Here's a follow-up post regarding the performance of the older Nikon 300mm ED lens with a 1.4x Kenko PRO teleconverter. The results are often sharper for me WITH the teleconverter than without. I love the contrast this low-price lens combo offers. It's still not quite a Nikon 500mm, but it's still pretty sweet.

All the shots are tripod-mounted, with my hand loosly draped over the top of the lens to dampen the vibration of the D70 and D200 (both used in these shots). I try to keep the shutter speeds above 1/125, though some shots dip to 1/80 sec., a realistic set of results with a sturdy ballhead from Kirk Enterprises.

98% of these shots feature some fill flash with SB units as well, usually at around -2 EV...just enough to make sure the feather detail is all revealed. F-stops will range from f4 to f6.3.

Red-bellied woodpecker:


Black-capped chickadee:

Tree swallows - mating behaviors:

Song sparrow:


Mid-phase house finch:

Chris,
Excellent shots. Thanks for the inspirations. Between these and my Crocus shot I know my combo is capable of what I desire. I thought or at least have hoped it was all in my technique. I also feared that it may have been a bad TC and I failed to test it properly during the return period.
I love all your shots, great color and awesome background isolation. Are all these in you yard? The Chickadee is a little over processed looking, was it a big crop? I like the House Finch best. The birds color, great lighting, and the dark background make it a superb shot.

I have a few Chickadees also. I too learned that flashing is the way to go and started using it only recently. I have not been back to the feeder with the 300/1.4TC combo and a flash yet but I will soon.
Here is my first Chickadee shot with the combo. No flash and hand held @ 1/200”


But currently my favorite is this one with the bare 300f4 @ 1/100” and w/flash hand held.

Wow - that chickadee is a wonderful shot, and handheld? Great! Have you looked into Nikon's 300mm VR? That'd be sweet.

Yes, all the ones here are from the yard. The chickadee one is an early attempt, and is mostly lit by flash (three units) - that may be what you're seeing. Also, the head might be a little soft...

Thank you. I do get a few keepers handheld, but I am sure the support of a tripod and or monopod will help immensely. "Have I looked into the 300VR" no, I have looked AT the 300vr. I was unwilling to cough up the grand for an AFS version of the 300f4, I wouldn't even consider the 4500 of a VR. It would be sweet though. I’d love to have the 2.8 alone and the VR, Wow.
Damn, 3 flashes:) I assume you setup some bated trap to get them into the range of the flashes? The only thing I did that with, were hummingbirds and 2 flashes.