Zoom lenses are expensive. Telephotos lenses are really expensive. But if you want to shove a little extra optical oomph into you camera, this 2x $US50 telephoto adaptor is a killer deal. Just screw ‘er on and shoot.
It’s as easy as it is cheap — each lens adaptor is made for whichever lens you’re seating it on — 77mm through 49mm threads — and about doubles the focal length of your cam. A 50mm lens becomes a 105mm, pretty much. And for $US50, that ain’t bad! The thing is pretty, cheap and portable — three wonderful adjectives, and rare when it comes to photography. [Photojojo]
Matt
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 9:42 AMShould just comment that you will obviously see image quality reduction, with some lenses you will lose AF capabilities etc.
If teleconverters were the perfect solution the pro’s would be using them too – but they aren’t :)
Greg
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 9:47 AMSorry Matt, but you wont loose AF with these as they screw in like a filter.
Instead it will just put extra stress on your AF motor and slow your lovley expensive 50 1.8 down.
Rob
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 10:51 PMWhy are you using an SLR if you’re going to use the AF setting?
May as well get a point and shoot. Learn how to focus your lens properly, and as a result, get better exposures. AF on SLR cameras is like photograghy for dummys, and it shows.
smurfydog
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 11:15 PMIt probably won’t put any extra stress on your AF motor as it screws into the filter housing, which shouldn’t be turned by your lens AF.
Your “lovley expensive 50 1.8″ is probably the cheapest lens on the market.
I don’t kinow why you even bothered to comment.
WTF are your real-life objections?
smurfydog
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 11:17 PMFTR – Above comment was @ Greg.
Greg
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 9:23 AMI was being sarcastic ….
Greg
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 9:27 AMAlot of the cheaper lenses on the market will turn the front element. It’s the nature of people looking to save a $$ to buy something like this. I’m guessing those same people have skimped to get the lens originally, otherwise they would not be looking at a piece of junk like this.
Isaac
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 6:09 PMThat is just unfathomably stupid, I study photography at college and am one of the minority that uses auto focus for everything and my images are consistently sharp, not so much the case with my class mates. The truth is that most DSLRs are not built with MF in mind and have small, dim viewfinders and most modern lenses aren’t built with MF in mind either. Manual focus an older medium format lens or an older Nikkor then manual focus with a new lens and you’ll see what I mean.
Rob
Friday, December 9, 2011 at 4:22 AMand?
Isaac
Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 2:48 AMMy point is you are an elitist jerk with no real justification other than your own sense of smug self satisfaction. Oh and you’re an idiot.
Me
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 3:55 PM+1 Autofocus is great. Apparently you need to learn how to use it if you think you can get more consistant focus using MF. To be clear, I do use manual focus when Depth of Field or light levels do not allow me to AF accurately.
Me
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 3:56 PM@Rob
Justin
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 10:14 AMWhat are the good brands for these adaptor? thx
Heisenburg
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 11:10 AMI think it becomes good value when the image quality is the same as the official 2x converter. ($450-$500) I don’t think there’s any shortcuts to good professional quality glass unfortunately. IMO
bbb
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 12:08 PMHow is this in any way newsworthy? **** like this has been around for decades. And it’s still junk.
Bryden
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 7:49 PMeverybody stop complaining. it may be old to you, but people new to photography may be just finding things like this.
the editors take their time to write articles, and this website is free to use, so seriously, if you dont like the things they post, go somewhere else.
Puddiepants
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 1:09 PMWow, so many camera/photography snobs…
I dunno about anyone else, but I bought my SLR on a “best bang for my buck” basis and this converter certainly falls into that category imo.
Also, what’s with the AF hating? I do a lot of action/sports “photography” (just cause I have an SLR doesn’t make me a photographer) and a fast AF is fantastic imo. Use manual in that situation and I’ll be really impressed if you get your subject in focus