TC-301 on 400/f3.5 Ai « Nikon Rumors Forum

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TC-301 on 400/f3.5 Ai

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J Man

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Hi all - new boy here. Couldnt find a search button on here for the forums, only for google, so posting this without knowing if this has already been done

I bought the TC301 for my 400/f3.5 Ai, due to the number of decent reviews i read all over the net. But when i mount the lens and TC together, then onto the my D2x, i can only get correct aperture reading in the display if going from f3.5 to f22 ( when using Aperture Ring and starting at f3.5 )
Soon as i use the Ap ring to come back to f16/f11/f8 etc, i got the display remaining at f22, and the metering sees f22 as well.

So with the Ap ring back to f3.5, I need to get the display and metering correct again, i get my fingernail on a little tab on the TC mount next to the lens mount, and physically move it back to its stop. Magically, the correct Ap of f3.5 appears in the display, and i can then move to f4 / f8 / f11 and so on, with correct display of chosen Ap and correct metering. But coming backward once i've stopped down doesnt work.

I am at a loss to find out which component isnt doing its job. The lens on its own W/O TC works a treat. I guess i could just leave the Ap on f3.5, as I wouldnt want to stop down any further anyways. I'm already at an effective f7 without moving the Ap ring off its max aperture. Its just weird that someone else on another forum who has the same D2x body, same 400/f3.5 lens , and same TC-301 does not have this problem.
He can stop down, come back to max Ap, and everything displays correctly.

Anyone got any clues ?
thanks

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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wow - this place could pass for a cemetary

Posted 1 year ago #
jerl

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With AI lenses, you can't use the automatic aperture settings on your camera, you have to set the aperture ring manually. For AF and later lenses, the camera uses the tab that you have found earlier to ensure the lens is stopped down fully so it can control the aperture settings, so with your ai lens, you shouldn't need to do anything with it. To control the exposure, you will need to set your camera to manual exposure and adjust the shutter speed manually (and the aperture obviously).

You can also enter the lens into the camera database, which will allow it to recognize the focal length and maximum aperture. You'll have to look up the specifics on how to do this, and I'm not sure what features it will allow- I believe just some exposure settings, although other more knowledgeable people will know better (I've never tried it before).

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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Hi jerl - i had already done all you that you mentioned above ....... NON CPU lens data added in the menu, MF only, aperture adjustment set in menu to Aperture Ring.

I guess there is a spring or something missing in the TC301, because the aperture coupling between the TC and Lens only works when changing from f3.5 to f22, but doesnt work from f22 to f3.5.

Posted 1 year ago #
jerl

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Hmm, seems strange. Perhaps the teleconverter doesn't work with the newer digital bodies. Does the lens work ok on its own with your camera?

Posted 1 year ago #
spraynpray

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Just wondering what Nikon say?

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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jerl said:
Hmm, seems strange. Perhaps the teleconverter doesn't work with the newer digital bodies. Does the lens work ok on its own with your camera?

Yup - lens works fine, no problems at all. Aperture ring works both ways, with correct visual F number displayed in camera

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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spraynpray said:
Just wondering what Nikon say?

Havent contacted them, but if you read up on the TC 301, its meant to be a beauty with the lens i have ..400mm f3.5 Ai

Posted 1 year ago #
PB PM

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Does the AI metering tab on the TC 301 itself move freely when not attached to the lens?

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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Is the metering tab the rather large tab that sticks out the back of the TC ? If yes, then yes it does move about freely. Soon as the lens is attached to the TC, the tab becomes ' sprung ' and under tension, if you see what i mean.

If you try to move it when the lens is attached, it flicks back to where it was. Take the TC off the lens, and the tab flops about at will

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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Here's a pic showing the tab that i think you mean

http://i39.tinypic.com/555o3d.jpg

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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Guys ! Just figured it out !

It was so hard to spot, but under a magnifying glass, the groove that the tab on the TC runs in, was slightly ' dinged ' in. So that tab on the TC was fine going from f3.5 to f22, but coming back down, the tab on the TC eventually ran into this ' ding ' on the track. It was wedging itself in that spot and not running back. Once it was in that spot, moved there by the aperture ring, thats where it stayed.

Job done.. thanks for all who tried to help. A happy ending at last

Posted 1 year ago #
PB PM

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J Man said:
Here's a pic showing the tab that i think you mean

http://i39.tinypic.com/555o3d.jpg

No, that is the aperture lever. The metering tab lines up with the aperture ring on AI and later lenses.

Posted 1 year ago #
J Man

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Thanks PB. Yes thats the tab that was sticking in the dented track that the tab runs in. A little persuasion with a flat head screw driver was all it took to get that tab moving back and forth when using the aperture ring on the 400mm

Posted 1 year ago #

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TC-301 on 400/f3.5 Ai

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