FZ18 and teleconverters

I decided to bite the bullet and have ordered an FZ18 in the UK as I heard back from Panasonic that the ones bought in the U.S. are supplied with a " U.S. only warranty" (how mean can they get especially as Fuji give a worldwide warranty. Would have gone for the S8000 and bought it in the States next time out and saved myself a hundred quid were it not for the fact that the Panny reads just that little bit better than the Fuji).

In the meantime, can anyone guide me on whether or not you can use a teleconverter on an FZ18?

I've been looking at some pictures taken with an Olympus TCON 1.7 with a regular digital SLR and the results are quite impressive - OK, not as good a genuine telephoto but better than I imagined.
If I can use a converter then this could be the icing on the cake for me.

I know others will jump in, but yes, you can add teleconverters. The manual mentions them on page 137. Also, check pps. 86-87.

http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMCFZ18.PDF

I think the lens adapter is just for that purpose (possibly for third party lenses).

I am also wondering what size filters the camera will take as a polarizing filter is a must.

Elizabeth
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Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30

Thank you, Elizabeth, very quick and very helpful.
Just had a quick look at your smugmug site.....love the Barred Owl.

THanks very much. Glad I could help.
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Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30

Hello Elizabeth

You need a 46mm polarizing filter which threads directly on the lens. you can't use the polarizing filter with the converter/adapter attached.

BTW, I purchased the Olympus Tcon 1.7X, (B&H $99.) and it works very well. The threaded (rear) end is 55mm, so it fits directly on the adapter.
Hope I've helped.
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Earl

Elizabeth Klisiewicz said:

I am also wondering what size filters the camera will take as a
polarizing filter is a must.

Elizabeth

Click to expand...

I purchased the 46mm Hoya circular polarizing filter and use it only when doing sky and/or sea shots. Thus, it's a simple screw-on filter that I keep in the camera bag. Actually fits nicely in the Panasonic bag included in the Costco "bundle" (together with the 1GB SD card). Bag holds several 2MG SD cards, the filter, an extra battery and not much room for anything else. Regards,

I took my FZ18 with me on a wildlife excursion yesterday with some friends, both of whom were shooting DSLRs, Nikon & Canon cameras with relatively long lenses. But they demurred to me for the LONG shots, as they were only covered up to 600mm. I was using my FZ18 with my Nikon TC-E17ED converter, and it worked WONDERFULLY! I had such a good range of zoom (no vignetting from 3X to 18X; in 35mm equivalent terms, shooting in 5MP EZ mode, that's roughly 180mm to 1100mm!) I often had to throttle back on the zoom even for "distant" subjects. And the sharpness seems perfect on the photos I took, so I'm thinking you should have no problem.

I still own an Olympus TCON-17, which is a much more affordable alternative to the Nikon TC of mine. It's not QUITE as sharp, I've found (using it with my FZ30) as the Nikon, but still can achieve some very acceptable results. It's also not QUITE the magnifier that the Nikon is either; measurements I've made (and others have found the same thing) indicate that its focal length multiplier is closer to 1.6X than 1.7X, whereas the Nikon is spot on 1.7X. An old-time forum contributor, C.K. Shene, has a web page comparing the various teleconverter alternatives. He did the work in the context of earlier Panasonic cameras, but I think the results will apply equally for use with the FZ18. Here's a link to his comparisons:
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam/index.html

By the way, the Nikon IS heavier than the TCON, no doubt about it, but I found the combination including the Panasonic LA3 adapter tube to be quite grippable, so it's a good working package. I'll be posting some of my results from yesterday later on, if you're interested, have a look.
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Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), Trizzy, Foxy50

Thanks to everyone who has responded thusfar. Now I know that not only can I use a converter with my new purchase but also there are several purchasing alternatives!

One final question, do I need to buy anything else in addition to the converter (i.e. specific extensions rings)?

Can you please explain how you put on a filter without an adapter? When the lens extends, doesn't it hit the filter without some kind of an extender?
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Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30

It's a Panasonic part, DMW-LA3. It has male 55.8mm threads that screw into the camera's lens collar, and 55mm female threads on the filter end. The TCON-17 screws directly into those threads, the Nikon TC-E17ED also requires a 55-60mm step-up ring to mate to the DMW-LA3. I bought my DMW-LA3 through eBay; it was delivered from Japan in 2 days. Note that with the DMW-LA3 in place, you WILL get vignetting at the low end of the zoom, up to about 2X. I'm not sure how one would mount a wideangle extender to the camera, actually.

baybee said:

Thanks to everyone who has responded thusfar. Now I know that not
only can I use a converter with my new purchase but also there are
several purchasing alternatives!
One final question, do I need to buy anything else in addition to the
converter (i.e. specific extensions rings)?

Click to expand...

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Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), Trizzy, Foxy50

I am not interested in mounting a teleconverter on the Panny, only a filter. I have an SLR and several lenses, so I save my long range work for that kit.

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Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30

Thanks again, everyone.

John, brilliant results with your FZ18/TC17ED set-up - guess I'll be putting my hand a bit deeper into my pocket very soon.

I have an FZ18 which I purchased for wildlife photography. I am very pleased with it but of course even 18x and 504mm is not enough. I made the mistake of purchasing a 3 x convertor on E-bay, a Tokina TOK-3652T with an adapter for the camera. The adapter had 52.8-52mm fittings which did not fit the FZ18. Making up some Heath Robinson adaptations I was able to try the convertor but the results were very poor. The supplier was very good about it and the convertor is being returned for a refund. I am now in the position of not being able to find an adapter, unless anyone knows where an LA3 can be sourced, and not trusting what teleconverter will give reasonable results. I have looked up the cost of a Nikon TC-E17ED, but my eyes started to water, and it's just not possible, short of a divorce. The Olympus TCON-17 which John also mentions is more in my acceptable price bracket, and cheaper than the Panasonic. Have you yet tried the TCON-17 with the FZ18, John? Your results from Elkhorn Slough were most impressive.
Alex

The teleconverter that was tested in the info you quote was the Sony VCL HGD1758 which is an older model, designed to work with the F series of Sony cameras. There is a new Sony teleconverter, the VCL DH1758, which was designed to work with the H series of cameras. Both are excellent glass, but the newer one is very much lighter and more transportable than the older one.
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John Dunn
My show 'Serenity': http://fototime.com/inv/6A04BAB6F082B6C

I bought my LA3 adapter from a Japanese gentleman on eBay. It should arrive in a week or two. If you do a search, you might find one.
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Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30

John, where did you find the TC-E17ED? It is no longer available anywhere.
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Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30

jrdu:

You will find that CK's site does have comparison information on the new lens here, even though it is not always listed. Seems a good lens:
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam/User-Guide/FZ-30/index.html

The site has a review also of the Tokina lens which I almost ended up with and explains why I was so worried about finding a teleconvertor. "Performance of the Tokina 3X is unacceptable."

All I need to do now is find an LA3 adapter or equivalent. There do not seem to be any on E-Bay at the moment. I'll just have to be patient.
Alex

In fact Elisabeth, yours may be coming sooner than you think. Total shipping time to my front door from Japan was 2 days! And by the way, how much reach do you get with your DSLR lenses? I was out-reaching my two DSLR friends the other day at Elkhorn Slough; at 5MP EZ, I was shooting at 1100mm? They only got out to about 600mm, so they'd ask me to take the really long shots.
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Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), Trizzy, Foxy50

This link seems to have the correct adapter available for 2,100 yen, I'm sure they'd also charge for shipping, which seems to be about US$15.00, if they ship internationally.
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Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), Trizzy, Foxy50

200-500 mm with my Tamron lens. Same as the reach of the FZ18. My Nikon is my learning camera. It has so many features that I have yet to explore that I cannot justify upgrading to a newer SLR.

Reason I mentioned probably not investing in a teleconverter for the FZ18 is because I had an Oly Tcon 14b at one time and rarely used it. I hesitate to buy one again only to find myself not using it.

The Nikon teleconverter you are using is not available anywhere that I can find.
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Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30