Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2017 Posts: 756 | Review Date: June 12, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Intriguing, well-built, useful (Vivitar version) | Cons: | Heavy | Camera Used: K-1
| | I used this nifty little device with an SMC-A 50mm f/1.7 on my K-1. It's nowhere near as sharp as the 50mm by itself. However, the bokeh it returned ends up looking like an out-of-focus Van Gogh - beautiful and interesting. Here are two samples, slightly cropped... | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2013 Posts: 298 | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2013 Location: Kent Posts: 159 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: March 5, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | cheap way to get macro | Cons: | not good with heavy / long lenses | Camera Used: Canon EOS 50D
| | I Have the Vivitar version with PK fitting (no electrical contacts).
As I already have an excellent 50mm macro lens (the Macro Takumar 50mm f4 preset) I don't really need this for macro shots, however there are a few times when I need a bit more working distance but not often enough to warrant buying a 100mm macro lens so this seemed to be a good option.
I havent tested it for long distance and have not tried it with a zoom lens but I can see that it wouldn't be firm enough to hold a long or heavy lens.
As other people have said the results you get from this converter will depend on the quality of the lens that you fit to it, with that in mind I have tried a variety of 50mm standard lenses. I haven't tried it with my Macro Takumar because only being f4.0 the 2 stops light loss would make things difficult.
The lenses I have tried are:
Pentax M 50mm 1.7
Pentax K 55mm 1.8
Pentax M 50mm 1.4
Pentax Super Takumar 55mm 1.8
Pentacon 50mm 1.8
Chinon Tomioka 55mm 1.4
Zeiss Flektagon 35mm 2.4
I got differing results from most of these but the clear leader was the Pentax M 50 1.7 ( the Pentax K 55 came a very close second).
I did some test shots with the Macro Takumar alone at about 1:2 magnification, then repeated them with the Pentax M 50 1.7 + the macro converter. I altered the shooting distance so that the pictures came out the same size.
The subject was an English £20, crops of the original shot are shown below, Macro Takumar on the left :
There is a little loss of contrast with the teleconverter so I gave it a little boost as below:
From this result I consider the converter has done a pretty good job and I would recommend it to anyone that doesn't want to spend big bucks on a special macro lens, just make sure you fit a good lens to it if you want good results.
(Update - April 2016)
I have now acquired another version of this converter- the 2x KAX Macro Teleplus MC7.
I have carried out quite extensive testing and comparison between the two converters and can confirm very slight differences, being PKA fitting it is quite possible that the Teleplus is a later version.
There is quite a significant difference in the lens coatings, the vivitar shows mainly blue colouring and the Teleplus is multicoloured showing blue/green/orange.
In use the Vivitar gives a slightly warmer image, there were no differences in flare that I could detect.
Looking into the lenses there seems to be a slight difference in the construction with different depths of internal retaining rings between the elements, I didn't dismantle either converters so I don't know if that equates to different thickness or makeup of lens elements.
Apart from different rubber rings and different markings the mechanical construction is identical ( of course the Teleplus has the electrical coupling contacts ).
In comparison tests I could detect no major differences in image quality between the two converters either close up or at a distance, both performed well, if anything the shots from the Teleplus seemed to look very slightly sharper but this may have been due to contrast differences and no more than you would get from normal batch variations with any lenses and not really enough difference to choose one version against the other.
| | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 241 | Review Date: December 18, 2015 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 6 |
Pros: | Convenient, well built | Cons: | Not nearly a substitute for a true macro lens | | I got this with a Super Program and two other lenses for 28$, and it's in great condition. This is an incredibly fun toy to play with, and fits well matched with my A 1.4. It's convenient to just slap it on the back of the lens to turn it in to a 100mm lens with close focusing. I have an extra teleconverter with the glass removed permanently attached to it to give it some extra magnification.
The build quality is superb, all metal and glass and the extension is incredibly smooth. Mechanically, mine won't open beyond f/2, which is unfortunate. The contacts may be dirty, so aperture ring if I want 2.8, though I don't think I would ever use anything wide open on this.
Though I really like it for convenience sake, I don't pretend this thing is flawless. It is impossible to get really sharp shots it seems. For close up work this thing is great, but for any high magnification macro, it's poor. I've tried it with a Pentax-M 100mm macro attached, I've tried with my Minolta 100mm f/4 attached, neither gives great results. The glass sucks contrast from the image, giving it a subtly washed out look. Fine details turn to mush on close inspection, and you had better expect some rainbows appearing on any specular highlight.
A photo of the fibers of my sock, with the 2x macro converter fully extended + my Rokkor 100mm macro, + a full set of Minolta extension tubes + a de-glassed 1.4x converter + whatever the difference in registration distance between Pentax and Minolta SR is. It was shot somewhere between f/16 and f/32. Either the magnification is so high that subtle vibrations are causing the details to appear mushy (The camera was on a solid surface, the crazy amount of extension propped up with socks), or the converter is just soft. https://www.flickr.com/photos/131163794@N02/23526172650/in/dateposted-public/
Same story here, though I believe this was shot with a larger aperture https://www.flickr.com/photos/131163794@N02/23739365451/in/dateposted-public/ | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: January, 2008 Location: Paris, TN Posts: 3,349 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: November 22, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $56.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Variable magnification close-up/macro device | Cons: | Heavy, not especially good as a tele-extender | | This Vivitar device is a lot of fun to play with and quite effective when used as a close-up/macro tool with fast primes.
A coupl'a things to keep in mind though when considering its use and the monetary value of this device.
- It was designed and marketed in an era when the target consumers didn't have a lot of lens choices and carried a small kit. Long FL lenses were rare and rather expensive. A multi-function "lens enhancer" was a useful tool.
- Pixel-peeping wasn't common to the film era and absolute resolution was a laboratory issue, not a common amateur topic of conversation and comparison.
- A variable magnification close-up/macro capability actually has very limited application, especially in this age of digital post-processing software. Compare the options today with the needs of scientific and forensic photography when using slide film for publishing where comparative scale images on film were needed.
Like zoom lenses, you'll fare better if you think of it as a collection of discrete fixed extension tubes rather than a variable zoom device.
At current used prices, it offers a useful and economical tutorial experience with older lenses. Get one if you're so inclined, play with it and re-sell it later for about what you'll pay for it. What you'll learn using it will more than pay for any lose when you sell it - if you sell it. I've had one since the '70's. The deliberate nature of close-up shooting (and instant review histograms) makes the PK version only very slightly less desirable than the PK/A type.
It's average at best when used as a tele-extender and many economical consumer grade long zooms produce equal or better results than the 2X converters with mid-range teles and without the lose of 2-stops of exposure.
| | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 13 4 users found this helpful | Review Date: June 24, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Converts a normal lens into a macro lens. Small and easy to use. | Cons: | | | I have mostly used this converter on a Pentax A 50mm F1.7. With this setup it works quite well in macro mode. I don't really like it as a teleconverter but then I didn't buy it for that purpose. It works best on short fast primes up to maybe 135mm. I don't like it on a tele-zoom lens which for one thing seems too heavy for the converter and you lose too much light as tele-zooms are typically slower. On a tele-zoom it is better to use an achromatic closeup lens like the Canon 500d or 250d. It is inexpensive and handy so it is worth having one even if you have a macro lens or other equipment for macro. Mine has the PK A mount and I guess I was lucky because the A setting has always worked ever since I got it. You can focus with either or both the lens and the converter which might be helpful if your lens has a shorter focus throw than you prefer.......... I've been playing a bit more with this converter. I've tried it with different lenses. On any lens you of course get a doubling of the focus length which means a 50mm becomes a 100mm and a 90 becomes a 180mm, etc. In addition to the 2x magnification you get the effect of adding variable extension. I tried it on three different lenses. One was a Vivitar close-focusing 135mm that by itself focused to 1:2, the second was a 90mm Tamron adaptall (72B) that by itself focused to 1:1, and the last was a Vivitar 55mm macro that by itself focused to 1:1. On the 135mm I didn't like it too much. Extending the converter on the 135mm didn't change the magnification much so the effect was not much different than just a plain 2x teleconverter. It just seemed to me to be a bad range for macro work. On the Tamron 90mm it worked a whole lot better with a nice working distance and I was able to get better than 1:1 magnification. It also worked very well on the 55mm and I also got much better than 1:1 magnification. My conclusion is that this macro-teleconverter works best on lenses between 50 and 100mm focal length. The converter does maintain infinity focus so unlike using extension tubes you can focus on something further away if you wish. Sometimes you may want to focus on say a flower but if you had too much extension rather than the converter in front of your lens it might be out of range. Anyhow this converter combined with a macro lens enables you to go from infinity to considerably higher than 1:1 which is pretty handy.
| | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 32 | Review Date: January 5, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Macro extender included, optical quality with 50-135mm lenses | Cons: | Build quality, weight, sharpness with long tele lenses | | A very convenient accessory, one of the best 2x extender out there.
| | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2012 Location: Mission, B.C. Posts: 166 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: October 30, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $49.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Working distance, variable magnification, decent teleconverter, | Cons: | Contrast | | I recently picked one of these up, to use with my M 50mm f/1.4. I had been using extension tubes before, and I was getting fed up with the extremely close MFD. When I shoot macro, it's mostly of live bugs, and always out in the field, so more often than not, if my subject was at all skittish, I wouldn't get the shot. The main reason that I wanted this teleconverter was for the increase in MFD over using just tubes, and I couldn't be happier. With the lens I use, I don't notice much in the way of negative effects, except for a bit of reduced contrast in some situations, which is easy to fix with post processing. I have tried it with a few other lenses and the results were somewhat less impressive, but you can't really expect a teleconverter to improve the performance of a lens.
One thing I didn't care much about before I bought it, but have come to really appreciate in the short time that I've had it, is the ability to change magnification without removing your lens and either adding or subtracting sections of tube. Being able to change your focusing distance, and even focus to infinity if you have to is great!
I did notice on my copy that the infinity position is a bit out, so if I just set it to infinity, I'll get out of focus shots.
Overall, I would highly recommend this teleconverter to anyone who likes macro, but wants to keep a bit more space between them and their subject, and maybe most importantly, has a good quality prime lens to pair it with. It's a great gadget, but it's definitely only as good as the lens you use it with.
| | | | Junior Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 42 | Review Date: February 11, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Very well built, high image quality. | Cons: | None | | A very good, 7 element 2x macro-focusing teleconverter.
| | | | Inactive Account Registered: January, 2011 Posts: 440 | Review Date: August 18, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | sharp, macro helicoid | Cons: | | | This is a very useful TC which will also give you 1:1 macro with a std 50mm lens. I've actually been very impressed with the sharpness, as compared to other 2x TCs.
Particularly, I get impressively sharp infinity shots with the 200mm smc k lens, with a small reduction in contrast, easy to fix in PP.
With (an adapted) Canon SSC 400/4.5 FD on a k20d, I'm also getting very high-res, contrasty images, even at infinity!
With a 50mm 1.4 smc, it becomes a VERY sharp macro lens 100mm/2.8 and will get you to 1:1..
I think a lot with TCs depends on finding the right lens combination.. some will be a lot better than others!
| | | | New Member Registered: November, 2009 Posts: 1 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: March 6, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | high image quality, convenient zooming up to 1:1, cheap | Cons: | none really | | This converter delivers what it is designed for if used with care.
However, please make sure to only combine it with excellent lenses at their sweet spot aperture. (I normally use it with my Pentax M 50 1:1.7 stopped down to apertures between f/2.8 and f/8). When doing so you will get great resolution macro images. Sharpness is almost on par with true macro lenses. However, contrast is a bit lower. I can also recomment to combine this with a reverse adapter and a reverse mounted 50mm lens. Will give you about 2:1 magnification at good IQ.
Take care when using this in non-macro situations: The "infinity" position on the converter focus ring is not precise. This can lead to misfocus if you just set the lens focus ring to infinity without actually checking focus via the viewfinder.
Note concerning the previous negative reviews of this item: Nobody should be surprised that this item does not deliver when combined with mediocre lenses that do not produce excellent IQ by themselves. The TC will only magnify what the lens produces. If the main lens already is limiting IQ, the limitations will become even more apparent when using the TC. However, the TC should not be blamed for improper use and for the laws of physics.
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 309 2 users found this helpful | Review Date: November 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: N/A |
| I've understood that, for the PK-A models, loss of body-lens communications occur quite often. If you buy it at the prices it commends nowadays (still a good buy, though), make sure that 'A' mode actually works before buying.
Fixing this issue isn't that much of a job, but it certainly requires a steady hand. I'll link to a guide which helped me: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/493608-post21.html
(You need fairly small screwdrivers. Make sure to have an even smaller flat head screwdriver to lift the contact springs onto their place, it helps quite a bit.)
(I fixed mine about half a year ago, and it has failed again.)
| | | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Posts: 3,948 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: May 15, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Very well-built, very good macro extender | Cons: | lose stops | | This interesting device (I have the P/K version supposedly doubles as a teleconverter and as a macro extender, but it is really for the latter that it shines.
It's a well-crafted pice of metal and glass that feels totally solid on the mount and is smooth focussing, despite being decades old now.
I do not see the CA on macro shots. If you're into macro, this is a very good addition.
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: California Posts: 1,602 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: May 8, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $29.00
| Rating: 7 |
Pros: | TC and Macro extender in One, price | Cons: | CA, loss of stops (but expected), loss of IQ (also expected) | | All in all this is a good TC. With all TCs especially 2x ones you can expect to lose a few stops and some IQ, having said that this TC works perfectly fine within its parameters.
This TC does what it is suppose to do. It will effectively extend the focal range of your lens by 2x and it will make your lens into a 1:1 macro lens (or at least close to 1:1).
The CA can be annoying but also fixed with photoshop.
The IQ is very good when wide open and just ok at the longest focal length (I use this with my Tamron 70-300mm by the way) and since it increases the length that light has to travel to your sensor you will find the viewfinder a bit darker than with the TC off but that is no big deal to me.
| | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2009 Posts: 43 2 users found this helpful | | |