R-1 Telephoto Conversion Lens and Adaptor Q&A

Anybody know much about these two items yet? I know that the lens is of superior quality and very large, and I think it would be a welcome addtion and worth the money if, and only if, the adaptor that you have to use in addition has a tripod mount on the bottom of it. From the looks of the pictures of it, it uses the tripod mount to mount the lens adaptor itself to the camera. That could be a major problem if there isn't a mount on the bottom of the adaptor itself to mount your tripod to it as a tripod will most certainly be needed for the extra range and weight of the lens/adaptor.

Another very important question is whether or not you will be able to use filters on the main lens itself or not still. Since the conversion lens will have to mount very close to the main lens I doubt you will be able too, and I don't see any threads on the end of the conversion lens for say, square filters or what not. I've emailed Sony about this, and am awaiting a reply. I know the end of the conversion lens is huge, 5 inches across, so we shall see. I live and die by using a polarizer filter so if I can't use it or other filters, then what would be the benefit of purchasing it other than just getting close to animal life and what not? For a 400 dollar additional investment, I would hope Sony has these questions covered. If not, im happy with R-1 and what it is and will just have to get something else for a telephoto situation (possibly a new Sony DSLR!!).

Carl

Hi Carl,

I dont have much to add other than I did have a brief look at the lens in the flesh a couple of weeks ago - also sneaked a quick peek through the viewfinder.

From what I could see, the adaptor will connect directly to your tripod without requirement to purchase any additional kit Rather than attach via the camera body, the adaptor itself connects to the tripod. This gives a more balanced weight distribution. I haven't seen any polariser options although I would hope Sony have something up their sleeve for this. I think camera shake might be a problem given the size of it as well - but hopefully someone has it already and can let us know.

--
Mark
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markmaclean/sets

Carl,

Let me add my two cents worth - I've used the R1 quite extensively the past few months. First the lens is a fantastic lens in the wider ranges. It is not a particularly great telephoto lens, in fact in the upper ranges it is definately sharper in the center than on the edges. That doesn't botherme much because I bought the camera for its 24mm w.a. ability and rarely shoot telephoto above about 85mm ( 35mm equivalent). I don't think it was designed to be much of a telephoto lens and one indication of that is its relatively limited range at the top end - 120mm. I somehow doubt if the tele extension would improve matters much - in fact i am reasonably sure ( without having used one) that it would make an already large heavy camera almost unusable in terms of balance and weight. Then there's the high cost to consider too.

If telephoto photography is your thing in my opinion you'd be better off with a good telephoto lens on a Nikon or Canon DSLR body.

Mark

http://www.markpowerphoto.com

Hey Mark,

Thanks for your imput. Telephoto shots are not really my thing actually. I like you, have been using the R-1 since December and have had excellent results using it and like the range it has quite a bit. I bought it for similar reasons as you did. That said, i've recently used the digital zoom on it and captured a decent image that even got photo of the week. So that started my wheels spinning about the possiblity of extending the range of the lens out a bit further, in that way I could still maintain the image resolution of the bigger file sizes and get the same results. I don't mind spending the extra cash or lugging around the lens much if it can get me some decent wildlife shots and zoomed sunsets and moon shots too. I tripod 99% of my shots so the balance isn't a factor to me much either. I just wanted the extra range of it to give me more options is all. I will indeed get the macro lens as well, as the imager on the R-1 is top notch and I the the money spent will be worth it. Just wanted to know if anyone has any more imput on the telephoto is all and how it works. Thanks though!

Carl

I use the tele add-on hand held on my R1 for a good deal of aerial shots with SPECTACULAR results - very well balanced in my opinion.

Certainly a lot easier to handle than my old F24 Williamson camera!

Up to 24x48" prints any day.

Tony
--
R1 and 828 in the air down under (707 and 505 in the cupboard!)

I actually bought the lens and adapter. And yes there is a mount on the adapter for the tripod. It really isn't that heavy, and when attached to the camera it's easily hand held. The bayonet mount makes it a pleasure to take on and off. I wish the had this available for the F828, because it is the perfect solution. Screw-on lenses are a pain in comparison.

I had to have the 200mm lens, there is shots that I take from a specific vantage point that require it. I have used the lens with the filters attached to the camera itself will no problems. I must however, admit that I haven't used it with my polarizer yet.

Living in Vt in winter has it's challenges, I mean weather wise. Now that the weather is starting to change I can further prove it out. It wil be April before I start taking photos at the race track. So until then I can't tell you if the lens will do what I expected it would do and how the polarizer will work as well with the lens.

I will tell you that the H1 and it's 1.7 tele conv. is probably a better solution for wildlife in good light. And the price for camera and lens is about the same... If your used to getting wildlife shots with a 200mm lens than the additional length plus, resolution and lower light capability would make it a good choice.IMHO

Jim In VT

Jim, extremely helpful thank you!

One more question if you don't mind...

So you are saying that the screw on lens filters on the front of the camera don't impede the lens conversion? If so im sure the images look fine using the polarizer, yet access to it to back it off or on may be an issue still? I must sound rediculous, but I guess I need to see this thing and play with it in real life so I will feel better about the purchase of it.

Carl

You would have to dismount the tele-con to rotate a pol. filter. Of course the camera must be at full telephoto for the tele-con to work but a thin filter between should not be a problem.

As mentioned, the adaptor has it's own tripod mount, the camera is fully useable with the lens off but the adaptor mounted, just a little bulky and the zoom ring on the camera slightly harder to access.

The tele-converter lens is indeed large, plastic housing, but very high quality.

It's expensive but it's the only option for the r1, it's unlikely there will ever be an aftermarket tele-con for the R1 that will compliment the Zeiss lens.

Thanx Battleaxe,

I appreciate the info and the time. I might have to wait for the Sony DSLR, arms up in the air right now, but with time comes clarity so we will have to wait. Thanks for making my decision more real.

Carl

When I bought the R1 I figured I may as well get the acessories. I got the tele-converter (and adaptor), close-up lens, pol. filter. I did not get the super wide-angle or ND filter.

I'm not sure how much I'll use the tele-converter as it doubles the carrying weight while hiking. I really got it because I knew if I didn't spring for it then I probably never would.

I think for me the biggest advantage of the tele-converter - It looks cool

LOL, I had that same thought about it looking cool myself. Cmon' we have to embelish just a little sheesh . How's the macro lens working, I imagine that is just a screw in unit and very handy?

I will buy that today for sure.

Carl

Yes, the close-up lens just screws in, no big adaptor needed.

Awesome, thanks sire!

C

You know I've pretty much ignored the digital zoom, having assumed it would result in a loss of quality. Maybe it's time for some experimentation...also it seems my opinion is pretty much a minority one regarding the tele extension. I personally would be more interested in the W.A. extension if the price would come down a bit.

Mark

http://www.markpowerphoto.com

You should give it a shot, I took a very nice one indeed using it, but it only made me wish I had a better telephoto on the camera. I think if you go down to 5mb then zoom, you can still get a real quality image, 3mb being the absolute smallest for me.

C

cgarrard said:

That could be
a major problem if there isn't a mount on the bottom of the adaptor
itself to mount your tripod to it as a tripod will most certainly
be needed for the extra range and weight of the lens/adaptor.

Click to expand...

There is a tripod mount hole at the center of gravity.

Member said:

Another very important question is whether or not you will be able
to use filters on the main lens itself or not still.

Click to expand...

You CAN put a 67mm filter on the camera lens. However, operationally, due to the additional thickness of the filter, the camera lens can only be zoomed to about 110mm (in the middle of 110 and 120 marks) for the telephoto converter, and the wide angle lens is not mountable. Moreover, adding an extra glass between the converter and camera lens increases the chance of internal reflection which will bring you ghost and flare.

Member said:

I would hope Sony has these
questions covered. If not, im happy with R-1 and what it is and
will just have to get something else for a telephoto situation
(possibly a new Sony DSLR!!).

Click to expand...

You have had my answers faster, )

CK
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam

Nikon Coolpix 950/990/995/2500/4500/5700, Panasonic FZ-10/FZ-30, and Canon A95 User Guides

mark power said:

... If telephoto photography is your thing in my opinion you'd be
better off with a good telephoto lens on a Nikon or Canon DSLR body. ..

Click to expand...

For me, the same hold true for the wide angle adapter vs a dedicated prime ultrawide lens for a DSLR. I have had other fixed-lens cameras in the past, accessorized and fussed with this kind of stuff. Not with the R1. I intend to have my R1 kit complete with two batteries, external charger, and enough memory for 300-400 exposures. That should be enough .

I have the DSLR kit for the more specialty oriented lenses and accessories ... the ultrawide, the ultralong, the dedicated macro lens, the ultrafast lens or two, extension tubes, etc etc.

Godfrey

Thank you very much! That WAS faster! I still don't have an answer from Sony, tick tock, 3 days now I appreciate that, think ill stick with what I have at this point.

Carl