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Nikon TC-14E
Teleconverter
(1992 - today)
© 2008 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

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Nikon TC-14E

Nikon TC-14E (1992-2001). enlarge. I bought one at Adorama, and Amazon also carries it. It helps me keep adding to this site if you use these links to get yours, too. Thanks!

 

June 2008      More Nikon Reviews     TC-17E     TC-20E

 

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I personally buy from Ritz, Adorama and Amazon. I can't vouch for any other ads.

 

Introduction       top

Intro    Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

The Nikon TC-14E is an expensive (about $400 in 2008) 1.4x teleconverter which only works with Nikon's more exotic AF-S and AF-I telephoto lenses. You lose one stop of light and gain 40% more focal length.

Its front elements poke out, so they are shrouded in rubber. After about ten years, this rubber develops a little bit of a gray haze on it, which wipes right off.

 

Compatibility

The TC-14E ONLY works with expensive AF-I and AF-S lenses. One CANNOT mount any other lenses on it unless one grinds down certain lugs on the female mount at a machine shop.

Nikon makes NO AF teleconverters for its general line of AF lenses. One must instead use a manual focus converter like the TC-200 and focus manually, or screw with discount brands and hope the matrix metering couples correctly. See Teleconverters for more.

 

History

1977-2005

Nikon has also made manual-focus 1.4x teleconverters, the TC-14, TC-14A, TC-14B and TC-14C. I'm ignoring these here.

 

1992-2001

Nikon's first AF 1.4x teleconverter was called the TC-14E, which is pictured at the top. It was marked "AF-I" for the only kind of lenses with which it worked when it was introduced. As Nikon introduced AF-S lenses, these converters worked perfectly, but innocent people were confused as to why it said AF-I instead of AF-S.

 

Nikon TC-14E

Nikon TC-14E II (2001-today)

2001-today

Nikon changed the cosmetics slightly, changed the lettering to read "AF-S" and renamed it the TC-14E-II.

Nikon made about 20,000 of the original TC-14E, and as of 2008, has made about 15,000 of the newer TC-14E II.

THe TC-14E and TC-14E II are identical except for the name and trim. Both work with both AF-I and AF-S lenses.

I use the names TC-14E and TC-14E II throughout the text interchangeably. They are the same product.

 

Specifications       top

Intro    Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

Optics

5 elements in 5 groups, multicoated.

 

Size

2.586" diameter by 0.970" flange-to-flange (65.69 x 24.65mm), measured (TC-14E).

Nikon specifies 2.6" (65mm) around by 1" (25mm) long.

 

Weight

TC-14E: 7.085 oz. (200.8g), measured, no caps.

7.677 oz. (217.7g) with caps.

Nikon specifies 7 oz (200 g) for the TC-14E and TC-14E II.

 

Caps

Since the front pokes out, the front cap is different from a standard Nikon body cap. The TC-14E takes a BF-3A front cap. It also takes the BF-3 as shown below; the BF-3A (albino) is a light gray cap to differentiate it from a conventional body cap. The rear cap is the usual one.

 

Nikon TC-14E

Nikon TC-14E with BF-3 (special) front cap and LF-1 (standard) rear cap.

Case

CL-30S (not included).

 

Nikon Product Number

2129 (TC-14E II).

 

Serial Number

Laser engraved on bottom rear of barrel.

 

Performance       top

Intro    Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

Nikon TC-14E

Front, Nikon TC-14E. enlarge.

I've used the TC-14E with the 70-200mm VR, 400/2.8 AF-I and the 80-200/2.8 AF-S. See those reviews for details.

The TC-14E only adds 40% more magnification, and doesn't appear to lose any performance doing it. If you need a little more reach, the TC-14E is an excellent way to go.

Nikon TC-14E

Rear, Nikon TC-14E. enlarge.

 

Recommendations       top

Intro    Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

If you have an f/2.8 or f/4 AF-S or AF-I lens this is a handy addition. 40% more reach isn't much.

I bought a TC-14E and returned it. It didn't lose performance, but it didn't make things long enough to justify the expense.

In the 1980s I did carry a TC-14A everywhere, because it made my 180mm f/2.8 ED into a 250mm f/4, which was handy.

THe TC-17E is also an excellent converter. I'd avoid the TC-20E unless you really need that much magnification.

It is useless unless you have a long AF-I or AF-S lens. One CANNOT mount any other AF or manual lens or accessory to the front because it is keyed mechanically to prevent this.

This converter is intended for professional use with long super telephotos. It is not like the old TC-201 or TC-14A teleconverters that were intended for general use to make a normal lens into a telephoto. Likewise, the results are great with 300mm and longer fixed AF-I and AF-S lenses and so-so with the 80-200 AF-S zoom.

 

Help me help you         top

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The biggest help is when you use any of these links to Adorama, Amazon, eBay, Ritz and Calumet when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. eBay is always a gamble, but all the other places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.

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Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

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