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Kenko Teleplus Kenko Pz-AF 2X Teleplus MC4 Review RSS Feed

Kenko Teleplus Kenko Pz-AF 2X Teleplus MC4

Reviews Views Date of last review
4 15,937 Thu September 18, 2014
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
25% of reviewers $42.25 4.50



Description:
2X Teleconverter with SDM/HSM/DC motor functionality.
Price History:



Add Review of Kenko Teleplus Kenko Pz-AF 2X Teleplus MC4
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New Member

Registered: February, 2012
Posts: 17
Review Date: September 18, 2014 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Small and light
Cons: Will only autofocus reliably up to f4.5, so AF doesn't work at the long ends of consumer zooms UNLESS THEY FOCUS INTERNALLY
Camera Used: Samsung GX-20, Pentax K-x   

This works better for me than I had feared after reading these reviews. I can think of three reasons for this.
  1. Mine is designated DG, and is (2017) the latest version available for Pentax, perhaps with more effective coatings than earlier variants.
  2. I've only tried to use it on long zooms. A second-hand Sigma AF 70-300 will cost less than this TC new, and sometimes as little as this second hand, so I would never have considered fitting this TC to something like the Pentax 18-55 or 18-135.
  3. Luck, or misfortune, with choice of lenses. Of my non-AF teleconverters, the MC7 most often gives the best results, but with some lenses the Tamron-F/DOI 7 element (they are the same) works better, whilst with others the non-AF MC4 is just as good.
I have used it with a Pentax F 70-210 f4-5.6 and a Sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 DG Macro (and now also with the Pentax F 100-300 f4.5-5.6, the Pentax FA 80-200mm f4.7-5.6, the Pentax FA 100-300mm; and the Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro; see updates below). I have also compared it with a Pz-AF MC7 teleconverter.

I have only attempted to use it on bright sunny days, by the seaside. It locked focus reliably up to f4.5 on a static or slowly moving target, so the Pentax was usable from 70-150 mm, whilst the Sigma could be used from 70-200 mm. Both these lenses are better at their shorter focal lengths anyway. It didn't lock quickly enough to catch birds in flight, though I have occasionally had success using the Sigma without the TC.

There is more detail discernible in the shots with the TC than equivalent crops without it.

So this gives me 400 mm autofocus at f9 with the Sigma. If I mate the Tamron Adaptall 80-250mm f3.8 with the Pentax 1.7x AF adapter, I get 400 mm at f6.5, but pay an enormous penalty in terms of weight, and still can't catch birds in flight with autofocus.

Since it won't autofocus beyond f4.5, my additional autofocus reach with these lenses is less than 1.5 x. Which brings me to my chief criticism. I would get equivalent reach from a 1.4x autofocus TC, which would be even smaller and lighter, and I would gain a stop in brightness.

However, I would never expect to be able to buy a 1.4x Autofocus TC for £20.

If I am traveling light with autofocus lenses, I bring this along.

UPDATE: I recently acquired the Pentax FA 80-200mm f4.7-5.6 and the FA 100-300mm f4.7-5.8. The TC didn't play well with the FA 100-300mm f4.7-5.8 at any focal length, hunting for focus even when the target displayed good contrast, but to my surprise it worked well with the FA 80-200mm f4.7-5.8 all the way up to 200mm in good light. There was just a drop in contrast.

FURTHER UPDATE: The Pentax-F 100-300 f4.5-5.6 is f4.5 to beyond 200 mm, and I have got AF to work reliably out to about 240 mm, and occasionally all the way to 300 mm. The combination works well. More detail but with reduced contrast, when compared with cropping images straight out of the camera.

FURTHER FURTHER UPDATE: The Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro behaves just like the DG Macro (non-APO). It will autofocus out to 200mm only.

I have now acquired a Tamron Pz-AF MC7 2x. In general it autofocuses as well (or as badly) as this MC4, but on the two lenses that the MC4 works best with, the Pentax F 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 and the Pentax FA 80-200mm f4.7-5.6, the MC4 works reliably to longer focal lengths. In the centre of the frame I can see no difference pixel peeping. But the JPEG's come out a bit bigger with the MC7, suggesting that there is more detail somewhere about. It makes no difference to me, because I'm only using the teleconverter on targets in the centre of the frame.

I have now also used a Kenko P-AF 1.4x DG. With it, the Pentax F 100-300mm f4.5-5.6, the lens it was bought to mate with, now autofocuses all the way to 300mm, captures more detail than can be obtained by digitally cropping, gives me just as much reliable autofocus zoom range as the 2x, and is a stop faster.

I noted that my two lenses for which the MC4 works best were the two with internal zoom. I think that is significant. I recently acquired a Tamron 18-200mm f3.5-6.3, and this also autofocuses all the way to 200mm, even though it is only f6.3 at 200mm. So I would guess that the Pentax-F 80-200mm, which is optically identical to the FA, and the Pentax FA PZ 100-300mm, optically identical to the F, would probably work as well. But my advice would still be, if you're hoping to use a teleconverter with a consumer zoom, buy the 1.4x rather than any 2x TC.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 726
Review Date: March 29, 2014 Not Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 2 

 
Pros: None, really... it's inexpensive
Cons: AF may work, SDM may work, IQ is bad, cheaply made
Camera Used: K5, Kr, K100D, K7   

Where to start... I got two on ebay for ~$50 (each, at various times) in the hopes of adding reach while still keeping AF. Well, not so much.

First off, DA* lens won't AF at all. HSM lenses (tried a few) will *try* to focus but will never lock. Screw drive lenses will focus but even a fast 2.8 (now at f/5.6) may focus if it is very bright. I mean burning retina bright.

Also when using screw drive lenses, often some weird non-healty noise was generated.

IQ is pretty bad, it may double the focal length but it screws image quality by 10 folds ... Using my Sigma 35 (in manual focus...) I end up with the IQ of scratched, dirty, misaligned and full of fungus lens.

So in a nut shell, not only it heavily degrades image quality, I'm not even sure it's even safe to use, those grinding/weird noise when paired with a screw drive AF lens are scary.

Save $50 and crop with photoshop, your pictures will look 4 times better any you won't risk damaging your camera/lens.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: May, 2010
Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA
Posts: 636

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: May 12, 2012 Not Recommended | Price: $80.00 | Rating: 5 

 
Pros:
Cons: bad IQ, NO SDM. NO AF on f5(f4) or higer

Not a good Teleconvertor.

DAL 55-300: Would work at f4 and very bright light BUT very slow focusing. f4 or smaller aperture will hurt and 9/10 times not lock

DA*16-50: doesn't work with SDM


If you really need 2X, get the MC7.
If you don't need 2X, get the 1.5X. Much better IQ
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2007
Location: Courtenay BC
Posts: 498

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 12, 2012 Not Recommended | Price: $4.00 | Rating: 3 

 
Pros: Autofocus including SDM compatibility
Cons: Focus will not lock on

I'm really going to hold off final judgement on this teleconverter until I have had some quality time and some bright outside weather to test it out. I tried it on my K5 with my DA 18-135 (DC Motor), Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM OS and my DFA 100 F2.8 this morning after purchasing it yesterday in a thrift store.

1st Attempt: Focus does not lock on using any of the above lenses in the house and I when tried outside, the dark rainy day left me with the same disappointment. I need a bright sunny day to really give it a try to see what it will and will not do.

2nd Attempt: Tried the converter using live view and with the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM OS it locked on focus quite quickly and consistently when aiming the lens towards brighter targets in the house. Outside weather continues to be dark and rainy, but I did get the lens to lock using liveview at pretty well anything that was contrasty, trees, bushes, grass etc. So far anyway the converter looks promising if it is used in Liveview. For the $4.00 I have invested in it, I think I owe it a bit more effort to see what it will do.

I have tried several times to upload a photo of the converter, but haven't been successful as yet.
Add Review of Kenko Teleplus Kenko Pz-AF 2X Teleplus MC4



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