I have a Tamron AF18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 lens. I am thinking of getting at teleconverter to give me some extra reach as I really can't get a better zoom lens. I am also thinking that more lens will be even heavier for older hands. I have been looking at some posts from last year about this topic and hope their is more information out there - o wise ones. I really want better close ups at the zoo on for landscape photography. I think I understand that this is not something that will work in really low light. Will I lose autofocus capabilities? I use manual also so that is not huge but I'd like to go in with eyes wide open. And, would you buy Canon or Tamron??
Thanks.
You will certainly lose autofocus at the long side of the zoom. A 1.4 converter would give you almost f/9, and a 2x would give you over f/12. f/8 is typically considered the minimum for autofocus. As to Tamron versus Canon, I would check compatibility with your lens and camera body. I doubt the Canon teleconverters will work, though. Unless the design has changed, there was a protrusion that would strike the lens if it wasn't designed for that converter. I don't believe the Tamron converters have that protrusion, so there's a better chance it will be compatible with your Tamron lens. If you're in the US, you can call B&H Photo for advice. They have an excellent support staff and they've yet to stir me wrong.
One other thing to consider is using it with a tripod. A 540mm hand-held without image stabilization at f/12 is going to be extremely difficult to control.
I have the vivitar teleconverter that I used on my 80-400mm lens for a baseball game. I took along a monopod but found that it did not give enough stabilization at the 400mm zoom. Auto focus still worked but it did seem much slower than usual. I must get it out and do some practice with it before my next trip.
I have a Tamron 2x teleconverter to be used in combination with a Tamron 70-300 zoom. It does work, but you'll loose a lot of light. I used it for zoo photography but found that - in general - I need a tripod to get acceptable shot. I have tried a monopod once but wasn't very satisfied with the results. But since it was only once it could have been my lack of experience.
I have the Canon 2x extender and it is the least used bit of kit in my bag. I don't think that the increase in focal length makes up for the loss of quality.
Think outside the box and buy a Canon SX40 HS ;-) Zoom range is 24 - 840mm. With the IS you can handhold shots at 840mm and the whole camera is lighter than your 18-270mm lens
@cdonohoue Hi Cathy :) I am sorry I can't help you with your question but I was curious on how you liked your Tamron F/18-270 lens? (other than you want more reach) I have been thinking of buying it and I actually am going to be renting it to try it out before I do. I am looking to have a walk around lens instead of always having to change it out for more zoom. I use a Canon 55-250 and I am ok with the zoom on it so the Tamron would fit reach wise. Thank you so much for replying :)
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Chris-
I love the lens. It was worth every penny. Tamron often offers $100 rebates. I bought mine at my local camera store after researching it on line. My local guy met the B&H price. And he said I could bring it back if I was unhappy in two weeks time.
I just wish that at the end of it's reach I could still get good clarity in eyes.
Cathy
@cdonohoue Thanks for replying Cathy. I sometimes encounter that same problem with my 55-250 but I do find that I will get some great shots in with the not so great at the end of the zoom, but I guess within my budget I can't expect the world...although I try. ha ha. I just get so darned tired of having to change lenses.....my rental will be here tomorrow so I get to play with it for 10 days before deciding, and I hope I love it because Tamron does have the $100 rebate extended until the end of Feb :) Thanks again.
I bought a 1.4 teleconverter to use with my Canon DSLR and Sigma 70-300 f/4.0-5.6 lens. Autofocus does not work and the viewfinder is dark so it is difficult to focus manually. I can handhold the Sigma 70-300mm on its own without problems (it doesn't have IS) but with the teleconverter attached I am unable to get sharp pictures without using a tripod.
Sadly I no longer have the pics - as they were on a long defunct flickr account, but a few years ago we did some experiments with one of these.
We compared the shots produced with the converter in place, and the same view - which was produced by shooting without the converter, and cropping/enlarging the image produced to match the extended view.
Now obviously you lose pixels by cropping (a lot of them!)
BUT - in EVERY case the cropped/enlarged pic was better - because what was lost in MP was more than made up for through better focusing, reduced camera shake, clearer optics, faster shutter speeds, and greater ease of camera function/usage.
So, bottom line, forget the adapter, shoot at the longest your lens can shoot at, and crop!! the results will be better!
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One other thing to consider is using it with a tripod. A 540mm hand-held without image stabilization at f/12 is going to be extremely difficult to control.
Chris-
I love the lens. It was worth every penny. Tamron often offers $100 rebates. I bought mine at my local camera store after researching it on line. My local guy met the B&H price. And he said I could bring it back if I was unhappy in two weeks time.
I just wish that at the end of it's reach I could still get good clarity in eyes.
Cathy
Do NOT waste your money - here's why.....
Sadly I no longer have the pics - as they were on a long defunct flickr account, but a few years ago we did some experiments with one of these.
We compared the shots produced with the converter in place, and the same view - which was produced by shooting without the converter, and cropping/enlarging the image produced to match the extended view.
Now obviously you lose pixels by cropping (a lot of them!)
BUT - in EVERY case the cropped/enlarged pic was better - because what was lost in MP was more than made up for through better focusing, reduced camera shake, clearer optics, faster shutter speeds, and greater ease of camera function/usage.
So, bottom line, forget the adapter, shoot at the longest your lens can shoot at, and crop!! the results will be better!
...............................
>>Feeling Blue - my 365
Thanks to all for the feedback. Made for an easy decision. I knew I would find an answer here with you all.