teleconverter lens: I was recently asked about this lens, I don't have a clue what it is. Some of the discussions on it are varied and confusing? This is a hobby that I love and my...

plumme

I was recently asked about this lens, I don't have a clue what it is. Some of the discussions on it are varied and confusing? This is a hobby that I love and my telephoto EF 55-250 lens is more then enough for me. I get great sharp photo's. But I am curious if someone has used it and how it works.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

plumme wrote:

I was recently asked about this lens, I don't have a clue what it is. Some of the discussions on it are varied and confusing? This is a hobby that I love and my telephoto EF 55-250 lens is more then enough for me. I get great sharp photo's. But I am curious if someone has used it and how it works.

If it's what I think you mean, it's a small, cheap lens that attaches to the end of a regular lens to give a telephoto effect. These don't usually produce high quality results.

On the other hand, maybe you mean an actual teleconverter, they can be very good. I have a Kenko 1.4X, and it does a good job of increasing reach.
https://smile.amazon.com/Kenko-1-4X-Teleconverter-Nikon-Digital/dp/B002C6QE00/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1537278841&sr=8-7&keywords=teleconverter

plumme

Thanks Jerry!!

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Chances are that the 55-250 (assuming it's a Canon) won't auto focus with a tele-converter, Bob.

Grgap86 Loc: Rochester, NY

I asked about a tele-converter at my local camera shop a few years ago and was told that I couldn't use one on my Canon 55-250 lens.

TonyBot

Grgap86 wrote:

I asked about a tele-converter at my local camera shop a few years ago and was told that I couldn't use one on my Canon 55-250 lens.

Correct - Canon does not recommend it.

BUT - some places offer *real* teleconverters (ie 1.4, 2.0) and suggest that they can be used. DON'T spend money for a device that will not work on your lens.
IF it is one of the add-ons that attach via the filter threads on the front of your lens, while it *might* work, giving you money to someone on the side of the road with the sign "will work for food" will give you the same result.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

TonyBot wrote:

Correct - Canon does not recommend it.

BUT - some places offer *real* teleconverters (ie 1.4, 2.0) and suggest that they can be used. DON'T spend money for a device that will not work on your lens.
IF it is one of the add-ons that attach via the filter threads on the front of your lens, while it *might* work, giving you money to someone on the side of the road with the sign "will work for food" will give you the same result.

The "real"(?) teleconverters you're talking about, are the ones that do not work on that lens!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Grgap86 wrote:

I asked about a tele-converter at my local camera shop a few years ago and was told that I couldn't use one on my Canon 55-250 lens.

You can use one but not a Canon TC. Canon does not recommend using a TC on the EF 55-250 because it's not exactly a top tier lens and a TC in many cases will make the images from an average lens look like images from a less than average lens. I'm not saying this to mock the EF 55-250, I've had one for many years and I've seen the results.

TonyBot

speters wrote:

The "real"(?) teleconverters you're talking about, are the ones that do not work on that lens!

Yeah, the "real" ones, like Canon TC14 and TC20.
Well, some of the aftermarket teleconverters *might* work, but I doubt that they would work that well at all. And probably on EFs lenses, due to the added rear element sticking out of the lens barrel, not at all. The optical quality would be equivalent to a Coke bottle. BUT, that would not stop some of the schlock house selling the OP one - and then making him wait for a refund that may or may not ever be made.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

TonyBot wrote:

Yeah, the "real" ones, like Canon TC14 and TC20.
Well, some of the aftermarket teleconverters *might* work, but I doubt that they would work that well at all. And probably on EFs lenses, due to the added rear element sticking out of the lens barrel, not at all. The optical quality would be equivalent to a Coke bottle. BUT, that would not stop some of the schlock house selling the OP one - and then making him wait for a refund that may or may not ever be made.

??

Grgap86 Loc: Rochester, NY

Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated

szoots

Not all TCs fit your Canon lens or the visa versa. Crop camera lenses may not fit a TC made for full frame cameras. Auto focus may not work as the pins don’t line up and you always will lose a stop or two using a TC. But if you have the right combo, like a popular setup of Canon 100-400 mk2 with a Canon 1.4 TC mk3, you have autofocus, long reach and lose a stop.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I have always avoided teleconverters after trying the Nikon 1.4X with my Nikon lenses back on my film cameras. For my standards, the effect on IQ isn't acceptable.