Teleconverters mounted ahead of lens
Jun 25, 2015 12:08:58 #
lamiaceae wrote:
That's not a tele-extender, that is still a close-up lens. I've used those on Kodak Instamatic 126 film cameras and Rolleicord cameras decades ago, look like filters with a curves lens (as that is all they are). The diameter of the lenses in a tele-extender are small in diameter, little more than the exit pupil of the "main" tele lens. A tele-extender can be several inches long with multiple lens elements (a special compound lens). No way to mount backwards.
not enough coffee yet .....
Jun 25, 2015 12:09:56 #
lamiaceae wrote:
That's not a tele-extender, that is still a close-up lens. I've used those on Kodak Instamatic 126 film cameras and Rolleicord cameras decades ago, look like filters with a curves lens (as that is all they are). The diameter of the lenses in a tele-extender are small in diameter, little more than the exit pupil of the "main" tele lens. A tele-extender can be several inches long with multiple lens elements (a special compound lens). No way to mount backwards.
Zeiss close-ups are "Proxars" ......
Jun 25, 2015 12:15:41 #
imagemeister wrote:
Zeiss calls them "Mutars" - as used on Rolleiflexes ........
The ones for Rollei TLRs are called Rolleinars. They allowed for closer focusing
Jun 25, 2015 12:25:52 #
Darkroom317 wrote:
The ones for Rollei TLRs are called Rolleinars. They allowed for closer focusing
Yes, ...but the tele and wide angle lens converters for the Rolleiflex are called Mutars - a Zeiss naming I believe. The Zeiss close up is proxar but the Rollei naming is - as you say Rolleinar.
Jun 25, 2015 13:15:00 #
Most of the add-on telephoto lenses that mount on the end of a lens usually suck. The better the camera the more they suck, because you will notice it more. Fringing, bad AF, and distortion are the things you can expect, along with possible vignetting.
Jun 25, 2015 13:21:33 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
What you are asking about ARE NOT teleconverters (although some sellers try to promote them as such)....
The usual, general terms are "auxiliary" or "conversion" lenses. They usually come in multiplier lengths.... both wide angle and telephoto. For example, 0.45X would be wide angle. 1.4X is a telephoto conversion. Some are also offered for macro purposes. I guess the telephoto versions are sometimes referred to as "telesides".
Some of them are pretty high quality and capable of fairly good images when used with lenses they're designed to match. But a lot of auxiliary lenses are cheap crap that will make for poor image quality. The super high power ones are particularly bad (some are 3X or more). These are most commonly used with point-n-shoot and other cameras that don't have interchangeable lenses... not with SLRs.
Frankly, you'd be much better off buying a "real" teleconverter that mounts behind the lens. Some are about the same price as the better quality auxiliary lenses, anyway. For example, the Teleplus Kenko MC-4 costs $100-110 and can be physically mounted to any of your lenses. In comparison, a Canon TC-DC58E 1.4X costs $169 and can only be used on lenses with 58mm filter threads (possibly with smaller, by using a step ring).
Actually, looking for more "reach"... your best bet will always be to simply get a longer focal length lens. If the prices for new are too much... shop used. For example, Sigma 120-400mm OS HSM can sometimes be found used for $500 or less (originally sold new for about $900). A lens like this will give you nicer image quality and better autofocus performance.
The usual, general terms are "auxiliary" or "conversion" lenses. They usually come in multiplier lengths.... both wide angle and telephoto. For example, 0.45X would be wide angle. 1.4X is a telephoto conversion. Some are also offered for macro purposes. I guess the telephoto versions are sometimes referred to as "telesides".
Some of them are pretty high quality and capable of fairly good images when used with lenses they're designed to match. But a lot of auxiliary lenses are cheap crap that will make for poor image quality. The super high power ones are particularly bad (some are 3X or more). These are most commonly used with point-n-shoot and other cameras that don't have interchangeable lenses... not with SLRs.
Frankly, you'd be much better off buying a "real" teleconverter that mounts behind the lens. Some are about the same price as the better quality auxiliary lenses, anyway. For example, the Teleplus Kenko MC-4 costs $100-110 and can be physically mounted to any of your lenses. In comparison, a Canon TC-DC58E 1.4X costs $169 and can only be used on lenses with 58mm filter threads (possibly with smaller, by using a step ring).
Actually, looking for more "reach"... your best bet will always be to simply get a longer focal length lens. If the prices for new are too much... shop used. For example, Sigma 120-400mm OS HSM can sometimes be found used for $500 or less (originally sold new for about $900). A lens like this will give you nicer image quality and better autofocus performance.
Jun 25, 2015 14:34:51 #
ballsafire
Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana
Leitz wrote:
By the way, have you been able to run some tests yet? Some of us would like to know your impressions.
Edit: I remembered because I was one of the respondents. My memory is not that far gone yet! (But don't ask me anything about 12 days ago!! :lol: )
Edit: I remembered because I was one of the respondents. My memory is not that far gone yet! (But don't ask me anything about 12 days ago!! :lol: )
Yes, I did try my nifty-fifty lens with the step up ring adapter and I wasn't impressed - maybe I will fool around and see what I can get out of this setup. I was not impressed with my other lenses either but I will experiment.
Jun 25, 2015 14:38:37 #
ballsafire
Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana
n3eg wrote:
Most of the add-on telephoto lenses that mount on the end of a lens usually suck. The better the camera the more they suck, because you will notice it more. Fringing, bad AF, and distortion are the things you can expect, along with possible vignetting.
You are probably right -- so far!
Jun 25, 2015 14:43:44 #
These add on front lenses are best reserved for non-interchangeable lens cameras - where there is NO option ....( like Rolleiflex ect. )
Jun 25, 2015 14:48:11 #
ballsafire
Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana
amfoto1 wrote:
What you are asking about ARE NOT teleconverters (... (show quote)
Yes, you make good sense about quality, cost and performance of lenses although I have bought "fish eye" lenses at a very cheap price which has made me very happy -- also the nifty-fifty or thrifty-fifty! It looks like I might have failed on this purchase although I don't give up easily but I'll learn.
Jun 25, 2015 15:04:14 #
FAQ: Extension Tubes vs Bellows vs Tele-Extenders vs Add-on "Close-Up" lenses
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26496-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26496-1.html
Jun 25, 2015 17:48:32 #
ballsafire wrote:
So you're talking about something like thisI have read about TC's that are mounted behing the lens onto the camera body but I want to know more information (such as compatibality with certain lenses) that are mounted AHEAD of the lens (light is no problem). I have the following lenses:
Canon 18-55 mm
Canon 28-105 mm
Canon 100-300 mm
Canon fixed 50 mm (nifty-fifty)
All lenses used on a Canon T1i/500d camera. Any suggestions would be appreciated -- thanks a million!
Canon 18-55 mm
Canon 28-105 mm
Canon 100-300 mm
Canon fixed 50 mm (nifty-fifty)
All lenses used on a Canon T1i/500d camera. Any suggestions would be appreciated -- thanks a million!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-Tele-Converter-Lens-FOR-Canon-REBEL-EOS-T3I-T4I-T5I-T3-T4-X5-1000D-X7-ELAN1-/151561591480?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2349c65ab8
a lens that screws into the front of a lens the way that a filter would and has the effect of increasing its focal length.
Compatibility depends solely on the filter required by the lens; the example I provided above, for example, will fit any lens which requires a 58mm filter.
Last year at this time I was asking the same kind of questions, and not getting what I considered to be satisfactory answers. These lenses are reasonably inexpensive, so I bought one. I would have provided a picture here instead of a link to a picture on eBay, but I eventually tossed the lens. The picture below illustrates why. The resulting lens did "bring me closer" to things, but it had rather horrible "purple fringing" - look at the border between the starling (bird) and the snow in my example picture (I checked "store original" so you can download the picture onto your computer and then zoom in the way you would with any other picture on your computer). My experience was that a converter which fits between the lens and the camera is far from perfect, but it works much better than this other kind does.
Jun 25, 2015 17:54:57 #
rehess wrote:
So you're talking about something like this br htt... (show quote)
Like I said, the decent ones start at $100 +
Jun 25, 2015 18:13:01 #
ballsafire
Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana
rehess wrote:
So you're talking about something like this br htt... (show quote)
I hate to do this -- toss the lens -- but I don't understand why these lenses are for sale as they are not satisfactory as seen in the photo you posted -- Horrible! Yet the sellers keep saying how these lenses takes good portraits, etc. And quite a bit of work went into making these "teleconverters" -- the price of $17.95 was not bad being a compound lens etc. made in China.
Jun 25, 2015 20:11:49 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
ballsafire wrote:
I hate to do this -- toss the lens -- but I don't understand why these lenses are for sale as they are not satisfactory as seen in the photo you posted -- Horrible! Yet the sellers keep saying how these lenses takes good portraits, etc. And quite a bit of work went into making these "teleconverters" -- the price of $17.95 was not bad being a compound lens etc. made in China.
It might give you some interesting effects for fireworks, fairground rides at night, etc. Or, if it's bad enough, you may be able to replicate the distorted mirror at the funhouse, without going to the funhouse! :lol: Keep experimenting!
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