teleconverter: What do you all think of teleconverters? I have read that using one causes a loss of sharpness. Has anyone noticed that? or have any pictures to compare? Thanks.

maryo Loc: Santa fe

What do you all think of teleconverters? I have read that using one causes a loss of sharpness. Has anyone noticed that? or have any pictures to compare?
Thanks.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

They're more likely to cause a loss of your money if you don't do your homework and clearly understand which lenses can be physically connected to an extender / teleconverter and which bodies will retain AF if the combination changes the maximum aperture to f/8 or slower. Regarding the quality of the resulting images, you might want to check these real-life examples from a real-life expert as compared to the internet experts:
http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2018/03/01/nikon-af-s-teleconverter-tc-20es-suck-or-do-they/

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

As just recommended, a lot of research is required to look into quality, compatibility, retention of features you use/require. The manufacturers have charts with compatibility listings for their respective bodies & lenses. Nikon, Canon & Olympus anyway, not familiar with the others. These are a must read. IQ is affected by the power of the converters also, the strong the greater loss of IQ & light loss. Good ones made by the lens manufacturers don't come cheap. Good luck.

Logan1949

I used the 2x teleconverter on the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM lens to reach 400mm and it worked well. I later tried the 100-400mm f5.6-6.5 GM lens and had to increase my ISO from 1600 to 3200 (shooting indoors with medium light). But when I use the 2x teleconverter on the 100-400mm lens my maximum (widest) f-stop is now f/9. This means I can only shoot 200-800mm in very strong light or else use very high ISO, greater than 6400, which adds digital noise to the picture. Since I am only using the teleconverter on really-sharp lenses, I have not noticed any degradation in the level of sharpness, just in half the amount of light reaching the sensor due to narrowing the aperture. This also sharpens the background, so using it for portraits is not advised.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

smeggy wrote:

What do you all think of teleconverters? I have read that using one causes a loss of sharpness. Has anyone noticed that? or have any pictures to compare?
Thanks.

Yes pay attention to what lenses the extender is made for.
I use Kenko Pro 300 1.4x & 2.0x with a Tamron 180 macro and get good results. I also use a Canon 1.4x III with my 100-400L mk2. With that combo the sharpness loss in good light is so small most people don't notice it.
Here on the UHH look up "Regis" and see his work with a Canon 400 and 2.0x III. Outstanding results on his eagles, ospreys and other birds.

maryo Loc: Santa fe

Thanks. You guys are quick. So if I am using a Nikon d7200 with a Tamron 16-300 lens do I look for one for a Nikon or Tamron? I have never seen a teleconverter. Does it go between the body and the lens or at the end of the lens? I makes more sense to me if it attached to the body.

maryo Loc: Santa fe

Never mind aout how it attaches - I found it online.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

smeggy wrote:

Thanks. You guys are quick. So if I am using a Nikon d7200 with a Tamron 16-300 lens do I look for one for a Nikon or Tamron? I have never seen a teleconverter. Does it go between the body and the lens or at the end of the lens? I makes more sense to me if it attached to the body.

Between the lens and body.

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

smeggy wrote:

Thanks. You guys are quick. So if I am using a Nikon d7200 with a Tamron 16-300 lens do I look for one for a Nikon or Tamron? I have never seen a teleconverter. Does it go between the body and the lens or at the end of the lens? I makes more sense to me if it attached to the body.

i would go with Nikon since the body is Nikon and it should work with all brands not Nikon if all brands not Nikon work on camera without the converter. Just remember for a 2x converter you will loose 2 f stops. If lens is f4.5 while using a 2x converter the lens will become about a f8 lens at it fstop widest opening. I have used one back in film days that was a 2x. It did extend my lens out but I felt I lost sharpness in the gain of magnification. So I do not know if that is the case in digital. It might be worth saving for that longer lens in the long run. I shoot a D7200 and shoot over a 2000 shots per week usually minimum. In digital you might just rent a 2x and see how it works for you before you buy it. Some audio/video pro shops seem to be carrying cameras too since cameras also do video now. Just depends on how close to either type store you are near to.

maryo Loc: Santa fe

I have a hard time with heavy lenses. Your idea of renting one next time I go on a trip would be great.
You probably wouldn't be able to shoot the moon or skies could you?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

smeggy wrote:

What do you all think of teleconverters? I have read that using one causes a loss of sharpness. Has anyone noticed that? or have any pictures to compare?
Thanks.

If you use "matched" teleconverters (ones made for a particular lens and possibly body) you can get excellent results. And as stated doing some research you may find good combinations. Most camera manufacturers have some model lenses that have matched 1.4x, 1.7x, or 2x converters for just that lens or two. Or it is a crap shoot out there guessing. I have one matched set that I have not gotten to try much yet. Some of the old general use converters I have are questionable as to sharpness so I really don't use them.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

smeggy wrote:

What do you all think of teleconverters? I have read that using one causes a loss of sharpness. Has anyone noticed that? or have any pictures to compare?
Thanks.

When used with very sharp professional quality telephoto primes (what they are actually designed to be used with) or fast and sharp professional zooms - 70-200, 200-400, possibly the Sigma 120-300, etc, the 5% hit on sharpness and the slight loss of AF performance (when using a 1.4X TC) are hardly noticeable. A 2X TC will cost you lots of AF performance, and at least 25% loss of sharpness. With very sharp lenses you will likely still be able to produce really good images - particularly with the 200 F2, 300 F2.8, 400 F2.8, and some 70-200 F2.8 (I am thinking of the excellent Nikkor FL version) - will work well with a 2X TC. When you put them on consumer grade lenses which are already slow and not very sharp, the image quality will end up in the toilet.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

A TC on a 16-300 is not likely to produce acceptable results.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

smeggy wrote:

What do you all think of teleconverters? I have read that using one causes a loss of sharpness. Has anyone noticed that? or have any pictures to compare?
Thanks.

They have a place. As others have already said, do the homework. I have two 2X converters one Tamron and one Canon. The Tamron fits anything (well anything EOS Canon that is since I shoot Canon) the Canon converter only fits certain Canon lenses. I do believe the Canon is sharper than the Tamron but I don't think I have ever done a serious side by side comparison. One of the important points is loss of auto focus. Both the Canon and Tamron have limited auto focus and honestly it is too sketchy for me to deal with. I always resort to manual focus. At the end of the day, I can get some reasonably sharp images (to my standards) with both converters when used with patience.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

smeggy wrote:

What do you all think of teleconverters? I have read that using one causes a loss of sharpness. Has anyone noticed that? or have any pictures to compare?
Thanks.

There has not been a teleconverter manufactured that improves image quality.
However, if you must use one, use one made by your lens manufacture and use the least powerful one you can.

Believe it are not, there is a guy here who brags about stacking teleconverters on his Canon 70-200 2.8. And he thinks he gets great results. Oh well, it takes a lot of apples to fill the basket. But if you point out the error of his ways he will block you rather than discus his folly with you.