Who’s ever considered putting a teleconverter on a macro lens? That thought would have never crossed my mind if I hadn’t been doing some research. And if you’ve got the right combination, I guarantee it will change how you do closeup photography

Now, when using my AF-S VR Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, I’ll often be adding a teleconverter to it. In this case, with the Nikkor TC-14E III on my trusty Nikon Z 50.

I’d been wanting to invest in some new teleconverters, so over the last two years, I first bought the Nikkor TC14e III (1.4X) and then the TC20e III (2x). I knew they would work on the long lenses I have, but while ordering the TC20 decided to click on the “Compatibility” page out of curiosity. And there, first on the list, was the AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED. What? I’ve always used these teleconverters with my high-end Nikkor telephoto lenses, but had no idea they could also be used with the 105mm Micro (macro to the rest of the world). [Note: the chart says autofocus is not possible, but you’ll find out that it probably is. The way a Nikon rep explained that to me is that Nikon sets high standards for AF performance. The less light entering the lens – the TC20 reduces that by two stops – the slower AF works. So if AF works, but doesn’t perform as fast as Nikon wants it to, they list it as “not possible.”] Regardless, even if it didn’t autofocus (and it does, I’ve tested that), that wouldn’t bother me since I always focus manually when shooting closeups. But I digress. The fact that I can use those teleconverters with my 105mm Micro is a HUGE deal. Here’s why.

The AF-S VR Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens can be used with both the TC20E III (attached), as well as the TC14E III.

Nikon makes a number of macro lenses. The 105mm is my favorite because it allows me to stay a little further back than I would if using the 60mm (less likely to spook bugs, less likely to block light). And, it’s an excellent portrait lens as well, with a wide aperture. But adding the 1.4X teleconverter now gives me a focal length of approximately 150mm, and the 2X 210mm. So I can stay further back from insects, and even make close-ups of things I can’t get as close to as I’d like to. And, as I’ve written before, I’m a big fan of DX bodies because of the crop factor. So adding that in, I’m getting even more “reach” out of this combination. Here are some examples of why that’s such a big deal to me:

This was as close as I could get to this insect without making it move away from me, while using the 105mm without a teleconverter. Nikon Z 50, Aperture Priority, Shade white balance, ISO 900, 1/250 at f/8 in Matrix metering, 0.0 EV, Nikkor AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens.

Not changing my distance from the insect, I added the TC20 teleconverter, which now gave me a focal length of 210mm. And in turn, that gave me this much tighter framing. Of course, used on a DX body, I’m gaining an added 1.5X “crop” factor, so I’d actually need a 315mm lens on my full-frame bodies to get this same framing. Nikon Z 50, Aperture Priority, Shade white balance, ISO 1000, 1/250 at f/8 in Matrix metering, -0.3 EV, Nikkor AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens at 210mm (because of the TC20 teleconverter).

In this case, this is as close as I could get without trampling other plants in the flowerbed. Nikon Z 50, Aperture Priority, Shade white balance, ISO 400, 1/250 at f/8 in Matrix metering, -1.3 EV, Nikkor AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens.

By simply attaching the TC20, I now have a much more tightly framed image. Yes, I could have cropped in on the looser image, but that would result in fewer pixels making up the final image. And, the depth of field (bokeh) would have been different as well. Nikon Z 50, Aperture Priority, Shade white balance, ISO 640, 1/250 at f/8 in Matrix metering, -1.7 EV, Nikkor AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens at 210 mm (because of the TC20).

One of the best benefits of using these teleconverters is that I don’t have to get as close to tiny bugs as I would otherwise, so less likely to scare them away. This is shot with the TC14 (1.4X) teleconverter on my 105mm lens. Nikon Z 50, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 280, 1/250 at f/8 in Matrix metering, 0.0 EV, Nikkor AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens at 150mm.

I’ve always enjoyed doing closeup photography because it lets me show the world in a way that’s different from how people see it. And now these two teleconverters let me take that even further. That’s why they’ll be an essential part of my close-up kit from now on.

– NOTE: I haven’t invested in the Z 105mm Micro as I don’t do a lot of close-up work and would rather put that money towards other Z lenses. So I’m sticking with with my F-mount 105mm Micro, using it with an FTZ adapter. And, apparently the Z teleconverters can’t be used on the Z 105, so there’s another reason I’ll keep using my F-mount 105mm.

This winter I used that lens/teleconverter/FTZ adapter combination to do water droplet photography. Nikon Z 6 II, Manual exposure, Flash white balance, ISO 500, 1/200 at f/32, Nikkor VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens with Nikkor TC-20e III teleconverter for 210mm.

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