07 JUNE 1999

Nikon TC-E2 Teleconverter
Tech Page 2

Technical Pages  1 2 3 (specs)

Photo Pages 1 2 3

Matt Chroust

We're almost ready to take the first photos!
But first, just a bit more bad news before we get to the pictures. You may have heard an ugly rumor that the 900/910/950 viewfinder is almost entirely obstructed if you install the Nikon Teleconverter lens. Unfortunately it's very true, except for a slice of view so small at full zoom that it's practically useless. I'm talking about that little wedge of sky there that I've circled in yellow. This wouldn't be a big problem if the LCD worked in direct sunlight.	It is my fervent hope that this image will demonstrate to photographers what all the talk of velcro and slideviewers is about, and perhaps give Nikon a nudge to create an LCD that's a bit more useful in strong light!
This shot, and the one immediately above, were produced by holding a Fuji MX-700 set in Macro mode against the viewfinder of the Nikon 950, which had to be on at the time to prevent it from going to the full zoom rest position. They may be the most significant digital photos I've ever taken. :)	The situation at less than full zoom is a bit better, but not much. This picture was taken through the viewfinder at full wide. You can't get this far out if you have the LENS=TELE selected. I suppose one could zoom out and then zoom in right before taking the shot.
Isn't that a pretty chunk of glass though! Is your blood pumping yet?	Front view of 950 with Teleconvertor mounted "Normal" 950
The filter I have here is a basic Quantaray UV filter, maybe $15, and a cheapie folding rubber hood, about $6.	A couple of accessories you'll definitely want are a filter to protect the lens from fingerprints and a collapsible hood which will help you prevent glare outdoors. You could substitute a polarizing filter or even an adjustable one.
The next rubber hood I buy will have metal threads. this one seems to want to cut new threads every time I use it. To solve that problem, I put the hood on after the filter, and that way I'm using the metal filter thead, not the plastic hood thread when I remove the pair as a unit. Now you can fold the hood back when you don't need it. It still fits in the storage bag, plus, it is a very convenient handle to use to install that heavy, slippery, expensive teleconverter!	Starting to look pretty scary?
Thanks for staying with me to get prepared for this shoot. Let's take this bad boy outside and do some actual shooting at the San Francisco Zoo! or go on to the Specifications page.

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