>David,
>Unfortunately for me, my 300 is the f/4.5 non-ED AI model, so your
>information sort of confirms what I suspected--it ain't a very good lens for
>converters. (It isn't all that wonderful without one, but it's useable.)
>However, I may keep an eye out for a TC12B/C anyway--at least I presumably
>could use it with my 180 f/2.8 AF as well. Thanks for the input.
>
>Gary Hunt

Hi--
Unfortunately, the rear of the 180mm AF was designed in a way that prevents fitting the long-lens TC's (1.4x or 2x) on it, even though the glass is
deep enough to work - probably would have been great, too. The TC14A will
work well on it, but doesn't get you anywhere a 70-210 zoom won't, so....
If you do want a TC14C, call Sam Dodge, who has been listing in Shutterbug
lenses wanted column a request for a 300mm f2 (he converts them for movie
camera use, and sells the 14C's that come with them). The 300mm's like yours
seem to vary a bit - I have seen really good ones which I could not tell from
the f4.5 EDIF's. I have no idea why the Nikkor 300mm f4-4.5's mostly aren't
very wonderful on converters, especially since the 400mm f5.6 is (but is a little slow, though....). This 400mm focal-length area is lacking a
really high-quality, inexpensive lens. The 500mm f8 older Nikkor (even with
TC14B [not C]) is good and cheap for longer, and 200mm and under is cheap and easy, and the 75-300mm and 100-300mm zooms are good (but aren't good on
converters, either), but the 400mm f5.6 Nikkor ( f a s t !) is W A Y
overpriced. David Ruether