When I bought the 500PF, I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III as well. I had heard they paired well, and wanted to be able to extend the reach of the 500PF. Adding the 1.4xTC to the 500PF would make the focal length equivalent to 700mm @ f/8. My first attempts at using the 1.4xTC were not good, but as I get better at shooting with the lens alone, everything gets better. Case in point are these three photos (and please don't judge the photography -- they were shot to test the lens/TC combination). All were shot with the 1.4xTC, hand-held, in manual mode, 1/2000 sec @ f/8, ISO-AUTO (600 for the sign and 560 for the worker), all at EV 0.
First up is a full frame, uncropped image of a High Voltage sign. Note that it is possible to read the letters on the heads of the bolts that hold the sign to the sign post (above the N, and below the O). And the more-than-100%-cropped versions:
Frankly, I thought that was rather impressive. Then I shot this young man plying his trade atop the new convention center being built in downtown OKC, also hand-held. First, the full frame at 700mm:
Now the more-than-100%-cropped version. Note you can read the lettering on his tool pouches. Again, I'm impressed with the ability of this combination.
In every case, the camera was a Nikon D810. (As a matter of fact, it's the same one that was damaged when the foot separated from the lens, and everything dropped to the asphalt. Nikon repair did their usual great work in fixing it.) It should be noted that these images were shot hand-held, in normal VR mode. The VR Sport mode is even steadier. I'll post more thoughts and images from this incredible lens soon.
