Using TCON-17 lens with 300D

[Steve158547]

As I upgraded from a Fuji S7000 I have an Olympus TCON-17 teleconverter, as many S602/S7000 users do, and wondered if I might be able to use it with my drebel. Has anyone else done this?

I did a test yesterday evening and was encouraged by the results, despite the poor quality (mainly due to bad light ISO 1600 and handholding). The sample below includes two different scenes, where in each case, the one on the left is with my Sigma 70-300 at 300mm and the one on the right is the same but with the TCON-17 handheld in front of the Sigma. The magnification is quite impressive and if my calculations are correct, should be a equivalent to 816mm on a 35mm. I'm going to get a 58mm to 55mm step-down ring so I can try this on a tripod to see if it will really be worthwhile.



--
Steve Crane
site: http://craniac.afraid.org
blog: http://craniac.antville.org

 

[Antonio_2]

Hi Steve,
thanks to post this question I wanted to ask the same but you anticipated me.
From what I have read in this forum one drawback could be the slow AF.
I will follow with interest your tests.
--
Antonio
http://www.pbase.com/antonio_2

 

[Steve158547]

From what I have read in this forum one drawback could be the slow AF.
I will follow with interest your tests.

Perhaps but there is always MF and this would always be a cheap, hackish alternative to buying a big prime telephoto lens. I have been thinking some more about this and am wondering whether is would be safe for the zoom lens' mechanism to support the edditional weight of the TCON because, at 260 grams (9.2 ounces), it isn't exactly a featherweight. If it is going to reduce the lifespan of my zoom lens I would rather not do it.
--
Steve Crane
site: http://craniac.afraid.org
blog: http://craniac.antville.org

 

[Antonio_2]

Perhaps but there is always MF and this would always be a cheap,
hackish alternative to buying a big prime telephoto lens. I have
been thinking some more about this and am wondering whether is
would be safe for the zoom lens' mechanism to support the
edditional weight of the TCON because, at 260 grams (9.2 ounces),
it isn't exactly a featherweight. If it is going to reduce the
lifespan of my zoom lens I would rather not do it.

Yes take care of it, in theory the front thread should be for filters and the tcon17 isn't exactly that ;-)

I'd support always with one hand the bottom of tcon17 to not put strain on the sigma lens. Hope experienced users of this lens can tell how much is sturdy.

--
Antonio
http://www.pbase.com/antonio_2

 

[Hugowolf]

There was a thread on this about a year ago

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=6613909

Brian A.

As I upgraded from a Fuji S7000 I have an Olympus TCON-17
teleconverter, as many S602/S7000 users do, and wondered if I might
be able to use it with my drebel. Has anyone else done this?

I did a test yesterday evening and was encouraged by the results,
despite the poor quality (mainly due to bad light ISO 1600 and
handholding). The sample below includes two different scenes,
where in each case, the one on the left is with my Sigma 70-300 at
300mm and the one on the right is the same but with the TCON-17
handheld in front of the Sigma. The magnification is quite
impressive and if my calculations are correct, should be a
equivalent to 816mm on a 35mm. I'm going to get a 58mm to 55mm
step-down ring so I can try this on a tripod to see if it will
really be worthwhile.



--
Steve Crane
site: http://craniac.afraid.org
blog: http://craniac.antville.org

 

[Antonio_2]

Do you think it would work stacking your 50mm 1.8 and tcon 17, I mean getting a 136mm (35 equiv) capable of 1.8 aperture?

--
Antonio
http://www.pbase.com/antonio_2

 

[StannatS]

Hi Steve, thanks to post this question I wanted to ask the same but you anticipated me. From what I have read in this forum one drawback could be the slow AF. I will follow with interest your tests.

The TCONs are ahead of the lense teleconverters....so they gather more light in the first place. It's the behind the lense TCs that cream the AF speed!

Stan

 

[Steve158547]

Do you think it would work stacking your 50mm 1.8 and tcon 17, I
mean getting a 136mm (35 equiv) capable of 1.8 aperture?

I don't know enough about the technicalities of optics to know if the extra lens elements would reduce the amount of light coming into the lens. I will try it and see what happens.
--
Steve Crane
site: http://craniac.afraid.org
blog: http://craniac.antville.org

 

[Steve158547]

According to this thread

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=6639987

a "before the lens" teleconverter like the TCON-17 will not reduce the light coming into the lens so I suppose it should work.
--
Steve Crane
site: http://craniac.afraid.org
blog: http://craniac.antville.org

 

[Antonio_2]

According to this thread

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=6639987

a "before the lens" teleconverter like the TCON-17 will not reduce
the light coming into the lens so I suppose it should work.

That sounds great since I have tc17 too, pity i just discovered Canon Italy is one of the few Eu Canon not offering the 100Eur rebate :-(

--
Antonio
http://www.pbase.com/antonio_2

 

[Fredy Ross]

According to this thread

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=6639987

a "before the lens" teleconverter like the TCON-17 will not reduce
the light coming into the lens so I suppose it should work.

That sounds great since I have tc17 too, pity i just discovered
Canon Italy is one of the few Eu Canon not offering the 100Eur
rebate :-(

--
Antonio
http://www.pbase.com/antonio_2

--
fredyr

I have it and tried it but can't make up my mind about it. Taking photos from my balcony it works just fine. I got clear photos of people crossing the street, just can't work out how far they are but at least 30 metres. However I am using the canon 70-300 DO and am afraid to carry it attached to this lens when I go out chasing birds. I did once and got worried I would ruin an expensive lens. Would be very interested to hear tests from others. I did buy the 58-55 stepdown ring which was a bit hard to take off when walking so I haven't done it again. regards fredyr