teleconverters for the 70-200VR...

[Stolky]

I'm sure this belongs in the "Absolute Beginners Questions" ...however:

I have (..actually a friend lent me...) an old Vivitar 2x teleconverter (don't have the model no. with me at the moment..?)...

I was thinking about putting it on my D70 with the 70-200VR temporarily (until I find a cheapish 1.7x Nikon tele - which I know is compatible...) ...all - to get some extra reach when I give it to my girlfriend to take some daylight shots of me playing Soccer...

Question: Will this in any way damage the camera or lens (since it's not one of the Nikon compatible teles)? ...I guess the VR won't work either?

NB: I understand any quality compromise - but that's not my question...
...it's SAFETY..!! I'm sure I've read online somewhere about people damaging equip in the past, where people have used the wrong combo's..?

NB 2: I don't have a manual for my lens. (But would appreciate any online directions for downloads etc...)

Thanks
Mark

[gstark]

It depends upon the version of the TC.

Does it have electrical contacts (making it a fairly recent one) ?

Does it have an AI ring coupler?

If it has a coupling shoe (a small aluminium foot that will protrude above where you would see the aperture ring) does that ring have holes in it or is it just a flat aluminium foot?

If you could post some images of it, we can then help to better identify it for you.

A couple of general observations though .... don't expect to see VR on it, and I probably wouldn't be expecting to see auto focus or much in the way of exposure info to be transmitted to the body, but if it's the wrong type, it could possibly damage the D70.

[gstark]

Oh yes, regarding your girlfriend's shooting with this combo .... how is her technique?

This is not going to be an easy combo to use and get usable images from. Canera shake will be a bane, focus will be a challenge, as will following the action.

Pros use high quality glass, VR and tools such as a monopod to assist them in getting their images, but the bottom line here is that this is all about technique.

I'd probably consider NOT using this sort of TC, and instead pick up the usage of VR, plus AF, plus no image degradation through the (now discarded) TC, and use the 6MP of the camera to crop as needed.

[Steffen]

I have (..actually a friend lent me...) an old Vivitar 2x teleconverter (don't have the model no. with me at the moment..?)...

Is it the 2x Macro Focusing converter? If so, that's a very nice piece of glass, according to most people that have used it it's on par with Nikon's TC200/201. However, the fun will be limited on the D70, since it'll turn the lens into an MF AI lens. That means no metering with the D70. You can still use flash in A mode, I suppose.

Cheers
Steffen.