Discussion
well it won't exactly make it darker... but you'll need better lighting conditions to take photos. It's a trade off... you get closer to the subject, but it'll need to be a sunny day, or the subject will be out of focus (if it's moving) or indeed too dark.
2x converters are worth the money (IMHO) if you understand that you need good light to use them.
Steve
2x converters are worth the money (IMHO) if you understand that you need good light to use them.
Steve
The teleconvertor (ask in the shop to make sure it's compatible withyour camera / lens - they usually are) will appear to darken the image because it reduces the amount of light entering the camera by 2 stops, i.e. if your lens' max aperture is f4, it will become effectively f8. If you have a variable max aperture that reduces as focal length increases, which I'd imagine you have, you could find that the aperture at the telephoto (200mm) end becomes too dim for comfort, i.e. effectively becomes f11, if it was originally f5.6.
Also the teleconvertor reduces image quality slightly, and coupled with a zoom that probably doesn't perform at its best at max aperture (sharpness) you could find it's too much of a compromise. Probably best to buy a longer lens if budget allows. Convertors are best used IMHO if there's no alternative or if the lens you use it with is a high quality item.
Also the teleconvertor reduces image quality slightly, and coupled with a zoom that probably doesn't perform at its best at max aperture (sharpness) you could find it's too much of a compromise. Probably best to buy a longer lens if budget allows. Convertors are best used IMHO if there's no alternative or if the lens you use it with is a high quality item.
mxdi said:
I have a jessups x2 convertor, got it years ago for my minolta dynax. I use it with my 70-300 sigma zoom. The only thing I noticed apart from what the others above have said is you will have to use manual focussing on it as the auto focus wont work when it is extended right out.
The product in question is a Canon AF unit and intended for use on a Canon camera - so I don't see why it shouldn't maintain AF function regardless of zoom setting. Or am I missing some subtlety?
www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Extenders/Extender_EF_2x_II/index.asp?ComponentID=38614&SourcePageID=26432#1
That should tell you all you need to know about canon's 2x converter for the EOS range.
That should tell you all you need to know about canon's 2x converter for the EOS range.
simpo two said:
I have a jessups x2 convertor, got it years ago for my minolta dynax. I use it with my 70-300 sigma zoom. The only thing I noticed apart from what the others above have said is you will have to use manual focussing on it as the auto focus wont work when it is extended right out.
The product in question is a Canon AF unit and intended for use on a Canon camera - so I don't see why it shouldn't maintain AF function regardless of zoom setting. Or am I missing some subtlety?
The AF systems in SLRs have a limit on the minium aperture. Above this minimum they won't work. On most cameras it's f5.6, but the Eos 3/1v/1D/1Ds can go to F8. As 2x converters take 2 stops, you're usually above the AF limit.
I've got a Canon 1.4x and 2.0x converter, which are both very useful and give good results, although I do have a very sharp lens (Canon 300mm f2.8) to begin with.
It is generally acknowledged that the 2x converter loses sharpness, however I'm willing to sacrifice this to save spending over £6k on a pukka 600mm lens!
There is also a tip here which explains how to enable AF with lens speeds of greater than f5.6 (Canon only I believe).
It is generally acknowledged that the 2x converter loses sharpness, however I'm willing to sacrifice this to save spending over £6k on a pukka 600mm lens!
There is also a tip here which explains how to enable AF with lens speeds of greater than f5.6 (Canon only I believe).
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