Teleconverters 101

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Teleconverters 101

• By the Blue Team
• Nikole
• Penny
• Mike
• Ron

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What is a teleconverter?

• An optical device that fits between your camera
  body and the lens
• Increases the effective focal length of a lens
• Also called a tele-extender, converter or extender

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Magnification factors

• 1.4x is equivalent to a 40 lens extension
• 200mm lens becomes 280mm lens
• 1.7x (Nikon) is equivalent to a 70 lens
  extension
• 200mm lens becomes 340mm lens
• 2x is equivalent to a 100 lens extension
• 200mm lens becomes 400mm lens

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Various teleconverters

• Dedicated units
• Available from major camera manufacturers
• Designed to match certain lenses
• Best results
• More expensive
• Universal models
• Work on any lens on which they can be mounted

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Teleconverter mounted to lens

• Teleconverters are mounted between the camera
  body and the lens being used
• Nikon F6 with 105mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter

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Pros and cons of using teleconverters
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Pros

• Offers photographers the ability to shoot at
  increased focal lengths without buying a
  completely new lens
• Cost saving method
• Camera specific teleconverter prices can range
  from 285 to 439
• Universal teleconverter prices can range from
  149 to 210
• New lenses with the same effective focal lengths
  can cost thousands of dollars

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Pros, contd

• An excellent way to increase image size without
  having to get closer to the subject
• Use when you want to make a long focal length
  lens into an even longer focal length
• Ability to get more closely framed shots
  (example a full body shot vs. a tightly framed
  upper body shot)
• Use when you want to increase magnification when
  youre doing a close-up

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Pros, contd

• Improved mobility for photographers
• Convenient to use
• Compact size
• Light weight
• Easier to carry

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Cons

• Light loss
• Teleconverters not only multiply the focal
  length, but also multiply the f-stop by the power
  of the teleconverter
• F-stop progression is increased by a power of 1.4
  (each f-stop is 1.4 times the preceding one)
• When the focal length is multiplied by 1.4, the
  aperture decreases by one stop
• f/2.8 becomes f/4
• When the focal length is multiplied by 2, the
  aperture decreases by two stops
• f/2.8 becomes f/5.6

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Cons, contd

• Light loss may
• Force you to use slower shutter speeds than you
  prefer
• You can increase the ISO sensitivity (digital) or
  use faster film to decrease the effect
• Cause you to lose the auto focus function
• Most auto focus systems require a minimum light
  level of f/5.6
• At any slower aperture, the auto focus system
  shuts off
• Decrease focusing speed

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Cons, contd

• All teleconverters magnify defects, optical
  aberrations and lack of sharpness
• They also magnify any movement in the camera
  (camera shake)
• You may increase shutter speed use a tripod to
  decrease the effect
• All of these factors contribute to a decrease in
  overall image quality

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Teleconverter 1x

• The Elusive Mammalian Picnic Table Fish
• Photographed with a 105 mm lens and NO
  teleconverter

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Teleconverter 1.4x

• The Elusive Mammalian Picnic Table Fish
• Photographed with a 105mm lens with a 1.4x
  teleconverter

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Teleconverter 1.7x

• The Elusive Mammalian Picnic Table Fish
• Photographed with a 105mm lens with a 1.7x
  teleconverter

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Teleconverter 2x

• The Elusive Mammalian Picnic Table Fish
• Photographed with a 105mm lens with a 2x
  teleconverter

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Tips for using a teleconverter

• Check compatibility with lenses before using
  teleconverters
• Use the fastest/best prime lens you can
• Avoid using zoom lenses, if possible
• Use a 1.4x vs. a 2x teleconverter (better
  quality)
• Use the best photographic technique you can

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Tips for using a teleconverter, contd

• Maintain a relatively fast shutter speed
• Increase the camera ISO (digital) or use faster
  film
• Take advantage of the lens close-focusing
  ability for framing small subjects
• Shoot with a tripod to eliminate camera shake