Which available TC for 500/4.5 SMC Tak?

d.bradley · 10-08-2007, 08:41 PM

I'm wondering what I should look for in a TC for my 500/4.5. I don't need much more length, so I figure a 1.4x will suffice.

What is a good, widely or 'often' available MF TC for this beast? Do I go old school, or something newer?

TIA!
Damian

SupremeMoFo · 10-09-2007, 12:29 AM

... 700/6.3???

d.bradley · 10-09-2007, 05:13 AM

Ummm...yes. Yes it is. Now if I can find out the best way to get there...

Abbazz · 10-09-2007, 06:16 AM

Originally posted by d.bradley

I'm wondering what I should look for in a TC for my 500/4.5. I don't need much more length, so I figure a 1.4x will suffice.

What is a good, widely or 'often' available MF TC for this beast? Do I go old school, or something newer?

Damian,

The 500/4.5 is a nice lens, but it's based on an old design without the use of low dispersion or high refractive index glass. That means that this lens exhibits a noticeable amount of chromatic aberration when used wide open, especially on a digital camera. If you want to get rid of CA, you have to stop down to f/8.0, which is still usable handheld for wildlife shooting. If you plan to use the lens with a 1.4x teleconverter, you have to consider that the amount of chromatic aberration will increase and you will loose one stop of aperture, so you will have to shoot at f/16 (f/11 on the aperture scale of the lens) to get rid of CA.

Another point is the difficulty of focusing accurately a 500mm lens when the effective maximum aperture becomes f/6.3 because of the stop eaten by the teleconverter.

Of course your mileage may vary. For example if you are shooting still life or for landscape work on a sturdy tripod, you might find this combo perfectly acceptable

Cheers,

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-09-2007, 02:14 PM

I don't know where I read this, (you may need to read past lens reviews in this forum) but I think people have said that at f4.5, the lens is just fast enough to allow the use of the 1.7x AF TC.

I know the manuals all say to be used only with f/2.8 and faster, but fortunately the cameras ca't read. It works just fine on F4 lenses. You would have to try on F4.5.

As others have noted, you will have some chromatic abberation and or purple fringing. At least I do on my SMC 300 F/4.0 especially when shooting a bright object.

10-08-2007, 08:41 PM	#1
d.bradley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 631	Which available TC for 500/4.5 SMC Tak? I'm wondering what I should look for in a TC for my 500/4.5. I don't need much more length, so I figure a 1.4x will suffice. What is a good, widely or 'often' available MF TC for this beast? Do I go old school, or something newer? TIA! Damian

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10-09-2007, 12:29 AM	#2
SupremeMoFo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 668	... 700/6.3???

10-09-2007, 05:13 AM	#3
d.bradley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 631 Original Poster	Ummm...yes. Yes it is. Now if I can find out the best way to get there...

10-09-2007, 06:16 AM	#4
Abbazz Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 667	Originally posted by d.bradley I'm wondering what I should look for in a TC for my 500/4.5. I don't need much more length, so I figure a 1.4x will suffice. What is a good, widely or 'often' available MF TC for this beast? Do I go old school, or something newer? Damian, The 500/4.5 is a nice lens, but it's based on an old design without the use of low dispersion or high refractive index glass. That means that this lens exhibits a noticeable amount of chromatic aberration when used wide open, especially on a digital camera. If you want to get rid of CA, you have to stop down to f/8.0, which is still usable handheld for wildlife shooting. If you plan to use the lens with a 1.4x teleconverter, you have to consider that the amount of chromatic aberration will increase and you will loose one stop of aperture, so you will have to shoot at f/16 (f/11 on the aperture scale of the lens) to get rid of CA. Another point is the difficulty of focusing accurately a 500mm lens when the effective maximum aperture becomes f/6.3 because of the stop eaten by the teleconverter. Of course your mileage may vary. For example if you are shooting still life or for landscape work on a sturdy tripod, you might find this combo perfectly acceptable Cheers,

10-09-2007, 02:14 PM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	I don't know where I read this, (you may need to read past lens reviews in this forum) but I think people have said that at f4.5, the lens is just fast enough to allow the use of the 1.7x AF TC. I know the manuals all say to be used only with f/2.8 and faster, but fortunately the cameras ca't read. It works just fine on F4 lenses. You would have to try on F4.5. As others have noted, you will have some chromatic abberation and or purple fringing. At least I do on my SMC 300 F/4.0 especially when shooting a bright object.