Best TeleConverter Option

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Dave,

We have so MANY options! There is probably no one right answer that applies to all.

The first place I would suggest checking for insights is Jeremy McCreary's excellent website here: http://www.cliffshade.com/digiphotofwiw/

Pekka Saarinen has reviewed the B-300 and seems to like it:
http://www.lookhear.net/photography/lenses/

Apparently, most of the Olympus conversion lenses were designed originally for Olympus 35mm cameras. Earlier this morning, on the rec.photo.digital newsgroup, Per Nordenberg from Sweden posted the following info about Olympus add-on lenses. I found it enlightening:

----

The following Olympus conversion lenses are available for the IS series SLR's (to be mounted in the filter thread):

For IS-1 / IS-1000 and IS-2 / IS-2000 (49 mm filter thread):

A-Macro HQ converter f=40 cm & flash diffusion screen (for 0.4x macro)
A-Macro HQ converter f=13 cm & flash diffusion screen (for 1:1 macro)
A-28 Wide HQ converter 0.8x (gives 28 mm at 35 mm position)
A-200 Tele HQ converter 1.5x (gives 200 mm at 135 mm position)

For IS-3 / IS-3000 (55 mm filter thread):

B-Macro HQ converter f=40 cm & flash diffusion screen (for 0.4x macro)
B-28 Wide HQ converter 0.8x (gives 28 mm at 35 mm position)
B-300 Tele HQ converter 1.7x (gives 300 mm at 180 mm position)

For IS-10/S / IS-100/S, IS-20 / IS-200 and IS-30 / IS-300 (52 mm filter
thread):

C-160 HQ converter 1.45x (gives 160 mm at 110 mm position)
C-180 HQ converter 1.7x (gives 180 mm at 110 mm position)
C-210 HQ converter 1.9x (gives 210 mm at 110 mm position)

Hope this was of some help. Note that these high quality conversion lenses do not affect lens speed, only close focus. Please don't ask on which digital cameras these converters might fit, I simply don't know.

Per Nordenberg
Sweden
----

That C-210 HQ converter, at 1.9X, should provide nearly a 200 mm lens equivalent on the C2000 at full zoom. Sounds pretty intriguing to me! I found it advertised at AAA Camera for $99.69:
http://www.aaacamera.com/is30.htm

In addition to Olympus brand, check the Kenko's video lenses, featured atTHK photo products:
http://www.thkphoto.com/catalog/kenko2.html

Also check out the Raynox lenses, featured at BugEye Digital:
http://www.bugeyedigital.com/

Finally, I reviewed Tiffen's "2X" tele adapter here:
http://members.xoom.com/trinidad/C2000/tele.htm

Hope all of this helps.

Jim

I forgot to add that, if you want to, you can build your own tele-converter out of used parts:

members.xoom.com/trinidad/C2000/home-made-tele.htm

Jim

Dave Schambach said:

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Click to expand...

I use the B-300 HQ 1.7x on my C2000Z AND on my C2500L and it's a great lens, but it takes 2 adapter rings to fit either camera and there IS some slight vignetting at full zoom. Olympus makes a really nice 1.45X for the 500/620L cameras which works perfectly on the C2000Z and comes WITH its own adapter ring (the lens snaps on and off). It won't give you the range you are used to, but it will extend the 105mm 35mm equivalency to about 152mm. The lens sells for about $89 U.S. and qives EXCELLENT results with no hint of chromatic aberration or distortion. The added advantage to this lens is that it is small and light and allows some zoom range without vignetting. Even more, it doesn't loose any light so even in poor lighting conditions, you won't be dissapointed in the performance.

Lin

I just received a Kenko KUT-300 Teleconverter that I ordered from cameraworld.com, for use on my C2000Z. This is a beautiful hunk; not very heavy (

Ciao...Barry

Lin Evans said:

Dave Schambach said:

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Click to expand...

I use the B-300 HQ 1.7x on my C2000Z AND on my C2500L and it's a great
lens, but it takes 2 adapter rings to fit either camera and there IS some
slight vignetting at full zoom. Olympus makes a really nice 1.45X for the
500/620L cameras which works perfectly on the C2000Z and comes WITH its
own adapter ring (the lens snaps on and off). It won't give you the range
you are used to, but it will extend the 105mm 35mm equivalency to about
152mm. The lens sells for about $89 U.S. and qives EXCELLENT results with
no hint of chromatic aberration or distortion. The added advantage to
this lens is that it is small and light and allows some zoom range
without vignetting. Even more, it doesn't loose any light so even in poor
lighting conditions, you won't be dissapointed in the performance.

Lin

Click to expand...

Oh, I forgot, this is a 3X teleconverter!

Barry Carter said:

Ciao...Barry

Lin Evans said:

Dave Schambach said:

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Click to expand...

I use the B-300 HQ 1.7x on my C2000Z AND on my C2500L and it's a great
lens, but it takes 2 adapter rings to fit either camera and there IS some
slight vignetting at full zoom. Olympus makes a really nice 1.45X for the
500/620L cameras which works perfectly on the C2000Z and comes WITH its
own adapter ring (the lens snaps on and off). It won't give you the range
you are used to, but it will extend the 105mm 35mm equivalency to about
152mm. The lens sells for about $89 U.S. and qives EXCELLENT results with
no hint of chromatic aberration or distortion. The added advantage to
this lens is that it is small and light and allows some zoom range
without vignetting. Even more, it doesn't loose any light so even in poor
lighting conditions, you won't be dissapointed in the performance.

Lin

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Barry,

Do you have any sample pictures posted anywhere? I'm looking into getting a 3x also.

Barry Carter said:

Barry Carter said:

Ciao...Barry

Lin Evans said:

Dave Schambach said:

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Click to expand...

I use the B-300 HQ 1.7x on my C2000Z AND on my C2500L and it's a great
lens, but it takes 2 adapter rings to fit either camera and there IS some
slight vignetting at full zoom. Olympus makes a really nice 1.45X for the
500/620L cameras which works perfectly on the C2000Z and comes WITH its
own adapter ring (the lens snaps on and off). It won't give you the range
you are used to, but it will extend the 105mm 35mm equivalency to about
152mm. The lens sells for about $89 U.S. and qives EXCELLENT results with
no hint of chromatic aberration or distortion. The added advantage to
this lens is that it is small and light and allows some zoom range
without vignetting. Even more, it doesn't loose any light so even in poor
lighting conditions, you won't be dissapointed in the performance.

Lin

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I've been following this thread and it seems to point to all of the options for the C-2000Z (except for the reference of the B-300).

Do all of these telephoto options work on the C-2500L, as well? I bought one of these, last week, and will be taking it to Hawaii in 2 weeks.

I'm particularly interested in the C210 or the KUT-300 Hi (working on the C-2500). Would I get by with one converter ring (43mm to ##mm), or would I need multiples? Are there any issues with the size or converters on this camera?

Thanks for any information...I'm not a 100% literate when it comes to cameras (digital or otherwise)...I've been usign the Polaroid PDC-2000 for the past couple of years and there was no lens changing on that puppy!

Galv

I have the Kenko KUT-300 Hi for my C2000Z. The base thread is 49mm. It comes with (3) plastic converter rings (49> 46, 49

Ciao....Barry

Robert G. Galvin said:

I've been following this thread and it seems to point to all of the
options for the C-2000Z (except for the reference of the B-300).

Do all of these telephoto options work on the C-2500L, as well? I bought
one of these, last week, and will be taking it to Hawaii in 2 weeks.

I'm particularly interested in the C210 or the KUT-300 Hi (working on the
C-2500). Would I get by with one converter ring (43mm to ##mm), or would
I need multiples? Are there any issues with the size or converters on
this camera?

Thanks for any information...I'm not a 100% literate when it comes to
cameras (digital or otherwise)...I've been usign the Polaroid PDC-2000
for the past couple of years and there was no lens changing on that puppy!

Galv

Click to expand...

Barry,

Thanks for the reply. I would feel better if I actually heard from someone using this on the C-2500L, though (everyone has mentioned that these work on the C-2000Z, but only 1 has actually been mentioned that it was used on the 2500, as well).

The fact that you are using this for astronomy makes me wonder if I'm going for overkill, though? Would this be 'too much' lens for scenery (volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls) in Hawaii? Should I stick with the 1.45x or up to the 1.9x lens', instead?

(I'm really looking for something more than the 3x that comes with the camera. I took my Polaroid PDC-2000 to Switzerland, and was not happy with some of the distance shots (you could make out cliff-faces, but not even see the waterfalls that were coing down them!)

Thanks!
Galv

Barry Carter said:

I have the Kenko KUT-300 Hi for my C2000Z. The base thread is 49mm. It
comes with (3) plastic converter rings (49> 46, 49
only need the 43mm
that the objective end of this lense is 65mm internal diameter, and there
are no internal screw threads for filters (although I'm sure you could
rig something up). It comes with softcase, front and rear lens caps. I
primarily got this optic for low light shooting and astronomy. The 60mm
objective can assist in gathering those light rays.

Ciao....Barry

Click to expand...

This is such a subjective topic, but my experience is that on a vacation you don't want to be bogged down with a lot of equipment. From my 35mm SLR days, I found that a 50mm and a 135mm, and a 2X converter would handle 95% of my needs. That 400mm or 500mm mirror lens shot (not that often), would be missed. Of course if you are a Solar Eclipse chaser, the long lens and telescope are the first in the camera case! When zoom lenses got to be good quality, I scaled down to a 35mm to 105mm zoom, and a 2X converter. I even left my 70 to 210mm zoom behind, because it was too bulky. The moral of all this, is that a 2X converter is all you need for a vacation; and with a 43mm filter thread, there are plenty to choose from. Oh, I am speaking from a C2000Z owners perspective of course! I also have a Kenko 5X converter (originally purchased for a Handycam) that has a 37mm thread. Its like a little monocular, is very lightweight (~ 4 oz.), and has about 7 optical elements in it. This lens vignettes like hell! Even a full 3X zoom, you have about 50% vignetting. But if you want to get that shot of a Baboon's butt at 100 yards, this Kenko will bring it up close and personal

Ciao....Barry

Robert G. Galvin said:

Thanks for the reply. I would feel better if I actually heard from
someone using this on the C-2500L, though (everyone has mentioned that
these work on the C-2000Z, but only 1 has actually been mentioned that it
was used on the 2500, as well).

The fact that you are using this for astronomy makes me wonder if I'm
going for overkill, though? Would this be 'too much' lens for scenery
(volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls) in Hawaii? Should I stick with the
1.45x or up to the 1.9x lens', instead?

(I'm really looking for something more than the 3x that comes with the
camera. I took my Polaroid PDC-2000 to Switzerland, and was not happy
with some of the distance shots (you could make out cliff-faces, but not
even see the waterfalls that were coing down them!)

Thanks!
Galv

Barry Carter said:

I have the Kenko KUT-300 Hi for my C2000Z. The base thread is 49mm. It
comes with (3) plastic converter rings (49> 46, 49
only need the 43mm
that the objective end of this lense is 65mm internal diameter, and there
are no internal screw threads for filters (although I'm sure you could
rig something up). It comes with softcase, front and rear lens caps. I
primarily got this optic for low light shooting and astronomy. The 60mm
objective can assist in gathering those light rays.

Ciao....Barry

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Barry,

Thanks for your thoughts and observations. I guess that I wasn't really sure what I needed, but I'm definitely going to Hawaii for the pictures (the reason I bought a new C-2500L, as well). So, I don't really mind lugging around the extra lenses and such.

I do think that you're right that a 2X should be sufficient. I still want to buy a 5X, if that's doable, 'cause I love the zoom features of cameras (the reason I hated the Polaroid!...zilch for zoom).

Now, I just have to look for a decent 2X that will work on the Olympus C-2500L. I'm looking around, now, and I'm leaning towards the Kenko 2X (I'm not sure what it's threaded at, though...the web site I'm thinking of buying it from doesn't have that type of detail). I'll see if Kenko has their own web site.

Thanks, again!
Galv

Barry Carter said:

Ciao....Barry

Robert G. Galvin said:

Thanks for the reply. I would feel better if I actually heard from
someone using this on the C-2500L, though (everyone has mentioned that
these work on the C-2000Z, but only 1 has actually been mentioned that it
was used on the 2500, as well).

The fact that you are using this for astronomy makes me wonder if I'm
going for overkill, though? Would this be 'too much' lens for scenery
(volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls) in Hawaii? Should I stick with the
1.45x or up to the 1.9x lens', instead?

(I'm really looking for something more than the 3x that comes with the
camera. I took my Polaroid PDC-2000 to Switzerland, and was not happy
with some of the distance shots (you could make out cliff-faces, but not
even see the waterfalls that were coing down them!)

Thanks!
Galv

Barry Carter said:

I have the Kenko KUT-300 Hi for my C2000Z. The base thread is 49mm. It
comes with (3) plastic converter rings (49> 46, 49
only need the 43mm
that the objective end of this lense is 65mm internal diameter, and there
are no internal screw threads for filters (although I'm sure you could
rig something up). It comes with softcase, front and rear lens caps. I
primarily got this optic for low light shooting and astronomy. The 60mm
objective can assist in gathering those light rays.

Ciao....Barry

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Glad to help. I got my 3X Kenko at http://www.cameraworld.com , located in Oregon. If you want the full specs on the Kenko Lenses go to:
http://www.thkphoto.com/catalog/kenko2.html

Ciao...Barry

Robert G. Galvin said:

Thanks for your thoughts and observations. I guess that I wasn't really
sure what I needed, but I'm definitely going to Hawaii for the pictures
(the reason I bought a new C-2500L, as well). So, I don't really mind
lugging around the extra lenses and such.

I do think that you're right that a 2X should be sufficient. I still
want to buy a 5X, if that's doable, 'cause I love the zoom features of
cameras (the reason I hated the Polaroid!...zilch for zoom).

Now, I just have to look for a decent 2X that will work on the Olympus
C-2500L. I'm looking around, now, and I'm leaning towards the Kenko 2X
(I'm not sure what it's threaded at, though...the web site I'm thinking
of buying it from doesn't have that type of detail). I'll see if Kenko
has their own web site.

Thanks, again!
Galv

Barry Carter said:

Ciao....Barry

Robert G. Galvin said:

Thanks for the reply. I would feel better if I actually heard from
someone using this on the C-2500L, though (everyone has mentioned that
these work on the C-2000Z, but only 1 has actually been mentioned that it
was used on the 2500, as well).

The fact that you are using this for astronomy makes me wonder if I'm
going for overkill, though? Would this be 'too much' lens for scenery
(volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls) in Hawaii? Should I stick with the
1.45x or up to the 1.9x lens', instead?

(I'm really looking for something more than the 3x that comes with the
camera. I took my Polaroid PDC-2000 to Switzerland, and was not happy
with some of the distance shots (you could make out cliff-faces, but not
even see the waterfalls that were coing down them!)

Thanks!
Galv

Barry Carter said:

I have the Kenko KUT-300 Hi for my C2000Z. The base thread is 49mm. It
comes with (3) plastic converter rings (49> 46, 49
only need the 43mm
that the objective end of this lense is 65mm internal diameter, and there
are no internal screw threads for filters (although I'm sure you could
rig something up). It comes with softcase, front and rear lens caps. I
primarily got this optic for low light shooting and astronomy. The 60mm
objective can assist in gathering those light rays.

Ciao....Barry

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Barry - Please sanity check this for me, before I order:

I would be looking at the Kenko KVC-20 Teleconverter (2x) and then a 43mm (Olympus C-2500L thread) to 46mm (KVC-20 thread) converter/adapter?

I don't want to screw up the order, since I won't have time to return it for a correct lens before I leave for my vacation!

Barry Carter said:

Glad to help. I got my 3X Kenko at http://www.cameraworld.com , located
in Oregon. If you want the full specs on the Kenko Lenses go to:
http://www.thkphoto.com/catalog/kenko2.html

Ciao...Barry

Click to expand...

Dave Schambach said:

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Click to expand...

Well, I ultimately opted to get the B-300. On my second trip to the
camera store the lense still looked big, but not a huge as it appeared
the first time.

The lense does a great job, the pictures are still nice and bright. I can zoom
closer to things that are at a distance. However, as somebody else said
on this website, "Teleconverters at best are not very good".
Nothing beats the SLR with interchangeable lenses.

Dave

I bought one of these for my C2500 and there was too much vignetting to be useable at all.

Barry Carter said:

Barry Carter said:

Ciao...Barry

Lin Evans said:

Dave Schambach said:

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Click to expand...

I use the B-300 HQ 1.7x on my C2000Z AND on my C2500L and it's a great
lens, but it takes 2 adapter rings to fit either camera and there IS some
slight vignetting at full zoom. Olympus makes a really nice 1.45X for the
500/620L cameras which works perfectly on the C2000Z and comes WITH its
own adapter ring (the lens snaps on and off). It won't give you the range
you are used to, but it will extend the 105mm 35mm equivalency to about
152mm. The lens sells for about $89 U.S. and qives EXCELLENT results with
no hint of chromatic aberration or distortion. The added advantage to
this lens is that it is small and light and allows some zoom range
without vignetting. Even more, it doesn't loose any light so even in poor
lighting conditions, you won't be dissapointed in the performance.

Lin

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Well, that only proves that "What's good for the goose, is not necessarily good for the gander"...Barry

Ken Peterson said:

Barry Carter said:

Barry Carter said:

Ciao...Barry

Lin Evans said:

Dave Schambach said:

I'm open for suggestions for the best teleconverter option
for a C2000Z. I have the CLA-1 and I looked at the Olympus
B-300 HQ 1.7x lense at a local camera store. The B-300 just looks
and feels way too big on the front of the C2000.

I'm currently leaning toward ordering a TCON-14 (sight unseen), unless
someone can make a better suggestion. The TCON-14 looks like a
smaller package from what I can tell.

I'm not heavily into photography, but I would like to come close to
approximating the 100-205 zoom lense of my old Minolta Maxxum 7000.
I realize that the TCON-14 will not do that, but is there a better option?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Click to expand...

I use the B-300 HQ 1.7x on my C2000Z AND on my C2500L and it's a great
lens, but it takes 2 adapter rings to fit either camera and there IS some
slight vignetting at full zoom. Olympus makes a really nice 1.45X for the
500/620L cameras which works perfectly on the C2000Z and comes WITH its
own adapter ring (the lens snaps on and off). It won't give you the range
you are used to, but it will extend the 105mm 35mm equivalency to about
152mm. The lens sells for about $89 U.S. and qives EXCELLENT results with
no hint of chromatic aberration or distortion. The added advantage to
this lens is that it is small and light and allows some zoom range
without vignetting. Even more, it doesn't loose any light so even in poor
lighting conditions, you won't be dissapointed in the performance.

Lin

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...