Nikon TC-20E III AF-S 2x Teleconverter

by Nikon

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0030BEVFG
• Item model number: TC-20E III
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #89 in Camera & Photo > Lenses > Camera Lenses
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 10, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Nikon TC-20E III AF-S 2x teleconverter delivers enhanced telephoto versatility, and an affordable and portable gateway to extend telephoto reach; ideal for sports, wildlife, surveillance and more.

2x Optical Conversion Factor
Doubles the focal length of select compatible Nikkor lenses.

Aspherical Lens Element
Virtually eliminates coma and other aberrations, especially at wide apertures.

Nikon Integrated Coating (IC)
Enhances light transmission efficiency, improves color consistency and reduces flare.

Advanced Optical Design
7 elements in 5 groups optimized for use with FX and DX digital SLRs, engineered to meet the needs of professional photographers.

Product Description

Nikon Teleconverters, renowned for extraordinary performance, extend the versatility of NIKKOR Super Telephotos and other select NIKKOR lenses. The new 2x AF-S TC-20E III joins the 1.4x AF-S TC-14E II and 1.7x AF-S TC-17E II, offering photographers effective solutions for demanding assignments. The AF-S TC-20E III is the world's first Teleconverter to feature an aspherical lens that, along with a new optical formula, raises performance to meet the increased imaging demands of FX-format D-SLRs. AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III NIKKOR Lens Compatibility The following lenses may be used with the Nikon TC-20E III, some with noted functional limitations. NIKKOR lenses not listed cannot be used with the TC-20E III. The rear elements of NIKKOR lenses not listed can contact and damage the Teleconverter element and must not be attached! List includes current lenses along with lenses for which production may have ceased. Lenses that are no longer in production are shown only for your convenience as a compatibility reference! Prod # 2160 AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED - Autofocus not possible Prod.# 2150 AF-S VR NIKKOR 200mm f/2G IF-ED - No limitations Prod # 2186 AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II - No limitations Prod.# 2154 AF-S VR NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED - No limitations Prod # 1942 AF-I NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED - No limitations Prod.# 1909 AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4D IF-ED - Autofocus not possible

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive performance for a teleconverter, February 21, 2010

By 

John Mechalas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nikon TC-20E III AF-S 2x Teleconverter (Electronics)

I have paired this with the 70-200mm VR II on a D700 and am so far very impressed with the performance. There is some loss of sharpness, but it retains detail far more than I was expecting, and it is much, much, much better than the TC-20E II. Given that the III is also smaller and lighter makes it well worth the extra money in my book. AF with this combination is still fast and sure, about on par with the 70-300mm VR if not a bit snappier and with less hunting, and is fast enough for sports in daylight. I was also surprised by how well the bokeh holds up; there are some weird effects due the TC, but the bokeh (at least on the 70-200mm VR II) still maintains a creamy quality and the artifacts are not as distracting as they are with the previous generation TC's.

It is the only 2x teleconverter I would consider using on the 70-200 (the TC-20E II made everything too mushy). On an FX body, this combination is a very viable alternative to 200-400mm VR if the latter is just too expensive for your budget, too heavy to be practical, or both, particularly if conditions allow you to shoot at f/8 through f/16.

66 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cautious 5 stars, February 22, 2010

By 

R. Adams "Via Corsa Car Lover's Guidebooks" (Paradise Valley, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nikon TC-20E III AF-S 2x Teleconverter (Electronics)

I gave the new Nikon TC-20 III a 5 stars..but with a warning. The lenses I used for my quick test are all professional lenses. I did not have an amateur zoom to use for a comparison. So your results may vary.

My test - done with a Nikon D3s at 800 ISO. It was during the day and overcast.

I compared the Nikon 300mm 2.8 AF VR1 to a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 AF VR1 with TC-20 III (Actual 310mm)

F 5.6 * 1/160 sec shutter
When compared against the 300 2.8 shot, corners and center were almost as sharp as 300mm. However the color & contrast is better on the 300mm 2.8 shot than the TC-20. Less saturation and richness w/ TC. While the 300 2.8 is sharper than the 70-200 with TC-20, the TC-20 image is by no means a bad photo.

F 8 * 1/80 sec shutter
Color/contrast/saturation seems to have balanced out with both the 300mm and 70-200 w/ TC-20 photos.

F 11 * 1/40 shutter
The 300mm is still sharper, but only barely. If someone were to look at both images independently, one would probably would have never noticed a difference.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good low price option to extend focal range, February 20, 2010

By 

Lihkin (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon TC-20E III AF-S 2x Teleconverter (Electronics)

I received my TC a few days ago and tested it on my D700 and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. The image quality with this combo suffers slightly (in terms of sharpness), but is pretty good overall. Corner sharpness is really good, given that it's a 2X TC. I have posted some samples in the images gallery (with 100% crops). I think it's definitely a great way to extend the reach of your lens. I have read in some forums that the IQ on a DX camera is not that good. So I would advise DX owners to proceed with caution and after reading up on reviews and looking at sample images online