[ivoire]

I found one of these for $245 (reasonable price?). If anyone has first hand experience with this tc, i'd like to hear comments or see cropped example of results with it.

[Marc Langille]

If the optics are fine, then you'll be hard pressed to see any difference. Just a very small softening - at 100%, and you must look at two of the same subject with/without the TC in place - not significant at all. It's one of their best TC's, although MF only.

FYI on compatibility, since you've got the F* 300/4.5 (from B& H website) - not sure if you saw this:

_________________________________

The Pentax SMC-A 1.4x L Rear Converter (also known as a tele-extender) is desigend (no proofreading on this one I guess... ) to fit on select Pentax 35mm "long" lenses.

<snip>

Note: Due to the high-quality design of this converter (5 elements/5 groups), the teleconverter will only fit and work with a select range of lenses. Only the following lenses are compatible:

• SMC-A* 300mm f/2.8(*)
• SMC-A* 400mm f/2.8(*)
• SMC-A 500mm f/4.5
• SMC-F* 600mm f/4(*)
• SMC-FA* 600mm f/4
• SMC-A* 600mm f/5.6(*)
• SMC-P 1000mm f/8
• SMC-A 1200mm f/8
• SMC-F* 250-600mm f/5.6
• SMC-FA* 250-600mm f/5.6
• SMC-P 400-600mm f/8-12
• SMC-F* 250-600mm f/5.6
• SMC-A Macro 200mm f/4

(*) Note: Fits, but better performance can be achieved with other versions.
_______________________________________

Note that my FA* 300/2.8 is not listed, but it works just fine.

Cheers,
Marc

[ivoire]

so i'm guessing it works with the f*300mm?

[Marc Langille]

Bottom line: it has a protruding front element, so the rear element on your lens must be recessed - and I am not familiar with the F* and FA* 300/4.5 lenses.

I just measured mine, and the front element is protruding almost 1 inch/2.54 cm front the front ring mount. HTH....

Cheers,
Marc

[ivoire]

Thanks Marc, i checked the lens depth and it will not work so i guess its not for me. if anyone else is interested it is available at KEH for $245.

Cameras and used cameras available from KEH Camera Brokers.

I also found the Pentax A 1.4x-s converter for $189 at Tristate.

Pentax A 1.4X S REAR CONVERTER,

[roentarre]

That price is a bargain. I got mine brand new (old stock in Japan) for 350 US dollars.

[Wheatfield]

so i'm guessing it works with the f*300mm?

No. The rear element of the F*300/4.5 is not recessed.

[David07]

Anybody knows if the 1.4X-L TC would fit with the Tamron MF SP 300/2.8 (model 60B) ?? I read some contradictary information about this...

[volosong]

Bottom line: it has a protruding front element, so the rear element on your lens must be recessed...

Marc is right. I purchased this lens (a different one, I'm sure) from KEH several years ago to use with my M400/5.6, but it wouldn't work due to the rear opening of the lens not being large enough to accommodate the protruding front element of the converter.

[Outlaw]

Does anyone know if there has been a definitve chart or such posted anywhere which lists what TC's (all brands) goes with which lenses. Would be a great post on this forum. I did have a quick Google but didn't turn up anything useful - maybe my syntax was at fault.

[Marc Langille]

Another note: the 1.4X-L DOES NOT FIT my FA* 200/4 macro, nor my FA* 80-200/2.8... it sticks out like a sore thumb...

That's why I have other TC's...

[roentarre]

1.4L tele only works on A* 300mm f2.8, A* 400mm f2.8, A* 600 f5.6

[Ben_Edict]

Anybody knows if the 1.4X-L TC would fit with the Tamron MF SP 300/2.8 (model 60B) ?? I read some contradictary information about this...

It works - I use this combo myself. The image is great, with no easily discerned quality loss! The Tamron works beautifully even with the 2x-L converter.

Ben

[Ben_Edict]

Marc is right. I purchased this lens (a different one, I'm sure) from KEH several years ago to use with my M400/5.6, but it wouldn't work due to the rear opening of the lens not being large enough to accommodate the protruding front element of the converter.

On my Pentax SMC-A 400 f5.6 the L-converters fit easily. The rear is wide enough and the rear element is recessed more than necessary.

Ben

[Ben_Edict]

1.4L tele only works on A* 300mm f2.8, A* 400mm f2.8, A* 600 f5.6

My personal list also includes the A 400 f5.6 and of course all varieties of the 500 f4.5

Ben