[Marc Langille]

Beat you to it Seriously, have you tried the Tamron 2x on the FA*?

No sir - only the Pentax versions: 2X-S and 2X-L... and only under much-less-than-ideal conditions. Generally when it's too overcast or shady, the TC goes bye from the mix... too much AF hunt. I do have some excellent images with the 1.4x and the FA* 300/2.8 though... the submission deadline approaches, so I'll post some images when possible. Problem is that the camera doesn't recognize the new focal length with the Tamron 1.4x TC...

Curious: do you have a Tamron 2X? If so, what's your thoughts on it's IQ?

Besides, I'm looking for a better combination than my existing setup... like a super-telephoto in Pentax mount... and I have some leads for the future... Otherwise it's Nikon for me = I'll consider shooting two systems...

Regards,
Marc

[simonkit]

I recently bought the new Pentax 55-300 & I'm quite impressed, wondered if anyone has tried it with a TC as yet ?

thanks

simon

[kasey]

that's pretty danged good, heh? i'm seriously impressed.

clarify for me, which TC did you use for this pic on the DA*300? exact name, please, and thanks. AF worked as well as the SDM?

thanks very much.

kasey

[Mike.P®]

Tamron 1.4X Teleconverter on a Pentax SMC K mount 300mm prime.

[falconeye]

Tamron 1.4X Teleconverter on a Pentax SMC K mount 300mm prime.

I looked at the full size photos at Flickr. Thanks you provided them.

However, the first is plain blurry, the second still somewhat soft and, therefore, not better than the result as obtained from 140% upsampling. Therefore, both aren't good examples of what the combo may achieve.

I've seen the shutter is 1/180 which should be too slow for 640mm effective focal length -- because the SR isn't effective with TC (maybe gains 1 stop only, i.e., not enough).

That's a reason for me to repeat what I think is good advice:

Only use a TC if you can shoot at shutter speeds of at least 1/1000s (for 1.4x 300mm) (to compensate for the shake)(or on a tripod) and at f/5.6 or f/8 (stopped down at least 1 f-stop, to compensate for some softness induced by the Tamron TC). Esp. with a K20D...

Unfortunately, the EXIF lacked aperture.


On a side note: I noticed you edited the focal length (to read 420mm ) Which tool did you use?

[Buddha Jones]

No sir - only the Pentax versions: 2X-S and 2X-L... and only under much-less-than-ideal conditions. Generally when it's too overcast or shady, the TC goes bye from the mix... too much AF hunt. I do have some excellent images with the 1.4x and the FA* 300/2.8 though... the submission deadline approaches, so I'll post some images when possible. Problem is that the camera doesn't recognize the new focal length with the Tamron 1.4x TC...

Curious: do you have a Tamron 2X? If so, what's your thoughts on it's IQ?

Besides, I'm looking for a better combination than my existing setup... like a super-telephoto in Pentax mount... and I have some leads for the future... Otherwise it's Nikon for me = I'll consider shooting two systems...

Regards,
Marc

Yeha, I have it and it is almost never in the mix, the PF I get from it is awfull and the IQ aint much better. But in its defense, I need a stronger tripod head to support the weight of the setup so that may be a cause of the loss in IQ. I will retest it when I get a stronger setup.

[Mike.P®]

However, the first is plain blurry, the second still somewhat soft and, therefore, not better than the result as obtained from 140% upsampling. Therefore, both aren't good examples of what the combo may achieve.


Unfortunately, the EXIF lacked aperture.


On a side note: I noticed you edited the focal length (to read 420mm ) Which tool did you use?

I should think it was plain blurry on the original size, have you tried hand holding a 300mm K mount full metal prime with a teleconverter attached to a K10D body, its not exactly a digital compact
The aperture is done via the lens in manual mode on the old K mount, it will not show up in the exif.
I cannot see anywhere the focal length saying 420mm, I see 450 but not 420.

[falconeye]

I should think it was plain blurry on the original size, have you tried hand holding a 300mm K mount full metal prime with a teleconverter attached to a K10D body, its not exactly a digital compact
The aperture is done via the lens in manual mode on the old K mount, it will not show up in the exif.
I cannot see anywhere the focal length saying 420mm, I see 450 but not 420.

Mike, I intended no criticism for the photos. They are great!

I just wanted to note that it would be difficult to judge from your photos what a 1.4x 300mm combo is capable of. Because as a matter of fact, your photos would have been equally great if shot w/o TC and digitally cropped.

420mm: My fault! I thought DA*300mm. Stupid me. So, it was a manual lens and you entered 450mm as the closest match. Therefore, SR should have been quite effective, giving 2 stops at least, corresponding to 1/750s. Just 1 more stop should fix it then

[Mike.P®]

420mm: My fault! I thought DA*300mm.

I wish

[Asahiflex]

Shameless bump: KEH had one of the Tamron-F 1.4x Pz-AF converters for sale yesterday, so I quickly grabbed it. Not bad at $43 for one in EX+ condition I've read on this forum that a Tamron was sold for $500 recently. That's just plain stupid, Pentax needs to market its SDM converter ASAP!

I'm going to compare the tamron to the Kenko 1.5x, on my SMC Pentax-F 300mm f/4.5 and the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO EX. I know the Kenko does quite well on both lenses, but will the Tamron be better? I'll soon find out!

[Miserere]

Shameless bump: KEH had one of the Tamron-F 1.4x Pz-AF converters for sale yesterday, so I quickly grabbed it. Not bad at $43 for one in EX+ condition

$130 should be the maximum price to pay, and $43 is a steal. You'll be the envy of the forum

Is it the MC4 version?

[jgredline]

Mis, it looks like this thread came back from the dead.

Make sure it is the mc-4 and you will be good to go.

[hinman]

Mis, it looks like this thread came back from the dead.

Make sure it is the mc-4 and you will be good to go.

Thank you for all the information on this thread. While saving fund for the long lens in 400mm and 500mm, I currently settle with Tamron 70-300 Di LD and go with two TC's with Tamron 1.4x Pz-AF MC4 TC and Promaster 1.7x Spectrum 7 AF TC that can assist my Tamron 70-300 zoom to reach up to 420mm and 510mm with AF. AF is noticeably slower with Promaster but PF/CA seems better controlled with Promaster. (need to confirm with more testing).

More use and test will confirm my findings, my initial impressions are in my blog posts and they are mostly positive. All test shots are done hand-held in iso 400 from f/6.3 to f/8.0 with shutter speed roughly from 1/500 sec to 1/1600 sec with Pentax K10D in jpg without any sharpening

• Tamron 70-300 Di LD on Birds In Flight
  
• Tamron 1.4x Pz-AF MC4 TC
  
• Promaster 1.7x Spectrum 7 AF TC

#1
Tamron 70-300 Di LD Macro &
Tamron 1.4x Pz-AF MC4 TC

at 420mm after Tamron 1.4x TC


#2
Tamron zoom &
at 420mm after Tamron 1.4x TC



#3
Tamron zoom &
Promaster 1.7x Spectrum 7 AF TC

at 408mm after Promaster 1.7x TC


#4
Tamron zoom

at 510mm after Promaster 1.7x TC

[jgredline]

Those are some of the best humming bird picks I have seen!!!!!

[borno]

wow! those are really good hinman