There is so much misinformation about the TC 16A out there that I plan
to do a FAQ on it, when I find world enough and time.
In the meantime, you need to know that the TC 16A has a moveable element
in it that allows the TC to AF through a limited range. This element is
activated by pressing the shutter button on the camera body when the TC
is mounted.
The basic way to use the TC 16A is to focus the lens manually at
infinity and then AF with the TC.
The TC 16A can AF from close focus to infinity with lenses focused at
infinity that are wide-angle to normal in focal length. When one uses it
with telephoto lenses, the range through which the TC will AF gets
shorter the longer the focal length happens to be.
For example, with the lens set at infinity the TC 16A will AF a 35 mm
lens from 2 feet to infinity. It will AF a 50 mm lens from 3.9 feet to
infinity. It will AF a 180 mm lens from 42.7 feet to inifinity.
Obviously it will also focus the lens at closer distances than that --
so long as they are within the focus range of the lens -- but one has to
do part of the focusing with the lens itself, not leaving it all up to
the TC 16A.
With tele lenses, the drill is to manually approximate-focus the lens,
then press the shutter button and allow the TC to provide precise focus.
The TC 16A will "work" on bodies other than the 8008/90/F4/F5 series,
but not fully.
In other words, on my 6006 it will work in manual focus mode but not in
AF mode, although if memory serves the electronic rangefinder will still
work. What one does is do all the focusing with the lens rather than
with the TC. So it works like a TC 14A would on the same body.
The basic point is whether a TC 16A will substitute for a TC 14A; it
certainly will for most Nikon AF bodies, with the added advantage of AF
ability (even if limited). But even if I only had a 6006/N70 body I'd
probably get the TC 16A since its usefulness is no more limited than a
TC 14A would be, which will have to be manually focused anyway
The TC 16A, like the TC 14A, is intended for Nikkors up to 300 mm. My
copy of the TC 16 A manual lists 8 AF Nikkors and 36 MF Nikkor with
which it is compatible. This reflects the time of production for this
item, which ended in 1991.
The TC gives one 1.6 times the focal length of the lens it is mounted
on; it costs 1.3 stops of light. As to quality, Moose Peterson says the
TC 16A will give images as sharp as the TC 14A, and nothing in my
experience disputes that. Others claim that it doesn't give images that
sharp -- but with the high levels of magnification that come into play
while using this TC, good technique becomes an even more important
factor in achieving critical sharpness.
I am personally of the opinion that the TC 16A can be an important and
very useful part of anyone's array of Nikon gear today, so long as one
understands its advantages and its limitations. Great that people do not
appreciate it as fully as they might; this keeps prices down for the
rest of us.
--
John N. Wall
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
WWW: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/j/jnweg/html
We are not revitalized or transformed as often by a change of
circumstances
as we are by a change of perspective.
