[PentaxMI]

Simple Question...
Why is the Pentax-DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter so expensive? I base this on the thought that one can buy a telephoto lens such as the HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE for about $50 less. Seems strange to me.

Timm

[Unregistered User 8]

Hi Timm. The HD DA 1.4x AW Rear Converter is optically and mechanically excellent. It may seem expensive at first, but once it is used on very good lenses, its price can be justified in my opinion. It is the 1st true auto focus rear converter Pentax has produced, doing both screw drive and the varying motor drive models. Being weather sealed, it can be used without fear on the WR and AW Pentax lenses. With quality comes price. I have one and use it regularly. It is a great accessory. With only a few lenses where it cannot be used, it is a very versatile piece of equipment.

EDIT - The review on the forums is very good reading Timm, and explains the virtues of it much better than I can.

Pentax-DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

[rawr]

Brand name teleconverters always are expensive, for some reason. The 1.4 Pentax one is pricey, but comparable in price to similar Nikon and Sony 1.4 TC's:

From B&H:

Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter $548
Pentax 1.4x HD PENTAX-DA AF Rear Converter AW $499
Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III $496
Fujifilm XF 1.4x TC WR Teleconverter $449
Canon Extender EF 1.4X III $429
Tamron Teleconverter 1.4x for Nikon F $419
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital MC-14 1.4x $349
Sigma TC-1401 1.4x Teleconverter for Nikon F $349

[clickclick]

I've eyed buying one many times, but just wish it had a greater multiplier for the price. I know it's most likely a sweet spot to maintain optical quality to keep it at 1.4x. Suffering from LBA, I end up twisting on what other lens I could possibly buy with that much money allocated to a new purchase. It is appealing though as a light weight method to extend another lens without having to carry two telephotos - I have a DA* 50-135 and D FA 150-450 - suddenly, the camera bag is pretty heavy and the 1.4x starts looking interesting with the 50-135, but is it enough reach for the price given the other lenses? Would I just be better (and happier optically) with a DA*200? But then that's almost twice the price. This is how I get twisted

[Unregistered User 8]

I've eyed buying one many times

Can you rent one clickclick to see if you like it?

[clickclick]

I don't think there's anyone near me who rents equipment. I'm on the Chesapeake, and stores I knew from way back, like Industrial Photo outside D.C. that I could potentially drive to, have all closed, at least to the best of my knowledge.

I've thought if it went on sale for under $400, I'd buy one. They seem to be pretty solidly fixed on price though.

I have wondered how it would do on the 150-450. I do have some nice old telephoto lenses, like a Meyer-Optik Gorlitz 4/200, so this has held me back a bit too. LBA is fun and dangerous. I'm trying to focus on purchases that fill gaps versus just increasing the collection. I'm also wanting to go full frame at some point, and it's hard when trying to future proof purchases. On the filp side, the K3II is fantastic, and sometimes I think it makes more sense to stick with the crop factor I get coupled with lenses like the 150-450. For birding, am I really better with that lens on a full frame camera and cropping the final picture more than I did on APS-C? What's the real pixel density on the area of the image of interest? Am I better off with 24MP not cropped as much as 36MP cropped in more with the same lens? And I'm thinking things like in crop mode the K1 is about 15MP - so is this really an improvement with an APS-C lens? (realize the 150-450 if full frame, but it's area of the image the bird is in I'm thinking) Hope I'm not taking this too far off topic.

[Adam]

Simple Question...
Why is the Pentax-DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter so expensive? I base this on the thought that one can buy a telephoto lens such as the HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE for about $50 less. Seems strange to me.

Timm

The short answer is that it's a niche product that caters to (demanding) users of premium lenses. Users who just need a telephoto lens can grab the 55-300mm for much less.

The DA 1.4x TC is trending at about $100 below MSRP, so if you can get it for $499 I'd say that's a good price.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

[KiloHotelphoto]

You can rent one from Lensrental.com I did a couple months ago and it was nice on the K3 but vignettes real bad on the K1.

If you plan on getting a K1 I would save your money but if you stick with crop sensor it probably is worth picking it up.

For birding my opinion is that cropping images from the K1 are better than not cropping from a K3. I just think the images the K1 produce are so much better but everyones eye is different .

One on the marketplace now for $375.

[clickclick]

thanks for the feedback - all good to know

[tduell]

I have wondered how it would do on the 150-450.

I use it all the time with the 150-450 with K-3 II and K-1, and wouldn't be without it.
I don't have any issues using it with the K-1 as the vignetting is minor and I almost always end up cropping my bird shots.

Cheers,
Terry