teleconverters

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hi again---

can anyone give their experiences with konica mount 2X teleconverters?

there are a zillion different manufacturers: konica hexanon, vivitar, tamron, tokina, promaster.. to name a few. prices seem to range from 80 for the hexanon's down to 5 bucks for the real off brand (i have an "underground 2X" that seems to make so so pictures).

can anyone rate them? like, say, a and b are excellent quality c and d are good e and f are horrible?

i ask because i would like to upgrade to a better one if my 5 dollar "underground" is in the horrible category. and also because this may be a good piece of information that is missing on this site (i.e., there are many reviews of lenses, but not of teleconverters).

thanks again everyone,

paul

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2000

Answers

Paul, I can give you a couple of goodies to stick with, namely the Hexanon 2x and the Vivitar 2x Macro-Focus. A real negative with tele lenses-any PRO teleconverters, OK with normal lens. Stay away from Rokunar or old Tokina or Cambrons of any kind. The 7-element Telemores are iffy as to quality control. Some work magnificently, some are mediocre, the rest downright horrible. All function best with teles not focused too closely. That's my list.

Jon from Deepinaharta, Georgia

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2000


Another horrible 2X teleconverter

I have a Soligor that I paid $5 for on ebay and feel I was ripped off. The lens does not firmly engage and is in danger of falling off the camera. I value the lens caps that came with it more then the converter.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2000

possible solution?

i also had this problem... does the converter get "stuck" too and you cannot get it off? i also paid 5 bucks for mine and had to go back to the store to take it back.. citing the same reason you stated.

but! the problem may have a very simple solution. the salesperson showed me how it goes on the camera. there is a right way and a wrong way. logically, you would think to put it on like all yoru other lenses.. line up the red dot on the lens with the dot on the camera.. and twist on.

but, with the teleconverter, you do NOT line up the red dot on the aperature ring, instead, there should be a little red dot on the BACK ring of the lens.. THIS is the dot you line up with...

let us know if this was the problem.

paul.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2000


Your right Paul!

I found the red dot you mentioned and now my lenses do snap securely on to the converter. I tried it with 3 different long lenses and all worked OK now. Thanks for the tip. Yes, I do recall it getting stuck before.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2000

Teleconverters (in general)

The best thing to remember about teleconverters is that they are a compromise right from the start. Resolution will be less, contrast will be less, ability to focus is impacted due to light loss, and so on. Additionally, the typical doubler loses two stops of light transmission. This would be bad enough at full aperture, but since most lenses perform best in the F 8.0 area, the two stop loss when the camera lens is set at F 8.0 would result in an effective aperture of F 16.0. With slower films, this will result in shooting at lower shutter speeds, and with an effectively longer lens as well, so steadiness can be a definite part of the problem. There are so many ways to get in trouble with a 2X; I wouldn't expect too much out of any doubler, and I use mine only for dramatic silhouettes, setting sun, etc, where impact is more important than detail.

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2000


I have a Soligor 1.4x for the Konica which is quite nice. The reason for the 1.4x multiplication is that it is just a one-stop light loss instead of the two-stop loss of the 2x. And with less magnification there is less loss of resolution.

I believe most teleconverters are designed to work better with medium to long telephotos than with normal lenses.

The Hexanon 2x is about the best you can get, maybe the best there ever was.

Regards, Steve

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2000


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