more flexibility required---HELP

[bernhund]

Hi guys, I'm off to Le Mans in June and hope to get some decent photographs whilst there. Having been enough times I know my lenses aren't much use for some close up high speed action so hoped to improve what I have at a budget! What I need to know is what are the effects of adding 2x converters and macro adapters to my current lenses? I have a Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 and I'd like to get a wider angle and closer focal point from it. My other lens is a Nikkor 70-300mm 4-5.6 and I'd like to squeeze say 500-600mm out of it. So what happens? Will I get blurred images unless the sun is out? Obviously panning will help but I'm no pro, so fast shutter speeds would be nice.
I don't mind buying lenses but I fear what I'm really looking for is just not justifiable in these hard times!

Thanks

[markmullen]

You'll want converters, not macro adaptors.

I'm not a Nikon man but first check whether your lenses can take a converter, on my Canon gear for example my 100-400. 70-200 F4 IS and 135mm f2 can but 17-40, 24-105 and 50mm can't.

Next you'll lose a stop or two of maximum aperture, say your lens is f4 at fastest it'll become f5.6 with a 1.4x converter and f8 with a 2x converter, you'll need to check how far your camera will autofocus, with my 1Ds Mkii and 1D Mkii they'll autofocus with the centre point only down to f8, my new 5D Mkiii only to f5.6. Not only that but you'll either need a lot of light, or a really high ISO for those apertures.

Sorry I can't comment more specifically about your kit but least a couple of things to consider.

Edited by markmullen on Saturday 21st April 12:47

[GetCarter]

It depends what Nikon you have. If you are on a modern full frame sensor body (D3 etc) then you can set your ISO to 5000 and take shots all day and even into the evening with a converter. But if you are on a DX body you'll get lots of digital noise at high ISO, so the stops that you lose will mean your sensor won't get enough light, so will most likely end up with blurred shots. Unless, as stated, it's a really bright day. Then your converters will work fine.

[bernhund]

Thanks fellas. My camera is a D80 which I believe is a reasonable bit of kit but to be honest I know little of how to get the best from it.
I have a Bronica ETRS, AE-II finder E and Rollei E 36RE flash in a nice leather hard case that I thought I might ebay to raise some cash towards what I need for my Nikon. If you have any idea of the worth, that's what I'll spend on the D80.

[bernhund]

Add to note, should I not spend anything on the Nikon at all if it is ageing, sell the whole lot and head towards something like a Canon EOS 600D? It doesn't solve my immediate problem of course, but am I investing in something too old now?

[GetCarter]

Your 80 will still take perfectly good pics, but there are better cameras out there from both Nikon and Canon, esp if you want to do motorsport. All down to money.

A Nikon D4 and 600 mm lens will set you back about £12,500 - but that's what the pros will be using at Le Mans.

[bernhund]

GetCarter said:

Your 80 will still take perfectly good pics, but there are better cameras out there from both Nikon and Canon, esp if you want to do motorsport. All down to money.

A Nikon D4 and 600 mm lens will set you back about £12,500 - but that's what the pros will be using at Le Mans.

Just looked it up, what a fantastic bit of kit that is. Wow. I've done the sums too and it works out about...........£12000 more than I was planning to spend at the moment!

[Gold]

This might be what you're looking for http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/

[SamHH]

Macro adapters allow you to focus more closely than you otherwise could. They are for taking close-up photographs. They are not what you want.

A teleconverter will increase the focal length of your lens, which is what you want, but unfortunately your lens is not compatible with them. They're generally designed for expensive, 'fast' lenses.

I've never been to Le Mans but I imagine having a longer focal length than 300mm would be useful. But you're looking at between 600 and 6,000 pounds for those sorts of lenses. Unfortunately, motorsport photography is one of those areas that demands you spend a lot of money to get the best results. I'm sure you can get some good photographs with your current kit. Do some practice at motorsports events before you go so you're not learning everything for the first time at Le Mans.

[markmullen]

The long end of your 70-300mm on a crop body will get you quite tight in at certain places at Le Mans, be aware though the catch fence really gets in the way on most of the circuit apart from a few spots.

[Simpo Two]

SamHH said:

Macro adapters allow you to focus more closely than you otherwise could. They are for taking close-up photographs. They are not what you want.

I think there are two different requirements here. This is the other one:

bernhund said:

I have a Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 and I'd like to get a wider angle and closer focal point from it.

If you widen the field of view you will have to get closer to the subject to retain the composition, so I think you mean you want a *narrower* angle of view - ie greater magnification (for making close but small things look bigger) - correct?

[RobDickinson]

Even if a teleconvertor fitted on the 70-300 it would make it too dark and too slow for the autofocus to work, and likely ruin the image quality also.It would be f11 at 600mm. A 1.4 tc would be better but still these are meant for f2.8 fast zooms and primes.

[bernhund]

I really appreciate your help with this guys. Would the Canon deal with low light situations well compared to 'pushing' my D80's ISO? I'm starting to feel that the tech has moved on so much more in the time I've owned the Nikon.

[RobDickinson]

Yes a modern canon would slaughter the d80 for higher ISO shooting.

But then the modern nikons are a touch better than the modern canons..

Look at the D3200 and the D5100 as well as the 550d.

(I'm a canon user, I prefer canon all round but nikon/sony/expeed has the jump on canon with sensors)

[GetCarter]

Equiv models from Canon and Nikon work equally well. Sensors (and batteries) improve all the time. I have a D1 somewhere I bought in about 2000 - it's only use is as a door stop. I used to get through 5 batteries in one day. Now I charge my D3 once a month.

[mcflurry]

Gold said:

This might be what you're looking for http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/

+1

[Nick M]

markmullen said:

be aware though the catch fence really gets in the way on most of the circuit apart from a few spots.

And they can get quite busy at times...

I don't bother taking my 'big' camera to Le Mans any more as it's too big and heavy to lug around, and without a step-ladder or photographer's pass, the options for good, clear views of the action are sadly quite limited.

[Ledaig]

Take a look at second hand Sigma 50-500mm on ebay (about £500).

It's a very capable lens and will give you the reach you need.