Teleconverters/extenders

[sinedyar]

Mickey:

I’ve yet to see a good 3X teleconverter. However, I haven’t yet tried the Kinko Pro 3X.

Speaking of the Kenko teleconveters/extenders, I have the 1.4X Pro and 2X Pro, and they work very well. Even the cheaper 1.5X Kenko converter does a fair job.

As a general rule, it’s usually best to stay with converters/extenders made by the same company that makes the lens you are using them on, but these Kenko Pro models are very good.

Denis

“I have tried 2x and 3x extenders but have always been dissapointed in the results.”

Mickey

[sinedyar]

Of course, overall, teleconverters/extenders work best with prime lenses.

Denis

[mickeyobe]

Hi, Denis,

My Canon FD 50mm f1.4 prime lens is 2" long. My 2x Vivitar teleconverter is 2" long = 4" overall. That combination gives me a somewhat less than satisfactory 100mm only lens that is fairly heavy with most of the weight being at the front of the set up therefore giving an unbalanced feel. The same stats and remarks apply to the 2x teleconverter.

My Sigma FD 70 - 210mm f4 - f5.6 zoom is 3-3/4" long overall. It weighs less than the above prime + converter combo and gives me very good pictures and and an infinite selection of focal lengths between the two extremes. The balance, when mounted on a camera is just right. The same can be said for my 24 - 70mm Vivitar lens.

The raison d'etre of converters tends to escape me. I love those zooms.

Mickey

[sinedyar]

Mickey:

Vivitar teleconverters are not very good, and also some teleconverters work better with telephoto lenses than they do with short lenses like a 50mm.

But, yes, the added length and weight of adding a teleconverter is a compromise.

Mostly, I use my teleconverters with a 300mm prime lens for going after birds and other wildlife.

Denis

[kamera]

Mickey and Denis,

I had a Vivitar 2x back in the mid 60's when I first got my Minolta SRT. I also found it to basically be junk. Since Vivitar is only a marketing company, I do not even know who made their teleconverters for them.

Then bought a Minolta 2x and did not find it particularly any better. Have not used one since and most likely never will.

From everything I hear and read, yes...best to get one MATCHED to a specific lens...and most photogs who do use one do as Denis mentions, a compromise over the pricey focal length lens for wildlife/nature.

In Minolta, my longest focal length, other than a mirror 500/8 is a 300. In Nikon other than an old Nikkor 500/5.6, I can get out to 400 with my Nikkor 80-400 zoom.

Will remain happy as is, because, even though I would like to get out to at least 600, I cannot afford that type of lens and would not use it that much anyway.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[sinedyar]

Ron:

Quite right, Ron. Vivitar never made anything, although they designed some very good lenses at times. Who made Vivitar's teleconverters back then isn't known by me, but they were not good at all.

[herron]

kamera said:

Will remain happy as is, because, even though I would like to get out to at least 600, I cannot afford that type of lens and would not use it that much anyway.

I have both a 2X and 3X converter, and they are in their respective cases, gathering dust. I was also less than thrilled with the results of using them. I have similar feelings for my 500mm mirror lens.

I have a 400mm Mamiya, but it is like adding a tank cannon to the front of the camera, so it doesn't get used much any more, either.

As much as I might occasionally drool over some of those new-fangled super teles that other folks might have (although, now that I think about it, that doesn't include anyone I actually know -- it's more the guys I see on the sidelines at sporting events), I really don't think I would use them enough to justify the investment!

As often as I have need of them, I might just as well couple both the 2X and 3X extender on the 500mm mirror and go for some real distance! ;D

[John Parry]

Hi all,

I have a seriously nice CZJ 300mm f4 prime. Used it with a number of extenders with rubbish results. Eventually, after coming to the conclusion that my eyes had finally packed up, I bought a Praktica eyepiece telescope. This contains a variable diopter, so that you can set it up for your eyesight, and a massive magnifier that zooms in on the centre of your image, so you can see exactly whether you are in focus or not Checked out the lens with extenders, but found that they all threw the infinity focus out. Eventually tried a 1.5x extender, and that just came in, but it is touch and go.

Don't know what the mega-priced Canon ones are like, but in general I would put extenders in the same class as mirror lenses - which at least have the advantage that they look nice on the shelf!

Regards - John

[sinedyar]

John:

I'm serious about the Kenko Pro 300 teleconverter, the 1.4X. May not sound like much magnification, but when used with a 300mm prime, that makes for a 420mm lens. And my Kenko Pro 300 1.4X with my Nikon 300mm f/4 prime gives prime-looking results.

Denis

[greyhoundman]

I was tipped off to the Vivitar 2X macro focusing converter.
I've tried it with most of my lenses. It does very well with primes.
Here is a shot taken with it behind a 50mm/f1.4 on a K1000.


K1000, 50/f1.4, Vivitar converter, Konica 400.
Shot distance> about 4 inches.

[kiev4a]

I've got a Kiron 2x converter I use on my Kiron MF lenses. Does a decent job although you always use something with a converter

[byuphoto]

I use the Vivitar 1.5x and the 2x macro focusing converter with outstanding results. the 1.5x with any of my big Canon L's will give results equal to any aftermarket lens but with the Sigma 400 f5.6 it is very disappointing. My favorite by far is my 2x canon converter. It's quality is outstanding as evidenced by some of my later bird and wildlife shots. Also do not bemoan all mirrors till you have tried the excellent Sigma 600mm

[doubs43]

This picture was taken with a Spotmatic II and a 500mm f/6.3 Vivitar lens fitted with a cheap Penny's 2x converter. It was a hot July day and the distance was between 675~700 feet. The heavy lead bullet has struck the steel ram silhouette target low in the stomach and just behind the front leg. It's just beginning to fall. Film was Agfa 400 sold as a Walgreen "Studio 35" brand. Maybe not "wonderful" but certainly not "awful" either.



The Komura Telemore95-II converter with 7 lens elements is supposed to be as good as it gets from all I read. I have one, new in the box, but just haven't gotten a chance to give it a workout.

Walker