[csa]

I've heard many comments that the Pentax 55-300 does not do well with TC's. I just received a Tamron F 1.4X PZ AF MCH TC, from a nice member here. (Thanks Jeff!).

Today is very overcast, so not a good day for telephotos in general. These two images were taken with a tripod, with same settings. I only cropped the 55-300 to match the size of the image with the TC, no other PP done!

#1 is the 55-300.
#2 is the 55-300 + TC

I frankly am very pleased with the combo! (BTW, the originals were sharper than these uploaded ones!)

Attached Images

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[csa]

Here are extreme crops.

#1 55-300.

#2 55-300 +TC

Again, no PP except cropping.

[BigMackCam]

Carol - the 55-300 + TC combo results are great! I notice the shot was taken at 300mm, so for focusing purposes, the aperture would have been f/5.8 x 1.4 = f/8. Were you able to use AF??

[csa]

Thanks! Yes, AF on both.

Also as I mentioned the originals were much sharper than these uploaded ones.

[BigMackCam]

Thanks! Yes, AF on both.

Also as I mentioned the originals were much sharper than these uploaded ones.

Fantastic! That's a nice 77-420mm setup you've got there now! In fact, 117-644mm equivalent on 35mm!

The uploaded JPEGs look very respectable, so I've no doubt the originals will be excellent...

[csa]

Mike, thank you! I'm so very pleased with this combination! I have hesitated to get a TC, as many have said the 55-300 would not be a good match with one. Happy to say, they were wrong. Plus it adds very little to the overall length of the unit. This satisfies my looking for a longer telephoto (for now!)

[timb64]

Thanks for sharing those Carol.I'd be very interested to see some comparative bird pics if possible.

[csa]

Thanks! I'll be posting some bird photo comparisons when I can. Weather isn't cooperating right now. So far, I'm very pleased with the TC!

I frankly do not understand why several say a TC will not work well (or at all) with the 55-300; those comments are the reason I waited so long to get one. Sure glad I did get it!

[csa]

More for the "naysayers" about using a TC with the 55-300. These were handheld, no PP, with the exception of cropping. They can use a little sharpening, but wanted to post straight out of camera.

The last one is more of a crop; I must say I'm very, very pleased & happy with this TC!!

[csa]

I see the TC doesn't show up in the EXIF information, is this normal?

[BigMackCam]

Carol - what's important to me is that you can see the fine feather and tree bark detail. Some gentle sharpening / clarity adjustment in post processing, and you're good to go. Hand-held, you say? Very good indeed. I think I may have to start looking for the same model of TC. I know they don't come up that often, but I can be patient (occasionally!)

[csa]

Thanks Mike! Yes, a little sharpening would be beneficial, but wanted to post directly from the camera to show results. Yes, handheld, and windy to boot!

This particular TC has been recommended many times, I was very lucky to happen to see it on Marketplace! I think you'd be very happy with one.

[sandbasser]

Never mind...I reread the 1st post and answered my own dumb question.

[fwcetus]

I see the TC doesn't show up in the EXIF information, is this normal?

Yes. AFAIK, only the Pentax DA 1.4X correctly transfers all the info (so that default IS with another TC would "under-compensate").

I'd say your Tamron did do a good job, Carol -- however, I'm still not sure that the lens without the TC, and with cropping, is still not about the same.

But, I'd say that that particular Tamron TC is a good one -- I've pared my own TC's down to just the Tamron-F 1.4X Pz-AF MC4, the Pentax DA 1.4X, and the Pentax F 1.7X AFA (more for the "AFA" than for the "1.7X").

[csa]

Never mind...I reread the 1st post and answered my own dumb question.

I didn't see your original post, so it couldn't have been a dumb question!