HD Teleconverter Officially Announced

RockvilleBob · 02-27-2014, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by Chris Mak

I have the new Pentax tc on pre-order, for use with the Sigma 500/4.5.
I wouldn't know why it should not work. When you use the lens on the camera, aperture and focal length are recognized, and screw drive focussing works perfectly. Why should it be any different when mounting the lens on the tc? Does it not only pass the info about the lens on to the camera? The camera should do the calculating to take the tc into account. I would sooner question a third party tc on a Pentax camera, than a third party lens on a Pentax tc.
Also, as far as I know when using a tc, IQ is best with long focal length primes, only with shorter focal lengths and zoom lenses IQ can be questionable.
Anyhow, I'll see in about a month.

Chris

Please let me know how it works on the 500 Chris. I plan to buy one for my birthday in June. By then I will have paid off the 500 Santa brought me

Chris Mak · 02-28-2014, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by RockvilleBob

Please let me know how it works on the 500 Chris. I plan to buy one for my birthday in June. By then I will have paid off the 500 Santa brought me

I will, and hope to have something positive to report, as I have already sold the sigma 1.4tc and won't be able to replace it.
I'm confident though that the pentax tc will outperform the sigma tc, due to the better coating alone.

**barondla** · 03-03-2014, 11:24 AM

Had a chance to shoot the converter on my K-7. It seemed to focus better than my Kenko 1.4 teleconverter. Only had a few seconds to try it out with my Pentax DA*300. The aperture was reported as f5.6 and the focal length as 420mm. Now I want one.
thanks
barondla

goubejp · 03-03-2014, 11:58 AM

Pentax A*300 ? Isn't it FA*300 ? The A* is manual focus...

**barondla** · 03-03-2014, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by goubejp

Pentax A*300 ? Isn't it FA*300 ? The A* is manual focus...

Sorry I missed a letter. It is the DA*300 f4. The Af used the motor in the lens. It is so quiet.
thanks
barondla

Mike.P® · 03-04-2014, 06:37 AM

So it would seem no firmware update is needed if it worked ok on a K-7.

thibs · 03-04-2014, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by Mike.P®

So it would seem no firmware update is needed if it worked ok on a K-7.

But maybe not optimally.

Giklab · 03-04-2014, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by thibs

But maybe not optimally.

I bet my left man part that the update will say 'Optimized Contrast AF with HD 1.4 TC'.

thibs · 03-05-2014, 03:21 AM

Originally posted by Giklab

I bet my left man part that the update will say 'Optimized Contrast AF with HD 1.4 TC'.

Yep, that's what I'm expecting too.
It may be necessary for getting the lens ID too or things like that but I expect normal screwdrive AF to be without problem, as its use on an older AF body btw.

D1N0 · 03-05-2014, 07:45 AM

I think the firmware update is to transmit the correct focal length of the tc+lenscombo to the camera.

Stone G. · 03-05-2014, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

I think the firmware update is to transmit the correct focal length of the tc+lenscombo to the camera.

No, with all respect it cannot be. If this was the case, barondla would not have observed what he did on his K-7:

Originally posted by barondla

Had a chance to shoot the converter on my K-7. It seemed to focus better than my Kenko 1.4 teleconverter. Only had a few seconds to try it out with my Pentax DA*300. The aperture was reported as f5.6 and the focal length as 420mm. Now I want one.
thanks
barondla

We are still wating for the firmware upgrade to be released, But the RICOH home page clearly states:

"*The camera’s firmware must be updated to the latest version before using the autofocus function. Compatible camera bodies are: K-3, K-50, K-500, K-30, K-5 II, K-5 II s, K-5, K-01, K-7, and K-r. Autofocus is possible with a PENTAX lens having maximum aperture of f/4 or brighter."

HD PENTAX-DA AF REAR CONVERTER 1.4X AW / Converter / AF Lens Adapter / K-mount Lenses / Lenses / Products | RICOH IMAGING

goubejp · 03-05-2014, 08:27 AM

But the correct focal length has to be transmitted for the image stabilisation to work properly ?
Remember that the lenses like the DA*300 already transmit the "true" focal lenght - it varies with the focus, can be 270 mm at minimum focusing distance. The presence of a teleconverter should be detected and taken in account

Ishpuini · 03-05-2014, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

I think the firmware update is to transmit the correct focal length of the tc+lenscombo to the camera.

As mentioned this seems not needed according to experience on a K-7.

What would be other reasons why the body needs to be aware of the presence of the TC?
- lens corrections
- AF readjustments
- MTF values (unless also translated by the TC?)
- other?

If the body is not aware of these, it's just as if a third party lens were mounted that passes the correct focal length/aperture information but is not recognized properly by the body (much like Sigma using Pentax lens IDs in some of their reverse engineered lenses).

Wim

normhead · 03-05-2014, 11:34 AM

Mine has shipped, should be here in 3 days..

audiobomber · 03-05-2014, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Mine has shipped, should be here in 3 days..

From Henry's? Did they notify you, or did you call them?

03-03-2014, 11:24 AM	#183
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Had a chance to shoot the converter on my K-7. It seemed to focus better than my Kenko 1.4 teleconverter. Only had a few seconds to try it out with my Pentax DA300. The aperture was reported as f5.6 and the focal length as 420mm. Now I want one. thanks barondla Last edited by barondla; 03-03-2014 at 12:35 PM.*

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02-27-2014, 06:13 PM	#181
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	Originally posted by Chris Mak I have the new Pentax tc on pre-order, for use with the Sigma 500/4.5. I wouldn't know why it should not work. When you use the lens on the camera, aperture and focal length are recognized, and screw drive focussing works perfectly. Why should it be any different when mounting the lens on the tc? Does it not only pass the info about the lens on to the camera? The camera should do the calculating to take the tc into account. I would sooner question a third party tc on a Pentax camera, than a third party lens on a Pentax tc. Also, as far as I know when using a tc, IQ is best with long focal length primes, only with shorter focal lengths and zoom lenses IQ can be questionable. Anyhow, I'll see in about a month. Chris Please let me know how it works on the 500 Chris. I plan to buy one for my birthday in June. By then I will have paid off the 500 Santa brought me

02-28-2014, 11:37 AM	#182
Chris Mak Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 639	Originally posted by RockvilleBob Please let me know how it works on the 500 Chris. I plan to buy one for my birthday in June. By then I will have paid off the 500 Santa brought me I will, and hope to have something positive to report, as I have already sold the sigma 1.4tc and won't be able to replace it. I'm confident though that the pentax tc will outperform the sigma tc, due to the better coating alone.

03-03-2014, 11:58 AM	#184
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	Pentax A300 ? Isn't it FA300 ? The A* is manual focus...

03-03-2014, 12:39 PM	#185
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Originally posted by goubejp Pentax A300 ? Isn't it FA300 ? The A* is manual focus... Sorry I missed a letter. It is the DA*300 f4. The Af used the motor in the lens. It is so quiet. thanks barondla

03-04-2014, 06:37 AM	#186
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	So it would seem no firmware update is needed if it worked ok on a K-7.

03-04-2014, 01:55 PM	#187
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by Mike.P® So it would seem no firmware update is needed if it worked ok on a K-7. But maybe not optimally.

03-04-2014, 02:29 PM	#188
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Originally posted by thibs But maybe not optimally. I bet my left man part that the update will say 'Optimized Contrast AF with HD 1.4 TC'.

03-05-2014, 03:21 AM	#189
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by Giklab I bet my left man part that the update will say 'Optimized Contrast AF with HD 1.4 TC'. Yep, that's what I'm expecting too. It may be necessary for getting the lens ID too or things like that but I expect normal screwdrive AF to be without problem, as its use on an older AF body btw.

03-05-2014, 07:45 AM	#190
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	I think the firmware update is to transmit the correct focal length of the tc+lenscombo to the camera.

03-05-2014, 08:13 AM	#191
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by D1N0 I think the firmware update is to transmit the correct focal length of the tc+lenscombo to the camera. No, with all respect it cannot be. If this was the case, barondla would not have observed what he did on his K-7: Originally posted by barondla Had a chance to shoot the converter on my K-7. It seemed to focus better than my Kenko 1.4 teleconverter. Only had a few seconds to try it out with my Pentax DA300. The aperture was reported as f5.6 and the focal length as 420mm. Now I want one. thanks barondla We are still wating for the firmware upgrade to be released, But the RICOH home page clearly states: "The camera’s firmware must be updated to the latest version before using the autofocus function. Compatible camera bodies are: K-3, K-50, K-500, K-30, K-5 II, K-5 II s, K-5, K-01, K-7, and K-r. Autofocus is possible with a PENTAX lens having maximum aperture of f/4 or brighter." HD PENTAX-DA AF REAR CONVERTER 1.4X AW / Converter / AF Lens Adapter / K-mount Lenses / Lenses / Products \| RICOH IMAGING

03-05-2014, 08:27 AM	#192
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	But the correct focal length has to be transmitted for the image stabilisation to work properly ? Remember that the lenses like the DA*300 already transmit the "true" focal lenght - it varies with the focus, can be 270 mm at minimum focusing distance. The presence of a teleconverter should be detected and taken in account

03-05-2014, 08:41 AM	#193
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	Originally posted by D1N0 I think the firmware update is to transmit the correct focal length of the tc+lenscombo to the camera. As mentioned this seems not needed according to experience on a K-7. What would be other reasons why the body needs to be aware of the presence of the TC? - lens corrections - AF readjustments - MTF values (unless also translated by the TC?) - other? If the body is not aware of these, it's just as if a third party lens were mounted that passes the correct focal length/aperture information but is not recognized properly by the body (much like Sigma using Pentax lens IDs in some of their reverse engineered lenses). Wim

03-05-2014, 11:34 AM	#194
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Mine has shipped, should be here in 3 days..

03-05-2014, 11:54 AM	#195
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by normhead Mine has shipped, should be here in 3 days.. From Henry's? Did they notify you, or did you call them?