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09-30-2008, 12:02 PM   #1
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Kenko 2x Teleplus Macro MC7 with FA 50 f/1.4

I have this withdrawn in marketplace as I don't get much interest in the macro converter. This looks identical in appearance and functionality to the Vivitar 2x Macro converter. I used it this morning and get it another workout with Pentax FA 50 f/1.4 in both the 1:2, 1:1 macro and the 2x tele functionality. I can sum up my more liking after the 2nd shoot out. Unlike previous average impressions, the 2x Tele is quite handy and very reasonable. I was shooting macro at 1:1, 1:2 in few minutes and when I turn the converter to the infinity end, the 2x tele kicks in and I have a reasonably fast 100mm f/2.8.


Kenko 2x Teleplus 1:1 Macro MC7 -- Hin's Tech Corner
Pentax FA 50 f/1.4 -- Hin's Tech Corner

1:1 Macro with FA 50 f/1.4
when converter is extended
towards 1:2, 1:1 macro end



#1
from last shootout
about 1:1 macro end


#2
about 1:1 Macro end


#3
about 1:1 Macro end


#4
in between 1:2 and 1:1 Macro end


#5
in between 1:2 and 1:1 Macro end



#6
should be between 1:2 and 1:1 focusing


#7


#8
with Pentax A 50 f/2.8 1:2 Macro


#9
from last shoot out



Complete Test Photos in Flickr




Please note all are snapshots done quickly to demonstrate the converter. No sharpening has been applied, I use mostly one button fix on contrast in Picasa


Last edited by hinman; 12-11-2008 at 04:15 AM.
09-30-2008, 12:17 PM   #2
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2x Tele with FA 50 f/1.4
when TC is turned to infinity end



#10
@100mm as 2x TC


#11
@100mm as 2x TC


#12
@100mm as 2x TC


#13
@100mm as 2x TC


#14
2x Tele


#15
on 2x tele
cropped (test at infinity focus with panning)


#16
on 2x tele
cropped



Last edited by hinman; 12-11-2008 at 04:16 AM.
10-01-2008, 10:20 AM   #3
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Questions remains!



I have tried various means to get to 1:1 macro. I bought the famous Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro and I have the hardest time in using it to get close to 1:1 focusing. I tried Cosina 1:1 macro adapter and I like it but it has quite a lot of showing PF. The macro converter still exhibit certain PF and vignetting to some degree in wider apertures. And I used Vivitar AT-22 extensions tubes and I find it just as hard due to the added weight. In lure of my past experience, I find the Kenko 2x Macro inexpensive and adds fun factor to any 50mm. And my beloved FA 50 f/1.4 become an instant 1:1 macro with a turn in the adapter. And one switch to the other end, I get a 100mm f/2.8 lens and I find it quite feasible even in tracking the bee. The MF in FA 50 f/1.4 is NOT bad at all. It is by no means a great macro but close enough in my books.

My questions:
  • Should I keep this adapter with my 50mm?
  • Should I compare it to a true 1:1 macro, or a 1:2 macro lens?
  • Any suggestions to compare, you can see Hin's Camera Gear and suggest comparisons?
10-01-2008, 03:12 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by hinman Quote


I have tried various means to get to 1:1 macro. I bought the famous Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro and I have the hardest time in using it to get close to 1:1 focusing. I tried Cosina 1:1 macro adapter and I like it but it has quite a lot of showing PF. The macro converter still exhibit certain PF and vignetting to some degree in wider apertures. And I used Vivitar AT-22 extensions tubes and I find it just as hard due to the added weight. In lure of my past experience, I find the Kenko 2x Macro inexpensive and adds fun factor to any 50mm. And my beloved FA 50 f/1.4 become an instant 1:1 macro with a turn in the adapter. And one switch to the other end, I get a 100mm f/2.8 lens and I find it quite feasible even in tracking the bee. The MF in FA 50 f/1.4 is NOT bad at all. It is by no means a great macro but close enough in my books.

My questions:
  • Should I keep this adapter with my 50mm?
  • Should I compare it to a true 1:1 macro, or a 1:2 macro lens?
  • Any suggestions to compare, you can see Hin's Camera Gear and suggest comparisons?
Hmmm. . . if your goal is to produce macro images using a convenient, lightweight, easy to focus lens, I suggest the following comparison:

(1) FA50/1.4+2x macro TC
versus
(2) A50/2.8 1:2 macro, cropped to an equivalent field of view

with both images scaled to the same size (say, 800px or 1600px wide)

Keep an eye on the background as well as the subject; teleconverters can alter bokeh quite drastically.

10-02-2008, 10:24 AM   #5
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I have redrawn the sale and have decided to keep it longer.

QuoteOriginally posted by hinman Quote
Thank you all for the interests and purchases. I have withdraw the Kenko 2x Teleplus Macro that is identical to Vivitar 2x Macro converter. With little interest except Frank and few other members, everyone seems patiently waiting for a price drop while watching the DOW goes down. Or perhaps, everyone is tied up on fund or all moved to own a 1:1 macro already.

I test it further on two days of shooting and I get to grow to love it on my FA 50 f/1.4. It is quite phenomenal. Results shown are not my best as I do it in snapshot fashion without tripod, flash light, and careful planning on timing. I have to say I find this converter very easy to use, especially in the 1:2 down to 1:1 focusing. I have handled Lester A Dine, Extension Tubes, and Cosina 1:1 Achromatic macro adapter to try to get down to 1:1 and none are easy and results varies. And I opened up a Lens discussion thread and I will compare results later on

Kenko 2x Discussion in Lens Forum

The converter may not be the best means to achieve 1:1 macro but it is great for traveling where I always have my fastest prime in my bag and with this converter, I can achieve few things:
  • FA 50 f/1.4 as a fast prime as usual
  • a 1:2 or 1:1 macro with a turn on the converter, 1:3 and 1:2 is better for flowers for me.
  • a 100mm short tele-lens with reasonable maximum aperture at f/2.8
  • with combination of AF TC such as my up-coming Pentax F 1.7x TC and the yet-to-discovered Kenko 1.5x AF TC, I can have two more modes to work with my FA 50 f/1.4
    • an FA 75 f/2.0 with the Kenko 1.5x TC
    • an FA 85 f/2.8 with my Pentax F 1.7x TC or the promaster 1.7x that I just sold

With this converter, my FA 50 f/1.4 has 3-1 functionality, ie. 50mm f/1.4 fast, 100mm f/2.8, macro from 1:20 to 1:3, 1:2, 1:1 on a turn, and more if I bring along other TC's. And bokeh in macro is found quite excellent in test shots after some boost in contrast in pp.[/LIST]
Thanks,
Hin

Last edited by hinman; 10-02-2008 at 12:11 PM.
10-02-2008, 10:25 AM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by troyz Quote
Hmmm. . . if your goal is to produce macro images using a convenient, lightweight, easy to focus lens, I suggest the following comparison:

(1) FA50/1.4+2x macro TC
versus
(2) A50/2.8 1:2 macro, cropped to an equivalent field of view

with both images scaled to the same size (say, 800px or 1600px wide)

Keep an eye on the background as well as the subject; teleconverters can alter bokeh quite drastically.
Yes, thank you for the suggestions. I will compare it to Pentax A 50 f/1.8 1:2 Macro, Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro and Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro EX (non-DG).
10-03-2008, 05:55 PM   #7
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In case anyone is interested in buying this Vivitar 2x Macro converter, please check out the Marketplace as there is one available at a very decent price. It is NOT sold by me as I have withdrawn mine for further fun and testing. If my test confirm me good results relative to my other 1:1 and 1:2 macro lens, I will make a decision on what to trim in my gear planning

Thanks,
Hin

10-06-2008, 10:57 AM   #8
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I continue to use the Vivitar 2x Macro (or Kenko 2x Macro) as a Tele with my FA 50 f/1.4. I made fruit salads and pot stickers in the weekend.


Last edited by hinman; 12-11-2008 at 04:17 AM.
10-06-2008, 11:14 AM   #9
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Hi Hinman,

When you are going to test, take the SMC A 1.7/50 into account also. Relative cheap to get, and a" proven" better flat field performance as the 1.4 version. So using the 1.7 version would even lift the quality (macro wise), compared to your already very good examples from the 1.4 lens with macro converter.

HIH,
10-06-2008, 11:20 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Malo1961 Quote
Hi Hinman,

When you are going to test, take the SMC A 1.7/50 into account also. Relative cheap to get, and a" proven" better flat field performance as the 1.4 version. So using the 1.7 version would even lift the quality (macro wise), compared to your already very good examples from the 1.4 lens with macro converter.

HIH,
I have a SMC M 50mm f/1.7 but I would love to have a A 50mm f/1.7. Will do the test on M 50mm f/1.7 instead. For all of my testing, I am very impressed on how the converter do on my FA 50 f/1.4. Not only are the 1:3, 1:2 close up are very good, I consider the 1:1 macro be reasonably close to a true 1:1 macro lens. Hopefully, I can confirm that notion with comparison shots. The 2x Tele from the MC7 (with 7 elements) are not too shabby as I do get clean shots from the snapshot testing.

Thanks,
Hin
10-07-2008, 12:39 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by Malo1961 Quote
Hi Hinman,

When you are going to test, take the SMC A 1.7/50 into account also. Relative cheap to get, and a" proven" better flat field performance as the 1.4 version. So using the 1.7 version would even lift the quality (macro wise), compared to your already very good examples from the 1.4 lens with macro converter.

HIH,
I tried the Kenko 2x Macro converter with the SMC M 50mm f/1.7. The little lens is quite amazing with the macro converter. It is unfortunate that I don't have the 'A' version; otherwise, I can try using external flash to open up the DOF to cover the whole flower with clarity. So most shots in 1:1 and 1:2 has very narrow DOF to only few millimeters on the flower. Please let me know what you think. The converter changes the M 50 f/1.7 to a Pentax K (for kenko) 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro -- voila for a price of $50 (lens) + $70 (converter) with roughly the cost of $120 for a 1:1 macro and with a fast 50mm in f/1.7, not bad if you ask me. Please also note on the 2x tele on 100mm shots on the hummingbird.


Pentax M 50 f/1.7 + kenko 2x Macro



#1
bokeh and color is pretty intact
contrast needs a boost in PP
usual narrow DOF, flash will open up the view


#2


#3
the converter in 2x tele mode and
I use roughly 1:15 magnification


#4
Hummingbird in fly in 2x tele for 100mm


#5
cropped
PF in branches


#6
cropped


Test pictures on M50 f/1.7 + Kenko 2x Converter


Last edited by hinman; 10-08-2008 at 05:54 PM.
10-08-2008, 07:36 AM   #12
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What do you think of the results?

A bump as I like to gather opinions on the shots done with Kenko 2x Macro converter on the M 50 f/1.7. I plan to upgrade to A 50mm f/1.7 as that would allow use of PTTL flash on the macro shots.

Thanks,
Hin
10-08-2008, 05:51 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by hinman Quote
A bump as I like to gather opinions on the shots done with Kenko 2x Macro converter on the M 50 f/1.7. I plan to upgrade to A 50mm f/1.7 as that would allow use of PTTL flash on the macro shots.

Thanks,
Hin
I tested the Kenko 2x macro again today with my Komine 135mm f/2.8 1:2 and I find the adapter can't lock focus at all. I have to switch to MF on body when I use the converter on a 135mm manual lens.

And when I go back and study all the pictures that I did with M 50mm f/1.7 + kenko 2x converter, it looks as if the adapter, when using with Av aperture mode, can only meter wide open in f/2.4. The exif in all pictures are set for f/2.4 though I set the apertures on the M 50 f/1.7 to f/8.0 and f/11.0.

I have the suspicion that the converter will have problems working with non-50mm lens and that the A metering will have problems with M lens that may require use of green button for stop-down metering, which I have not tried. And I don't see this problem when I use the converter with either FA 50 f/1.4 or A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro.

Test pictures on M50 f/1.7 + Kenko 2x Converter all have f/2.4 and the same happen when I test the adapter on my Komine 135mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro.


Thanks,
Hin
12-10-2008, 08:38 PM   #14
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Bumping an old post but I interested in getting one of these TCs but on ebay they list as Kenko 2x Teleplus MC7 without the word macro and have Pz-AF on the TC and looks like



is that the same TC as the macro you used above ?

thanks
12-10-2008, 09:17 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by eva2000 Quote
Bumping an old post but I interested in getting one of these TCs but on ebay they list as Kenko 2x Teleplus MC7 without the word macro and have Pz-AF on the TC and looks like



is that the same TC as the macro you used above ?

thanks
Without the wording for macro, it is likely a TC that only extends the lens to 2x in focal length. You need to look for both Macro and Tele in the TC. Please see the picture of the actual item that bear the wording for "Macro", "Teleplus", MC7 among others.

I sold mine in the forum for $70 last week. You should have asked me earlier. It is the best gadget to use with 50mm lens, I recommend those 'A' lens or FA 50mm lens to be used with the macro converter as the 'A' will allow you to use the auto metering, saving you the extra step in stop-down metering.

Thanks,
Hin
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