7 element 2x teleconverter

Pancolart · Expire: 2013-11-18

Wasn't this teleconverter supposedly made by Tokina: Click here to see on Ebay.de ?

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Kiron, Tokina, what does it matter? Is it any good? Most TCs are crap, so it would be good to point out those that are better than the usual. The Komura Telemore 7 elements is praised sometimes.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

"MC7" - that's generally seen on Teleplus branded TC's. The Macro version I've got with a helicoid is very good for close / macro work but average as a X2 converter, although it is better than a lot of others I've tried. ( each time I get a kit of cameras and lenses there seems to be a X2 converter in the bag as well )
Before our trip to Canada this year I tried 9 or 10 various X2 and X3 converters out on a couple of Vivitar Series 1 70-210 lenses and a Tokina ATX 80-200 / 2.8 because I wanted long reach for a whale watching trip. I tested each one on the best lens for the mount, on a tripod, on a sunny day, I was very disappointed with the results and didn't bother taking any of them, I just took a Viv' S1. ( and the whale watching got cancelled at the last minute Sad

)

That one linked on ebay looks like an ordinary X2 and not a macro with a helicoid. Who made it ? Who knows? The various ones I've got here have names like AICO, Teleplus, Kenmore, Telemore, Paragon, DOI and Vivitar. I doubt any of those are manufacturing companies.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Yeah, I've had a similar number of TCs, maybe more, and they are all crap, the only decent one is a Konica 2x, which works quite well with my Konica 3.5/200 and 4.5/300 lenses. Probably the only one I'd consider using much would be a Zeiss Mutar, but those are rather expensive.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I have two 7 elements TC Vivitar brand I think with macro focusing tube, they are good ones, I share Ian's opinion better to avoid even top one like Zeiss Mutar step behind single lens.

Basilisk · Joined: 21 Mar 2013 Posts: 356 Location: UK

I think in the days when your 2x teleconverter was to turn your bog standard 135 f2.8 lens into a 270 f5.6 lens for shooting on 400 ASA Kodakcolor it didn't matter whether it was degrading the image a bit. But on a 24MP APS-C sensor, in most cases you will probably not get a much better image from the teleconverter than you would from cropping and enlarging the image in photoshop.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

Hm I once tried an 2x Apo-Teleconverter by Leitz (for R-Mount) - that one was really as good as an TC technically can get I guess (virtually no IQ degradation except diffration, even very nice on an 16MP NEX-C3 sensor, if using a good lens).
But their prices on Ebay are insane+++ Smile

I have an Vivitar 2x Macro-Focusing TC which is quite decent.

Any others (mostly Porst, Revue) I had were crap.

Generally I also share Ians opinion better to use a native lens (or a smaller sensor). But sometimes they can be useful (if you need the focal length but don't want to carry a 350-500mm refractor lens in your bag all the time).