Hey everyone,

We've all been there.  We are out shooting a small subject, like a painted bunting, and wish we were closer to our subject.  We get home, jump on the computer and order a teleconverter to extend the reach of our lens.  It shows up, we throw it on and head out the door... only to be disappointed by the results that we get.  

(Above photos taken with a Nikon D4S, 400mm f2.8 and a TC 1.7X at approximately 200 feet away, nearly all detail has been lost)

Hopefully, I will give some insight into why we get poor results when using a teleconverter, and what we can do to improve it.  The three teleconverters that I use are the 1.4X, 1.7X, and a 2X.  Teleconverters work best on fast lenses, like a f2.8 lens or a f4 lens.  With that said, if you plan to buy a teleconverter, do the research and check your manufacturers compatibility chart to make sure that the TC that you want will work with the lens that you are going to be using. 

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(Above photos taken with a Nikon D500, 400mm f2.8G, and a TC 2.0X at approximately 60 feet away)

Now, all of this may be a little confusing… but stay with me.  Lets see if we can make sense of it all.

The Mistake:

• The mistake is having the misconception that a teleconverter will make up for distance.... a lot of distance.  For example, we go out to photograph a subject that is too far away, so we grab our TC and put it on so that we can bring our subject closer.  If your subject is 300 yards away and you grab a TC to get a better picture, your image quality will still be disappointing.  The distance is the killer in this scenario.

Distance... but why?

• When I say that the distance is the killer, here's why.  When you are trying to photograph a subject that is far away, the details in the image won't be great.  The biggest reason, other than lens and body capabilities, is atmospheric inconsistencies.  The atmosphere between you and your subject can change drastically, and you may not be able to see it with the naked eye, but your camera and lens can be effected by it.  Think about it like this; have you ever been out photographing in the winter and roll your window down with the heater on to take a picture.  It isn't good.  Or, you look down a long straight road on a hot summer day and see the heat waves and blurry look... same concept.  

Then... how do we use a TC to get good results?

• Here is a good way to judge if a TC is the right tool at a specific time.  If you take a picture without a TC and you think, "I can probably crop this image a little bit and get decent results", then a TC might work. The TC's purpose is to help make up distance, but it needs to be utilized in shorter distances to retain detail. 
  • Scenario 1: Let's say we are using a 2X and your subject is 500 feet away and your details aren't great. You install your 2X, now your subject is two times closer but your details still aren't great. The initial distance is to far.  
  • Scenario 2: Your subject is 50 feet away and your details are good. You install the 2X and your subject is now twice as close and your details should remain good. Your subject will also be more "frame-filling".

Please remember, the results you achieve do have a direct correlation with the size of your subject vs. the distance between lens and subject, such as an elk at 100 yards compared to a painted bunting at 100 yards.

With all of this said, you will most likely have to go through the auto-focus micro-adjustment settings to get your camera body/lens/TC combination dialed in just right.  Be sure to save your AF micro-adjustment settings with your TC, and without, as they will probably be different.  

Well, that was about as clear as the red water flowing through Oklahoma, but I hope that this helps explain the usage of a TC and what you might can do to get your desired results.  As always, reach out anytime if I can help in any way.  You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, or through my website.

Happy shooting,

Joe

(Cover photos taken with a Nikon D4S, 600mm f4 lens, and a TC1.4X at a distance of 50 feet)