Stacking teleconverters? (Page 2): I've stacked them before (in film) terrible distortion.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

speters wrote:

I think it's a bad idea in the first place, even if you get it to work, the IQ will be lousy at best.

I've stacked them before (in film) terrible distortion.

Big Stopper Loc: London

Pepper wrote:

I was reading a post a while back from someone who stacks teleconverters. They said they had stacked a X1.4 on top of a X2. I have those two converters and decided to try it on my f2.8 lens (everything is Nikon) and the converters will not stack, is there something Im missing? Well obviously there is but just what is it?

I never understand it on this forum when someone posts a simple question and they end up with all sorts of opinions (which they didn't ask for). Who knows why Pepper wants to do what he wants to do and I guess if he wanted to tell us he would have. All he wants to know is, how does he do it? JMHO

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

bobbybob wrote:

I never understand it on this forum when someone posts a simple question and they end up with all sorts of opinions (which they didn't ask for). Who knows why Pepper wants to do what he wants to do and I guess if he wanted to tell us he would have. All he wants to know is, how does he do it? JMHO

Sometimes what you're suggesting is true, but often it seems posters ask questions that are unusual or suggest a lack of experience and therefore people will respond with much more detail to make sure the big picture is understood. Often posters, especially newbies, are happy that we have taken the time to correct a misconception. Sometimes of course, responses are just self serving pontification.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

here are a few samples of my work.

rmp3636 Loc: Cape Cod

George Lepp, who writes a monthly column for Outdoor Photography, has done some amazing things combining extenders. Google him or go to his Facebook page (facebook/georgelepp). He serially photographed nesting and fledgling eagles this spring, and in one case, got great images at 4480 mm equivalent with combined extenders. I think he has even gone higher than that.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

i'm sure there were a lot of nae-sayers in thr 1960's when they first started "pushing" film.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

There is a free software solution (among many) that offers more than acceptable results, to teleconverters (and stacking them) MS resize.

I just did a test to check it out.

I started with a NEF file (Nikon) 72MB, used ACDSee V6.x) to crop part of it to a 1:1 view, saved that smaller file with least compression then used MS re-sizer to 200%. Oh, I boosted the details BEFORE cropping image.

Here are the originals (NEF is not accepted) and the large JPG is out of bound so, only the last two are available.

What brings this out is that I was a bit shocked that in link posted the 'writer' dared to compare cropping as a 'possible solution' vs. a tele-converter...

2048 MS resized (note that MS uses a heavy compression, size is smaller!!!)

1024 Sample

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Pepper wrote:

I was reading a post a while back from someone who stacks teleconverters. They said they had stacked a X1.4 on top of a X2. I have those two converters and decided to try it on my f2.8 lens (everything is Nikon) and the converters will not stack, is there something Im missing? Well obviously there is but just what is it?

I don't believe the Nikon TC's will stack.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

CaptainC wrote:

I don't believe the Nikon TC's will stack.

I believe you are correct, I have three the 1.4 the 1.7 and the 2 and they will not stack in any order I tried.

BTW thanks to all who responded even the snarky posts are informative. At the least I know your thoughts on the matter regardless of the delivery.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

For those that are curious I'm trying to get a shot of a licence plate that's a long way up the road. It's a long story but the bottom line is I'm trying to help our county sheriff catch an individual who keeps using the ditch as a dump site.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Pepper wrote:

I was reading a post a while back from someone who stacks teleconverters. They said they had stacked a X1.4 on top of a X2. I have those two converters and decided to try it on my f2.8 lens (everything is Nikon) and the converters will not stack, is there something Im missing? Well obviously there is but just what is it?

8-) 8-) I saw a video that featured a Sigma 800mm lens. The shooter spoke of extending the focal reach and mentioned the Canon 2x and the 1.4x optics. The subject was composure and a bison at rest was the subject. From what was said the Canons were stackable. But, it WAS a "video"??? 8-) 8-)

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

I have been experimenting with this very thng with my Canon 500 mm and a 1.4 and 2.0 TC. With Canon you need to use a 20mm extension ring between the two TCs to get them to work. Perhaps this will work with Nikon, also.

One thing that I have noticed is that you need to take extreme care in eliminating camera shake. i.e. remote release, mirror up, heavy tripod and sometimes even image stabilization. With my Canon 7D, it will even autofocus when in live view.

twowindsbear

Pepper wrote:

For those that are curious I'm trying to get a shot of a licence plate that's a long way up the road. It's a long story but the bottom line is I'm trying to help our county sheriff catch an individual who keeps using the ditch as a dump site.

Hide a remote control camera. Hide a wireless webcam. Try a 'game trail' automatic, motion sensing camera.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Pepper: So I'm some kind of "nut" because I'm attempting something different? Pretty judgemental for someone who knows nothing about what I'm trying to accomplish.

JR1: It wasn't a personal attack it was a tongue in cheek comment, and as you don't say what you want it for and simply asked for comments, you received one.

Nagy: There was nothing tongue in cheek about your comment. It was downright nasty. Asking for comments is not asking for scurrilous insults.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I only have one teleconverter so I can't speak from experience.

However my Nikon teleconverter, a 2X, will also not mount on some lenses. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes the rear lens element prevents the two parts from mating. Other times it's not obvious.

I get the feeling that they design the mounts in some way that prevents connection to things the teleconverter is not intended to support. Exactly what that is I don't know but it's in the mount on the teleconverter.

That's an interesting idea stacking these technologies but be aware you'll have to focus manually in many cases. Your minimum aperture has to be 5.6 for autofocus to work reliably and it's not a good bet that you'll be able to stay at that level or higher when you create a stack.

Still, try it, it sounds interesting. I wonder what image quality will really be like?