1.4tc are they worth it?

[ianmandy]

In a previous post i asked about the 2x converter. Eeyore gave me great advice and said i would be better with a 1.4tc. But one thing i noticed is that the 1.4tc gives you 420mm on a 300mm lens. Doesn't the fact that you are using a Digital Slr mean that you are getting 1.6x from a lens anyway 480mm on a 300mm lens. I know its not a true 1.6x . If i add a 1.4tc to a 300mm lens on a DSLR does that mean that i am getting 480mm x 1.4tc = 672mm on a 300mm lens. Putting my maths aside. Is the 1.4tc worth it? or is it just popular because of the light issue with the 2xtc.

[kshotton45]

Originally Posted by ianmandy

In a previous post i asked about the 2x converter. Eeyore gave me great advice and said i would be better with a 1.4tc. But one thing i noticed is that the 1.4tc gives you 420mm on a 300mm lens. Doesn't the fact that you are using a Digital Slr mean that you are getting 1.6x from a lens anyway 480mm on a 300mm lens. I know its not a true 1.6x . If i add a 1.4tc to a 300mm lens on a DSLR does that mean that i am getting 480mm x 1.4tc = 672mm on a 300mm lens. Putting my maths aside. Is the 1.4tc worth it? or is it just popular because of the light issue with the 2xtc.

Correct.The 1.6 crop factor will make your 300mm lens 480mm. Add a 1.4 TC and you get 672mm.
I have a 2X Kenko TC . I'm not impressed with the image quality. I think a 1.4 is a better TC.

keith.

[galanthus]

Are the 1.4 conv any good with a 70-300mm canon lens or are they only of use with a 300mm prime ?

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Are the 1.4 conv any good with a 70-300mm canon lens or are they only of use with a 300mm prime ?

They are useful with many lenses, but not compatible with all. It's important you check compatibility before you buy, this applies especially with Canon ones, they won't for example work with Sigma 150mm macro lenses, but Kenko pro 300 will.
To get the best out of them, the faster the lens your using it with the better the results, as the TC will reduce the light levels by 1 stop for a 1.4, and 2 stops for a 2X. So for example, if you use a 2X with a Sigma 50-500mm, which is a F6.3 at the 500mm end, it will become a 1,000mm F13.0. Sounds good, but it's not. It's not often there's enough light around to be able to use that type of lens at F13.0! So the faster the lens your using the TC with the better.

You can also use them to good effect with macro lenses, I'm getting one to use with the Sigma 150mm. It will give better working distance from the subject whilst also giving greater magnification.

[HowlinWolf]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Are the 1.4 conv any good with a 70-300mm canon lens or are they only of use with a 300mm prime ?

Converters are best suited to prime lenses, although some zooms can also be used with good results, but be cautious if you intend to use a TC with a zoom lens if they are of different marques. If at all possible, take some shots using the addition and assess the results on your computer. Any flaws that the lens has will be magnified by the TC, such as Chromatic Aberration or distortion. Some lens/converter combinations are known to give good results, so unless you are prepared to experiment, it's best to adhere to users advice.
I use a Nikkor x1.4 TC with a (Nikkor AF-S) 300mm lens as and when the situation demands it. This combination is designed to work together, and for all intents and purposes the converter is 'invisible' image wise. Another caveat is that not all lenses will physically mount on these accessories. In some cases it's possible to have them modified (grinding lugs off, or taping over lens contact pins for example), but it always seems more trouble than it's worth. There is also the possible loss of auto-focus if the combination pushes your maximum aperture past f/5.6: or at the very least the lens may hunt to achieve focus.
Loosing one f/stop of light with these things is acceptable to me, but you may have other criteria, and as posted by glsammy, the faster the main lens, the better. Ultimately, it's down to the question "will a x1.4 TC with the lens(s) you intend to use it with do the job you require?"

HW

[ianmandy]

I tried the 1.4 and 2x kenko pro in SCS photo in watford and whilst trying to focus in the shop the lens was jumping all over the place trying to focus because there wasn't enough light.. But when i went outside it focused fine. This was done with a Canon 70x300 USM IS.

[Ambriel]

I use an Olympus TCON14 with my Panasonic FZ50 which takes the maximum focal length up from 420mm to around 600mm. Seems to work ok. No problems with focussing but you can't zoom lower than about 200mm on the original lens without vignetting occuring.

[MalcolmX]

i use a 2x with my 70-200 and my 100-400 lenses and they work fine the 2 x converter will not fit the 100 macro lens as the rubber gasket is too proud .you will use a lot of manual focusing with this converta but you can often compensate for the light stops by changing the iso .
i find it useful but not totally essential

[ianmandy]

Thats right Malcolm. The converters will not fit the Canon EF-S lenses.