Will a Nikon D5200/D5300 work with a Tamron 18-270mm, and is a 2x teleconverter a good idea?

Question

I'm replacing a Nikon D5000 and considering either a Nikon D5200 or D5300. For backpacking, I like the convenience of a Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 superzoom instead of carrying multiple lenses.

Will the Tamron 18-270mm be compatible with those Nikon bodies?

I'm also thinking about adding a 2x teleconverter to get more reach for wildlife and distant subjects. Is there any strong reason this would be a poor combination in terms of autofocus, aperture, or image quality? Would cropping be a better option than using a teleconverter on this kind of lens?

user11924 · Accepted Answer

but I have read that just maybe, teleconverters used with longer focal length telephoto zoom lenses isn't all its cracked up to be.

Well, sort of. Not exactly. Teleconverters work best on longer focal length prime lenses. As you go shorter, generally, or if you use them on zoom instead of prime, there will be more potential issues with image quality. Below about 200mm, I personally wouldn't consider a teleconverter. Even in the "regular" telephoto range, I would not consider a 2x teleconverter at all.

Don't forget that a 2x teleconverter will incur a 2-stop penalty on your aperture, so that Tamron f/6.3 at 270mm, with a 2x teleconverter, if it will even work, will act like a f/12 520mm, but probably with noticeable softness in detail.

(See also Teleconverters 101 at the lensrental.com blog for more info. I often turn to that site for brass-tacks discussion on such things)

Another implication of the 2-stop penalty is that most APS-C cameras do not autofocus with a lens slower than f/5.6, maybe f/6.3. Thus, you will likely lose autofocus capability on that lens at just about any focal distance, with a 2x teleconverter. Even with a 1.4x teleconverter, where you lose 1 stop of aperture, assuming f/4.5 is the slowest "native" aperture that will focus with a 1.4x teleconverter, what is the focal length of the zoom when the effective max aperture is f/4.5? If that focal length is below about 200mm (270mm max focal length / 1.4x teleconverter magnification), then you won't be able to autofocus at all with any teleconverter at focal lengths that the lens couldn't already handle.

If I was going hiking with APS-C and could only carry one lens, I'd consider something like the Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro (the macro being highly beneficial if you want to stop and take a closeup pic of a flower or insect). It's got amazing zoom range; even at the wide end, it's quite wide for decent vistas of the scenery. It apparently has improved weather resistance (nice when you're hiking and it might get splashed in a sudden rain).

But I certainly wouldn't consider a teleconverter, unless you plan on taking a long fast lens. In which case, your focus probably isn't hiking.

Will a Nikon D5200/D5300 work with a Tamron 18-270mm, and is a 2x teleconverter a good idea?

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