Kenko converters pro 300 range.

[Gazh]

Hi
My sigma 170-500 no longer functions and time`s are hard as they are for most of us.
I have a Tamron 70-200 SP f2,8, can`t afford to replace my siggy so looking to buy a Kenko Pro 300 1x4 or 2x0. I know about the loss of one stop but what are they like when it comes to image quality.

Thanks

[baz]

Hi Gary
I started with these the 1.4 is ok the 2 is a bit soft not a patch on the canon,but good for the price.Have a look on e-bay
you never know.

Baz

[gembobs]

I have the Tamron 70-200 and both the Pro 300 DGX 1.4x TC and the Pro 300 DG 2x TC. (The DG doesn't report to the camera, so exif data for focal length is incorrect and the aperture value doesn't automatically change to a max of f5.6, the DGX does report to the camera and so the exif is correct)

The 1.4x TC works great IMO, the lens can hunt a bit, and AF can be a little slower, but I haven't found it that noticable.

The 2x Tc is less great - it needs very good light to be able to keep the shutter speed up, especially if you hand hold and it can take a while to achieve focus. When it is bright enough though, I have been happy enough with the results. However, I only really use it for record shots.

These are taken with the 70-200 and 2x tc and are either test shots or record / ID shots. All full frame with normal processing:

140mm @ f8, 1/400, ISO 1250 hand held in overcast flat light:

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Animals/U...2_94S6F-XL.jpg

400mm @ f5.6, 1/800, ISO 400, monopod in very bright late afternoon direct sunshine:

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Other/Ran...6_ZPeLY-XL.jpg

400mm @ f5.6, 1/500, ISO 1000, elbows resting on a shelf, in bright direct sun (I may have cropped this image):

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Animals/U...6_99FKy-XL.jpg



These are all taken with the 70-200 and 1.4x TC. All have been processed normally and may have been cropped.

280mm @ f8, 1/500, ISO 200 hand held, taken as part of a low speed burst of shots (from the middle of the burst), big crop

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Travel/Bo...1_bjUQP-XL.jpg

98mm @ f4, 1/3200, ISO 400 (had been shooting in the shade a few seconds earlier!) hand held

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Travel/Bo...2_yPehP-XL.jpg

280mm @ f4, 1/500, ISO 400, hand held in a slow moving boat:

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Travel/Bo...9_7Zfqq-XL.jpg

280mm @ f4.5 1/320, ISO 400, hand held:

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Travel/Bo...8_tWCUH-XL.jpg

this is a rubbish grab shot (and only half attempted process), but it shows that it can deal with fastish action: 280mm @ f5.6, 1/800, ISO 200, hand held, taken from a slow moving boat:

http://gembobs.smugmug.com/Travel/Bo...5_BW4Kq-XL.jpg

Personally, I would just get the 1.4x TC and not bother with the 2x TC if you can only buy one.

Hope that helps.

[Gazh]

Personally, I would just get the 1.4x TC and not bother with the 2x TC if you can only buy one.

Thanks all.
And to gembobs, 1.4x is what i am looking at getting. I wanted to see if any one had an opion about the 2.0x, you know if they where O K, more for your money,but it seems not. I`ve also seen 3.0x on amazon. But i shant go there.

[Gazh]

Would like to add, my Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter arrived today and i`m very impressed with it. I did not get the Pro 300 in the end (again cost) i got instead the MC4 DGX.
On my Tamron SP 2.8 AF works and a f stop of f4, which is nice. On my Sigma 170-500, 170 is f7.1 and 500 is f9.0. AF no longer works on this lens so i can`t tell you if it would work. But my guess is it would.
Being out of full time work at the moment, (and things still look bleak) this is an ideal way of getting that extra reach at a very low cost.
I got my Kenko 1.4X at Camera King, sold through Amazon at (with express Post) £110.61p. In my opinion, Birthday money well spent.