[pentaxian999]

Have anyone ever tried pairing a 50mm lens with a TELE-CONVERSION lens, the ones used in-front of lenses, such as in Prosumers/Superzooms? I know that IQ will degrade, I also know that mostly are junk, but according to reviews it seems there are some tele-conversion lenses that actually performs very well out there.

[LeGuillotine]

Have anyone ever tried pairing a 50mm lens with a TELE-CONVERSION lens, the ones used in-front of lenses, such as in Prosumers/Superzooms? I know that IQ will degrade, I also know that mostly are junk, but according to reviews it seems there are some tele-conversion lenses that actually performs very well out there.

Hi

I haven't ever tested ane of those, only some cheap 2x teleconverter, thats not good.
Why You want to do it? Better to buy some inexpensive 70 -135 lens that You can use for portraits?


LeGu

[Lloydy]

I only ever tried one, which came with a bunch of Canon film stuff and I tried it on my AE1p with the 50 / 1.4 with some Fujicolor. Never again......it was a horror! But you've got to try these things. I use it as a magnifying glass in my workshop now, and it's ok for that.

Diopters for macro are another thing, and some of those are good and useful. But I'd forget the front mounted teleconverters, there are good cheap lenses out there that are far better value for money.

[jatrax]

I also know that mostly are junk,

So you already know all you need to know.

Don't waste your money. Most of them go for $15 - $30usd and for twice that you can get a decent off brand lens that will give the same range and better IQ.

[RKKS08]

RioRico repeatedly praised the SONY VCL-1546A (x1.5) as nearly not degrading IQ at all, if used with a decent normal or tele lens. He seemed to be specially fond of the paper thin DOF, if paired with his 1.2/50.

Because of his advice, I looked for it on German eBay, and after several weeks I got one in mint condition, not too expensive. I forgot how much I payed, but here at auctions you will pay €20 - €40 for used ones.

I haven't done pixel peeping yet (and maybe I won't do it), but my impression from some real life shots is that IQ is quite ok. But it is not small (77mm filter thread), and a lens hood should always be used.

Edit:
Also, your assumption that you'll get a F2/ 75mm would be correct with a TC between lens and body. With front tele converters (if their front lens is big enough like with the SONY mentioned), the F stop doesn't change. You'll get a F1.7 / 75mm combination, but VERY thin DOF.
The bad reputation of front tele converters is because many of them were designed for use with camcorders. These are known for lower resolution, very small sensors, and lots of distortion anyway. But it seems the Sony was designed for the use with DSLRs.

Edit 2:
I also once tried the SONY VCL-0758A (x0.7). Whereas sharpness seems ok, (barrel) distortion and vignetting make it unusable for a DSLR. This one is really for camcorders and P&S only. But then I tried it with a 24mm on APS-C; maybe with 50mm it would improve. However, I have no need for such a combination, as I own primes with 35, 30, 28, and 24mm, and zooms down to 19 and 18mm.

[pentaxian999]

Sony Nex' 16mm f2.8 lens have such 'extension' lenses, and proven very good. So, how thin is the DOF I should expect? At 'normal' f1.7 it's already thin as hair