscoped.com/teleconverters.html for more info on Nikon coverters.
Regards Rob.
Phillip.
I thought this couldn't happen with any lens below f4????
I know the tc17e2 fits the 600mm f4 Nik out the box - if I buy a 17e3 now and mod it would it still fit a 600mm Nik if I got one later on?
Regards
Andy
The modification doesn't affect their operation on any of the nikkor prime lenses they were designed for, the sigma of 1.4 telly converter can be modified extremely easily to autofocus on both the 500 and 800 which I own.
Phillip.
How do I acheive that one because that would be a real plus - I must be getting really old and slow 'cos I'm okay manual focussing on most things but tits, finches and smaller jobs are just way too fast for me
AF with the 1.4 + 12mm extension would get me right where I want to be
Regards
Andy
The Nikon tc's will still fit f4 nikon 500 & 600's after modification. The only purpose this tag serves is to stop third party lenses being attached. The Af still works because the camera does not recognise the tc. Because of this you will not get a true aperture reading in your exif data. (But who cares!!!). Im not sure what Phil does to get the Sigma converters to work, but probably invloves electrical tape! If this does work, it will save you a bundle!
Please note that these Nikon converters do not have any linkage for screw drive lenses, so only work on Nikon AFS or Sigma HSM lenses (which have internal focusing motors).
Regards Rob.
Just out of interest, how do you rate the Sigma tc's optically against the Nikons?
Regards Rob.
Hi Andy yes once modified the sigma 1.4 will autofocus on both the 500 and 800 it is a very simple modification.
Follow this link and scroll down the page until you see the telly converter this is a hidden page on my web site the image of the telly converter is towards the bottom of the page.
http://www.wildsnaps.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/new_page_web%20link%20page%20001.htm
Cheers
Andy