bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

If you properly match the TC to the lens, you'll get good results.

I use Sony 1.4x and Sony 2x TC's with a Sony FE200-600mm lens with very good image quality. If I use my old Kenko TC's the result are still okay but don't have the same image quality.

bwa

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Dedicated (built in) extenders are optimally engineered - so they deliver performance that is very, very CLOSE to the native lens and most probably imperceptable.

Next is is OEM extender on an OEM lens - but this performance can vary a bit according to the specific lens in use - IOW, the extender and lens have to work together more by happenstance - because they are not fully dedicated/engineered together.

Next is a third party extender on an OEM lens where the performance outcome is less predictable - performance CAN still be good tho but more probably NOT.

I have used a Canon 2X II on the original Canon 300 2.8 and could not tell the difference from the native lens !
I have used a Tamron SP 1.4X on a Sigma 100-300 f4 and could not tell the difference from the native lens.

Later today, I will post an image of an Eagle's nest I took this morning with the Canon 400 f4 DO and 2X III on 80D. (1280mm equiv. FOV)
.

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

In my humble opinion, physical tele-extenders are all but obsolete, at least when it comes to cameras which offer a digital equivalent, such as Sony's 'Clear Image Zoom' option, which can give you up to a 2X magnification for most all lens, and it does so without sacrificing the maximum aperture of the lens. I've used this feature extensively, both to give me more magnification with something like my 400mm f6.3 manual lens, or to just give me more flexibility when I'm using a more 'normal' lens, like my 18-135mm and even my 10-18mm wide-angle. With that in mind, I've made this option very easy to enable by programming one of my 'Custom Buttons'. So far, I've seen very little loss of quality or sharpness in my images. Furthermore, I'm convinced that it's superior to simply cropping an image shot with a 'non-extended' lens.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Yes, that is an option, however you loose a lot of pixels when you use an option like "clear image zoom". That may be fine when you simply are viewing your images on a computer, but I imagine you might loose the benefit the large sensors available today provide when printing. Yes, adding a converter to a lens and camera may be a pain in the "you know what" but I will maintain that the converters of today, and I am referring to Sony, show very little image degradation.

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

I'm not sure what you mean by "you loose a lot of pixels". I shoot using the maximum resolution, which in my Sony a6500 APS-C camera works out to images which are 6000 x 4000 pixels. It's the same whether I use the "clear image zoom" option or not, 6000 x 4000 pixels. Now I know that I'm not getting it for 'free', but the Sony software/firmware does a very good job of resolving those pixels so that I still get a high quality image. Certainly a lot better than cropping the image where I really would be losing pixels.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Sorry my mistake. I made the wrong assumption that "clear image zoom" was the same as "crop" mode. With I little research I now appreciate the difference. You are correct, "clear image zoom" does not impact the file size. I believe however that the feature is not available when shooting raw, which I use exclusively. But you have tweeked my interest. Maybe I should shoot a few JPEG images just to try it out, assuming my cameras, A1 and A7Riv have the feature. Thanks for the education.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I have been using CIZ since my first Sony many years ago. I only shoot JPEG so that does not bother me. I have noticed over the years that that CIZ implementation is slightly different on different camera models. On the A9, CIZ is only available in single shot mode and the AF reverts to a wide mode which works pretty good - but not as good as the more dedicated specific modes. CIZ is an AI pixel enlargement .......and a pretty good one - but some think dedicated AI PP software is better - and I can see their point - but I am not into higher levels of PP - so I am a happy user.

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

Not a problem. There's always an opportunity to learn something...