A M42 1.5x tele-converter non-review ;)

[Anu]

I got a Vivitar 1.5x TC for M42 today, brand new (well, "new") in it's box. I've not yet (and maybe newer will) put it through a rigorous testing regime, but I did take a few pictures with it and CZJ 135/3.5 today.

The converter itself is three elements in three groups, with multicoating. Price I paid was about ten euros + P&P.

I have Pentax K20D, a crop camera with high pixel density. The CZJ alone is a stunning lens on this camera, even wide open.

With the 1.5x TC the center area is sharp wide open. By 'center area' I mean maybe 85% of the frame. Shooting birds, perfectly acceptable, shooting landscapes, maybe not Stopping down didn't do much - the center already was sharp, and got maybe a tiny bit sharper, and stopping down to f5.6 (well, f8 w/ the TC) still left the left/right edge a bit unsharp. I don't know if stopping down more would help as I don't really care if the left/right are razor sharp.

Interestingly, I am sure, my cheap four element Soviet 2x TC renders the edges quite a bit better - though, it of course is also a stop slower. The 1.5x seems to produce less CA though.

Anyhow, I am happy with the price/buck-ratio, especially since I really don't care about the left/right edges when shooting with TC. Easily recommended for a crop camera. I don't think I'd use it on full frame though.

[themoleman342]

Out of curiosity, which soviet TC do you have?

[Anu]