TRY A TELECONVERTER

Mike Harris shows you how to use a teleconverter to turn a 300mm prime lens into a 600mm monster

- Mike Harris

1 HOUR Telephoto primes like the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR or Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM are razor-sharp,super-fast and built like tanks – and they’re also eye-wateringly expensive. Fortunately for us photography mortals there are cheaper alternatives. Sure, they won’t match the performance of a premium super-telephoto prime, but they’re the next-best thing.

By pairing the Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR with Nikon’s AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III we’re able to shoot at 600mm with an aperture of f/8. At the time of writing this combo still totalled around £2,280 or $2,500, but depending on the lens you choose (and if you’re prepared to shop secondhand) this could be a lot cheaper.

Teleconverters boost magnification and come in a variety of strengths. Unsurprisingly, increasing magnification can impact image quality; by how much will depend on a number of variables including the brand, strength of magnification and the lenses used. Light gathering is also affected by teleconverters, with 1.4x, 1.7x and 2x losing 1 stop, 1.5 stops and 2 stops of light respectively. With that in mind our 300mm f/4’s widest aperture was f/8 (right on the AF threshold) when paired with our 2x teleconverter.

Overall, though, the extended reach of a quality teleconverter far outweighs the negatives. So if you’ve been struggling to get close to your wildlife subjects, here’s how to use one.