Nikon Z 1.4x and 2.0x Teleconverters Review

Immediately, I’ll be reviewing Nikon’s first teleconverters for the Z mirrorless system: the TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x. These two teleconverters multiply your focal size by 1.4× and 2.0× respectively, albeit on the expense of some mild. How do the 2 TCs maintain up in apply? I’ll reply on this evaluate.

I’ve examined 4 copies of each Nikon Z teleconverters, together with three copies of every teleconverter within the lab with Imatest information. (You’ll see extra on that within the “Pattern Variation” part later within the evaluate.) On prime of that, our crew at Photography Life has examined each teleconverters on each appropriate Nikon Z lens except for the 600mm f/4 TC VR S. I’ll do my greatest to resolve all of your questions primarily based on this in depth testing.

Nikon Z Teleconverter Specs

	1.4x TC	2.0x TC
Official Identify	Nikon Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4x	Nikon Z TELECONVERTER TC-2.0x
Lens Mount	Full-Body Nikon Z	Full-Body Nikon Z
Lens Parts	6	8
Aspect Teams	4	5
Aspherical Parts	1	1
Fluorine Coating	Sure (entrance and rear parts)	Sure (entrance and rear parts)
Different Coatings	Tremendous Built-in Coating	Tremendous Built-in Coating
Dimensions, Size x Diameter	19 x 72 mm (0.8 x 2.9″)	33 x 72 mm (1.3 x 2.9″)
Weight	220 g (0.49 lbs)	270 g (0.60 lbs)
MSRP	$550 (check current price)	$600 (check current price)
Used Costs	Nikon Z 1.4x TC used prices	Nikon Z 2.0x TC used prices

The Tradeoffs of a Teleconverter

In case you’ve been across the block, I’m positive you’ve heard that teleconverters include tradeoffs. The obvious subject is that they scale back the quantity of sunshine a lens can collect. The Nikon Z 1.4x TC loses one cease of sunshine (AKA reducing the quantity of sunshine in half), whereas the Nikon Z 2.0x TC loses two stops of sunshine (reducing the sunshine in fourth).

For apparent causes, this can be a downside in low-light circumstances. For instance, a preferred wildlife pictures lens just like the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S would flip right into a 560mm f/6.3 with the 1.4x teleconverter – and into an 800mm f/9 with the 2x teleconverter.

Due to the diminished mild, teleconverters additionally make it tougher to autofocus in low-light circumstances. I used to be pleasantly stunned by the velocity and accuracy of autofocus with the Nikon Z TCs, however there’s no getting round physics. Autofocus will gradual once you give your camera much less mild to work with.

A remaining subject with teleconverters is picture high quality. As you’ll see all through this evaluate, teleconverters scale back picture high quality in numerous methods – some refined and some apparent. Even an optically good teleconverter would lose sharpness as a result of it’s magnifying the issues of the unique lens. To not point out that you just’re shedding further sharpness because of diffraction. In case your new most aperture is one thing like f/9 or f/11, you’ll not attain the sharpness stage of wonderful lenses that peak round f/4.

In brief, teleconverters should not instruments it is best to connect to your lens on a whim. Though I discovered the Nikon Z TCs to be pretty good performers, they don’t seem to be immune from any of those points. However as I’ll present later on this evaluate, the Nikon Z 1.4x and 2.0x TCs nonetheless beat the choice of cropping a photograph extensively.

Compatibility

These two teleconverters are solely appropriate with particular Nikon Z-series lenses. On the time of this evaluate’s publication, the next lenses are supported:

• Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
• Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
• Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
• Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S
• Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S
• Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S

This record is as anticipated, with one exception – the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens doesn’t seem above as a result of it doesn’t assist teleconverters. Some photographers had hoped to make use of a teleconverter with this lens to attain larger magnifications as much as 2:1 for excessive close-up pictures. Sadly, it’s not potential to take action.

As for Nikon Z cameras, to date, all of them are appropriate with each teleconverters. Nevertheless, Nikon says to replace the firmware of each the camera and the lens in the event you haven’t achieved so already. In any other case, the teleconverters might not work completely.

Unsurprisingly, neither teleconverter is appropriate with the FTZ adapter – there’s mechanical interference in the event you attempt to mount them collectively. All this implies is that you could’t mix the Nikon Z teleconverters with a Nikon F-mount lens.

The Nikon Z teleconverters are additionally incompatible with one another. You’ll be able to’t “double up” and mount a 1.4x TC and 2.0x TC to the identical lens on the similar time. Nevertheless, in the event you’re utilizing a lens with a built-in teleconverter (just like the 400mm f/2.8 TC and 600mm f/4 TC), you may nonetheless mix it with the 1.4x or 2.0x TCs and not using a downside.

Lastly, some third-party lenses might technically mount to the Nikon Z teleconverters with out the lens parts bumping into one another, however notice that there’s a tab on the Nikon Z TCs to stop them from attaching to unauthorized lenses. Years in the past, some photographers were crazy enough to shave off this tab on Nikon’s F-mount teleconverters as a workaround. Even in the event you may do the identical on the Nikon Z TCs, evidently, I might strongly advocate in opposition to it.

Construct High quality and Design

Each Nikon Z teleconverters are small and light-weight, simply becoming right into a coat or photograph vest pocket for wildlife pictures. Of the 2, the 2.0x TC has a meaningfully bigger building. Right here they’re side-by-side:

It’s essential that you just connect the teleconverters in order that the protruding factor goes into the lens you’re utilizing, not into the camera physique! Doing this flawed will scratch your camera sensor and land you with an costly restore invoice. To get into good habits, Nikon recommends attaching the teleconverter to the lens first, moderately than the camera (and I agree). There are additionally illustrations on the lens cap in case you’re forgetful:

The Nikon Z teleconverters don’t have any exterior transferring components – no buttons, dials, or controls, except for the lens mounting/dismounting  change. Due to their small dimension, the TCs turn into fairly invisible as soon as hooked up to your lens. Though they add an additional mount between your camera and your lens, I didn’t expertise any wobble in any respect with the TC copies that I examined. Each the 1.4x TC and the 2.0x TC appear constructed to very tight requirements.

One factor to notice is that teleconverters at all times change the steadiness of your camera setup by including house between your lens and your camera. In case you’re capturing from well-balanced gimbal tripod head, and you begin swapping out teleconverters, ensure to re-balance your setup every time.

As for weatherproofing, I didn’t have any downside with the teleconverters in any respect. I seamlessly used each teleconverters in wet and dusty circumstances, and Libor went as far as to check them within the rainforests of South America with out subject. The tight tolerances, lack of transferring components, and rubber sealing do their jobs properly.

On the following web page of this evaluate, I’ll cowl the picture high quality and efficiency of the Nikon Z TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x. So, click on the menu to go to the next web page, Optical Options.