Teleconverters and the Nikon 105mm VR lens

[diver21 2]

Hello,

 

I'm looking at the Nikon website and they have a "Teleconverter Compatibility Table" where they list the 105mm VR lens as "AF not possible".

 

Really? I thought AlexM's review of the D750 (as an example) discussed AF capability with the Nikon 2x TC.

 

Does anyone have any insight here? Is Nikon just confused on selling their products?

 

Thanks!

 

David

 

[adamhanlon 0]

There is a discrepancy between the site and real life...

 

I don't have the 2 X, but the I do have a Nikon 1.7 II and it works fine with my 105mm VR.

 

Adam

[diver21 2]

Thanks. Nikon seems to be very adamant that AF doesn't work (in the website table, the manual for the lens, etc., regardless of TC factor). I'd think if you were in the business of selling products, you wouldn't want to discourage people from buying them.

 

David

[pdemaagt 6]

I have used the 105 with the Nikon x2 and the AF worked. So, I didn't have any problems.I agree with Adam that there is a difference between the site and real life.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

I regularly travel with the 2x, but don’t actually dive with it as much as the 1.7x, which I prefer. The main uses of the 2x are small fish portraits in clear water, or supermacro shooting, although I tend to favour the 1.7x, these are with the 2x:

Seahorse with no dioptres (D4), showing this combo is very capable in super macro shooting:

 

Secretary blenny, which is much higher magnification, with dioptres (actually prototypes that were very good, but never released) - D4:

 

And most commonly for subjects that are best shot from a distance. It is easy to get jawfish with eggs cowering in their holes, but not getting too close is essential to get full body out and swimming and have the male blowing out his eggs to aerate them:

 

I have used the Nikon 105mm VR and 2x AFS without problems on the following cameras: Nikon D4, Nikon D800, Nikon D750 and Nikon D7100:

 

D800:

 

D750:

 

D7100:

 

I suspect Nikon don’t advise this combo to save them from complaints with AF function, as when the macro lens is at minimum focus, it restricts light considerably and the virtual aperture (the amount of light coming through) is considerably less than f/2.8. As a result, the AF might be compromised with a 2x which also cuts a lot of light. So it is safer for them to say it doesn’t work, than say it does and have to handle complaints. Although mine is not here, I am almost certainly that the Nikon AF-S 2x teleconverter won’t physically fit onto any of Nikon’s other AF-S macro lenses - so they don’t comment on them.

 

Alex

 

[diver21 2]

Thanks, all!

[Nicool 26]

Hi there,

A very interesting thread - could someone just advise why choosing to use a teleconverter over a diopter, whereas diopter would offer the flexibility to be removable while in the water?

[JamesR 26]

I went with the SMC & Multiplier for my 105VR, even though I have a 1.4x TC and extension ring 20 already. Mainly it's because I can use my focus gear with it as is. Next time I go somewhere with macro, I'll try the 1.4x with it just for grins.