Originally posted by Asahiflex LOL!
I think topics like this, and Internet in general, do strange things to buyers. I think those high prices are entirely due to this topic in particular. I cannot think of anything else that caused those prices to sky rocket... Come on folks, it's just a converter!
Before I managed to snap up the converter, I feel pressured to open up this thread as I could not find this
Tamron 1.4x Pz-AF MC4 TC. Tele lens are expensive and difficult to hand hold and having Tamron stop manufacturing these TC items will only jack up the price with higer demand.
And indeed they are rare items to find. We may see it odd and a bit irrational with the bid up prices
but I feel badly for the buyers as they should look into all alternatives. They could have spent the money on a Sigm 135-400 or a better prime with K 300mm f/4.0. Why the converter? There is no magic to it and this thread may have promoted the irrational thinking for the potential buyers.
Having owned this converter, I would suggest potential buyers not to go crazy on this item. It is good but I don't find it justified to paid $200+ on this item. If the item is way over the original price of $130, look for the alternatives.
I still want to hear the opinion of Kenko 1.5x and whether AF works satisfactory. I now also own the
Promaster 1.7x with AF and I can attest that the AF works reasonably well, even on my consumer tele zoom with Tamron 70-300 Di LD. And best of all, it costs $69.99 when I bought it brand new from wolfes camera store in ebay. In my short test with 2 days of shooting, the
PF/CA control when used with my cheapo Tamron zoom
is a bit better than that with Tamron 1.4x TC. IQ are yet to be tested. I find the promaster 1.7x TC to be great with hand-holding in 10 to 50 feet distance in good lighting. Beyond 100 feet, I find the SR registered at 300mm gives me problems in long distance objects with hand-holding.
Last edited by hinman; 07-31-2008 at 10:47 AM.