can I use a 1.4 or 2x teleconverter with a canon 50mm 1.8 prime lens? which one do you recommend? lens for portraits?

-- darren (docnlaw@YAHOO.COM), October 04, 1999

Answers

In regards to Kurt's answer, yes, you would have to use an extension tube between an EOS teleconverter and 50mm lens. The thing is that we don't know from this post what camera system Darren is using. Anyway, you won't need extension tubes with third party converters.

-- Brad (bhutcheson@iname.com), October 06, 1999.

You can do it. Teleconverters tend to work better (are designed for) longer lenses.

I've used 2x and 3x converters on a 50mm lens (mostly for macro work). At anything close to wide-open sharpness and contrast are not great. Stopped down to f/11 (effective f/22 on a 2x) results were Ok.

However, for portraits, the soft-focus/low-contrast effect may be exactly what you're after.

-- Christopher Biggs (chris@stallion.oz.au), October 04, 1999.

Darren: I don't think your idea will work too well. If I'm not mistaken, you'll have to use an extension tube between the lens and the TC, and if the resulting combination actually works, you'll still lose infinity focus, as well as lens speed. Furthermore, image quality may be disappointing, and if the optical quality of the prime is marginal or worse, then the expensive TC will tend to magnify those shortcomings. For the cost of an EOS TC plus an extension tube, you could (for a lot less hassle, guesswork, and dissatisfaction) buy the EOS 100/2, or the 28-135 IS, or the 100-300/4.5-5.6. The latter options are much more rational, IMO.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), October 05, 1999.

Darren,

Assuming you are using an EOS system... Most third party TC's will work without the extension tube. Tamron and Kenko will be fine. Canon's will not. Either way a 2X will reduce your apreture two stops, to f:3.6 (although your camera wont tell you that) and quality will be reduced an equal amount. Although the 50 f:1.8 is sharp enough to hold an image quite well even with the TC.

-- Jim Strutz (jimstrutz@juno.com), October 11, 1999.