DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

Started Sep 10, 2020 | Discussions
Pedagydusz Veteran Member • Posts: 6,026
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

With the Kernel tube that part doesn't seem to touch anything, the MC-20 is mounted without effort and locks firmly

-- hide signature --
 Pedagydusz's gear list:Pedagydusz's gear list
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F707 Canon EOS 7D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Olympus E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 +3 more
Morgan in Austin New Member • Posts: 12
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

I was unable to find Kernel extension tubes for sale, and I eventually discovered the reason: apparently the brand once called "Kernel" is now known as "Pixco".

So we're back to the Pixco situation: older Pixco tubes attach nicely to MC20/MC14, but new ones don't.

Okay, time for me to start drilling  ...

Pedagydusz Veteran Member • Posts: 6,026
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

Oh, well, thank you for the clarification!

-- hide signature --
 Pedagydusz's gear list:Pedagydusz's gear list
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F707 Canon EOS 7D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Olympus E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 +3 more
Morgan in Austin New Member • Posts: 12
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

I got it working, and posted a photo to another thread:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65351806

Pedagydusz Veteran Member • Posts: 6,026
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

Good for you! I hope you get top notch results!

-- hide signature --
 Pedagydusz's gear list:Pedagydusz's gear list
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F707 Canon EOS 7D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Olympus E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 +3 more
Hexenhammer Junior Member • Posts: 43
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

Guy,

Im confused, can I use Olympus MC-20 with ANY lens [I understand that I need to use an adapter]? The specification page only mentions two models, but will it work with any lens?

I have a panasonic G9 camera and pansonic lense, the MC-20 is on compatibility page but with comment 'MC-20 with OM Digital Solutions Compatible lens'

I just dont want to buy something that might no work.

P.S. Its not just for macro photography right? if i get 75-300 Oly lens and this converter i basically get 150-600 lens?

Thanks

OM mani padme hum Regular Member • Posts: 352
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens
1

Hexenhammer wrote:

Guy,

Im confused, can I use Olympus MC-20 with ANY lens [I understand that I need to use an adapter]? The specification page only mentions two models, but will it work with any lens?

The short answer is NO!

The Olympus teleconverters protrude into the rear of the lens, not a problem with the very few compatible telephoto lenses since 1) these have recessed rear elements, and 2) firmware upgrades allow things to function.

The macro lens will only work since there's no need for anything except close focus thus an extension tube will allow the TC to clear the rear element. You could perhaps do something similar with some other lenses but with the same provisos:

1. Infinity focus will be impossible

2. The 2x TC needs a firmware upgrade on most (or all?) bodies to work

With most lenses the parts are mechanically incompatible, and if an extension tube is used (to fix this) that will invariably remove the ability to focus on distant objects; the longer the extension tube(s) and the shorter the focal length of the lens the closer the furthest focus point will be.

Hexenhammer Junior Member • Posts: 43
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

OM mani padme hum wrote:

Hexenhammer wrote:

Guy,

Im confused, can I use Olympus MC-20 with ANY lens [I understand that I need to use an adapter]? The specification page only mentions two models, but will it work with any lens?

The short answer is NO!

The Olympus teleconverters protrude into the rear of the lens, not a problem with the very few compatible telephoto lenses since 1) these have recessed rear elements, and 2) firmware upgrades allow things to function.

The macro lens will only work since there's no need for anything except close focus thus an extension tube will allow the TC to clear the rear element. You could perhaps do something similar with some other lenses but with the same provisos:

1. Infinity focus will be impossible

2. The 2x TC needs a firmware upgrade on most (or all?) bodies to work

With most lenses the parts are mechanically incompatible, and if an extension tube is used (to fix this) that will invariably remove the ability to focus on distant objects; the longer the extension tube(s) and the shorter the focal length of the lens the closer the furthest focus point will be.

Ok thanks, i wont waste my money on this, pitty there are no universal models.

Whats the opinion on the x2 zoom filter type teleconverters, these simple and cheap that screw on top like filters, they dont have anything complicated inside just x2 magnification.

I dont have money for good zoom lens, maximum i can afford 75-300 Gen2 Oly lens and only because its cheaper then 100-300 Gen2 Pana lens.

This x2 zoom filter/teleconverter can basically make it like 600mm from what i understand?

OM mani padme hum Regular Member • Posts: 352
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

Probably best to ask this elsewhere, not here. I've never seen such a thing except dedicated models for some compact cameras, so have no idea, sorry.

kssharma Regular Member • Posts: 424
Re: Now here is where the fun really begins...
1

oneofone25 wrote:

Here's where things get interesting...and the fun begins....

Now that you have a setup that focus bracketing with work with your Olympus camera, teleconverter and macro lens, you can add Raynox lenses to your heart's content.

First, the Raynox 250 - possibly the most famous of the Raynox lenses and probably the sharpest and forgiving.

Using this lens at 1:1 gives you 4.3x magnification, VERY CLOSE to the famous Canon MPE-65...but with something special - the ability to focus bracket and even stack in-camera if the subject doesn't have too much depth. The preference is always to stack outside the camera because the more images you can stack, the better. I always have my focus bracketing set at 1/10 or at most 2/10 when using the teleconverters.

Here's the setup with the Raynox 250

Thanks much for sharing and certainly a much better setup from the one I tried a few days ago with Canon MPE 65 and Viltrox EF-M1 adapter.

The adapter worked great but the whole setup is too big (and heavy) to be practical.
You are making me purchase MC-20

 kssharma's gear list:kssharma's gear list
Nikon Z9 OM-1 Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 Nikon Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S +2 more
oneofone25
OP oneofone25 Senior Member • Posts: 1,586
Re: Now here is where the fun really begins...

kssharma wrote:

oneofone25 wrote:

Here's where things get interesting...and the fun begins....

Now that you have a setup that focus bracketing with work with your Olympus camera, teleconverter and macro lens, you can add Raynox lenses to your heart's content.

First, the Raynox 250 - possibly the most famous of the Raynox lenses and probably the sharpest and forgiving.

Using this lens at 1:1 gives you 4.3x magnification, VERY CLOSE to the famous Canon MPE-65...but with something special - the ability to focus bracket and even stack in-camera if the subject doesn't have too much depth. The preference is always to stack outside the camera because the more images you can stack, the better. I always have my focus bracketing set at 1/10 or at most 2/10 when using the teleconverters.

Here's the setup with the Raynox 250

Thanks much for sharing and certainly a much better setup from the one I tried a few days ago with Canon MPE 65 and Viltrox EF-M1 adapter.

The adapter worked great but the whole setup is too big (and heavy) to be practical.
You are making me purchase MC-20

Get one?  Work ok for you?

 oneofone25's gear list:oneofone25's gear list
OM-1 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 Macro Samyang 16mm F2 +1 more
kssharma Regular Member • Posts: 424
Re: Now here is where the fun really begins...
1

oneofone25 wrote:

kssharma wrote:

oneofone25 wrote:

Here's where things get interesting...and the fun begins....

Now that you have a setup that focus bracketing with work with your Olympus camera, teleconverter and macro lens, you can add Raynox lenses to your heart's content.

First, the Raynox 250 - possibly the most famous of the Raynox lenses and probably the sharpest and forgiving.

Using this lens at 1:1 gives you 4.3x magnification, VERY CLOSE to the famous Canon MPE-65...but with something special - the ability to focus bracket and even stack in-camera if the subject doesn't have too much depth. The preference is always to stack outside the camera because the more images you can stack, the better. I always have my focus bracketing set at 1/10 or at most 2/10 when using the teleconverters.

Here's the setup with the Raynox 250

Thanks much for sharing and certainly a much better setup from the one I tried a few days ago with Canon MPE 65 and Viltrox EF-M1 adapter.

The adapter worked great but the whole setup is too big (and heavy) to be practical.
You are making me purchase MC-20

Get one? Work ok for you?

Yeah, I am going to get one soon

Stay safe!

 kssharma's gear list:kssharma's gear list
Nikon Z9 OM-1 Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 Nikon Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S +2 more
racketman Veteran Member • Posts: 3,160
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens

Can you tell if these are the same tubes, description states Pixco ?

ardy01 Forum Member • Posts: 95
Re: Now here is where the fun really begins...

Hi, I am interested in your postings on using the MC1.4 but I couldn't find them here.

regards

-- hide signature --

Ardy01

oneofone25
OP oneofone25 Senior Member • Posts: 1,586
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens
 oneofone25's gear list:oneofone25's gear list
OM-1 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 Macro Samyang 16mm F2 +1 more
wollumeg Forum Member • Posts: 66
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens
1

My PIXCO extension tubes have been ordered. Excited to begin my "super" macro photography. In case anyone was interested it looks like https://roxsenglobal.myshopify.com/products/ext-m43 still has these extension tubes and when I ordered I got 10% off with code roxsenins.

ephophex New Member • Posts: 23
Re: The proof is in the pudding...
1

These results are AMAZING!  Thank you for posting the how-to, and for showing what the setup can do.  I absolutely will be buying that set of extension tubes!

-- hide signature --

f(x)

 ephophex's gear list:ephophex's gear list
Ricoh GR Ricoh Theta S Pentax K-5 Pentax K-3 II Olympus E-M1 II +1 more
Skeeterbytes Forum Pro • Posts: 23,144
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens
2

I'll toss in that a set of Vello extension tubes (10 & 16mm) I just received and that looks similar to the others mentioned here, does accommodate the MCs' protruding optics. So other than excavating space for the little extra tab on the teleconverters, it's a viable option for the 60. Pretty sure the material in question is plastic.

I get diameters of 26.3mm for the teleconverter barrel and 25.8 for the teleconverter extension, so a very snug fit. Can easily see how some tubes won't be a match.

Cheers,

Rick

-- hide signature --

Equivalence and diffraction-free since 2009.
You can be too; ask about our 12-step program.

bll123
bll123 New Member • Posts: 16
Re: Using your MC-20 Teleconverter with your OLY 60mm Macro lens
2

Skeeterbytes wrote:

I'll toss in that a set of Vello extension tubes (10 & 16mm) I just received and that looks similar to the others mentioned here, does accommodate the MCs' protruding optics. So other than excavating space for the little extra tab on the teleconverters, it's a viable option for the 60. Pretty sure the material in question is plastic.

Absolutely no issues with diameter with the Vello extension tubes, but for excavating a slot for the teleconverter tab, there's a screw in the way.    This is not a weight bearing screw, so it might be safe to extract it and leave it out.

Back of Vello Extension Tube

Back of 40-150mm showing depression to accommodate teleconverter tab.

 bll123's gear list:bll123's gear list
OM-1 Olympus Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter EC-14 Olympus 12-40mm F2.8 Pro Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 Pro Olympus 7-14mm F2.8 Pro +2 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads