of TCs and ET's and Snap-ons with a Super-Zoom like the Sigma 18-250

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I suppose some would say that it is silly to think about adding a teleconverter aka TC to a lens designed as a walk about to save you the trouble of swapping lenses. And the lens I have claims to be a macro so why an extension tube? Well I have TC's and I have ET's and I even have a snap on the front of your lens Raynox 250 magnifier, and some time, so lets just see what happens.

First off the T.C. - yes it worked, and worked OK. The TC used was the Kenko Pro 300 - 1.4.
A shot of the single bullrush sticking out of my frozen solid goldfish pond.
The EXIF should tell you which is which.

DSC_2907+SuperSiggy TC test on bullrush cropped no TC-0001.jpgDSC_2937+SuperSiggy TC test on bullrush-0002.jpg
(first no TC, Second with 1.4)

Also shot a few sparrows in a cedar bush.
DSC_2894+Sparrow TC-0002.jpgDSC_2929+Sparrow NoTC-0001.jpg
TC and then ........... No TC

Sure it costs a stop (1.4x) but gets you 40% closer. .... would I likely use it? Maybe - but probably not. but good to know it will work if you need to get a little bit closer..... (come on hum it with me ...)

---------------

And as for E.T.'s and that RayNox Snap-on magnifier

They both nullified the autofocus - but hey it is macro shooting should be done manual focus anyway eh?

The Extension tubes (used the 12mm and 20mm - not stacked) were challenging as you had to get extremely close to the subject.
DSC_2967+SuperSiggy Macro Feather tests SM86-0004.jpg+


The Raynox was easier to use as you didn't have to be just a couple of centimeters away from the subject (more like a decimeter or so - 3" for those in the the old system). Getting that close makes it tricky for lighting.

BUT the Raynox doe create the dark circle - I suppose one could pretend it is intended as a magnifying glass effect.

DSC_2972+SuperSiggy Raynox 250 -0001_1.jpg

So they work ...

But the lens does an pretty good job of extreme close up (and AF works) and unless you need that extra magnification I wouldn't bother. If you do, use a real macro lens. If you only have this one lens and have the E.T. or snap -on magnifying filters why not use them.

Here is 'Super-Siggy' version of a macro shot unaided.

DSC_2986+SuperSiggy by itself feathershot-0001_1.jpg

I'm sure in the right hands these tools may return different results but for me, I don't see the advantage to the macro aids while the TC has some benefit but may not be worth the bother to get that extra 100mm in reach?
 

Texas

Senior Member
Purists reading this post are horrified.
But they cannot tell whether your add-ons were used or not just by looking at the pictures.

I've not used my kenko 1.4 in years but really like my cheap lenses. Can't remember why I bought the TC, I don't have any fixed focal length lens it would make sense to use with it. Same results in the photos for me by just making a severe crop.

I'd rather crop than lose the Kenko F-stop on my already slow zooms.

The pictures from my cheap-0 lenses look just like the high priced ones when viewing on-line rather than in a museum print.

Truth is, your post will get me playing with the TC again. I've got a 1:2 almost-macro zoom that might get some benefit from it.
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I did find that putting the Kenko TC on my older 105 AFD 2.8 Nikkor Macro. I was looking at the 180mm macro's and my wallet would not open that wide. But given I almost always go manual focus in macro and turn up my F stops as high as I can to get the most depth of field for my macro shot. Will have to get that combo and and try it again. 140mm macro or 210mm macro. Yes.

I am aware of the dangers of glass to glass contact on some TC's and some wider lenses. This can be checked before mounting to see if the glass extends when dialed wide.

I am blissfully unaware of any other dangers to the camera or lens, so this was just some 'what if' playing with the toys I have.

On a 250mm lens 1.4 adds an extra 100mm and while that may sound like a lot and it is nice, it isn't the same gain as I get on my 200-500 which on a APC goes from 500 to 700 and then if you follow APC crop factor you get the FOV of a 1050 lens on a FX camera. And I have used the 1.4 on my big zoom and it works just fine. But only when the light is very good as you go to F8.
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
I am using a TC right now just to shoot common backyard birds. I won't be printing any of these images, so good enough for ID and practice. I lose light, but I am shooting with a Sigma 300mm 2.8 to begin with.
 
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