Hi--

>I have read your article at http://www.fcinet.com/ruether/articles.html. It is
>very interesting! I have Nikkor AF70-300 D ED but I need something longer
>(~500mm). I looked at third party lenses (Tokina &Sigma) but I would rather
>stay with Nikon. Someone advised me to buy Nikon AF 300/4 and TC-14B. From
>your article I see that this combination can give good results. I would like
>to use this lens + TC for nature photos (birds). How good is AF 300/4 with
>TC-301. I am using Fuji Provia and Velvia. Can I get a sharp slides from this
>system?? Could you recommend something for me?

The 300mm f4 + TC300/301 is OK, good stopped down some (but therefore
SLOW) - the f2.8 is better on the 2X (good wide open, excellent by f5.6),
so it is more useable, but expensive and big (I have one for sale...;-).
Alternatives: the 500mm f8 Nikkor older-style mirror (or newer is OK at
mid-distances), good even with the TC14/14B converter, though this is awkward
and slow; the newer-style Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO (not incredible, but useable);
a used 400mm f5.6 Nikkor (excellent, even on converters, but SLOW and expensive);
the ED-non-IF 300mm f4.5, OK even on both converters (hard to find but sharp
on the 2X); the Cosina 100-500mm f5.6-8 (sharp, but hard to find, and
SLOW [noticeably slower than rated]). Nikon needs to put out a good
affordable 400mm f4.5 or 500mm f5.6...