Things to Consider Before Buying a Teleconverter

Tony Northrup and Chelsea Northrup continue to offer up informative videos to help photographers understand and Learn the Art and Science of Photography. This latest video has Tony breaking down: the pros and cons of using teleconverters, how using one effects your focal range, image quality, aperture, and autofocus capabilities. So if you've been thinking about buying a teleconverter, this video may help you make a more informed decision before picking one up.

If you do decide a teleconverter is right for you, then the Canon and Nikon brand versions are listed below. Or you can find the considerably less expensive Tamron options here.

Canon Extender EF 1.4X III

Canon Extender EF 2X III

Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III

Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III

Teleconverters (also known as tele-extenders) can give you extra reach, turning your 300mm lens into a 420mm or 600mm lens... but with serious penalties to sharpness, light-gathering, and autofocus. This video shows you how teleconverters work and will help you decide whether they're right for you.

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Kenn Tam's picture

Been holding this damn camera in my hand since 1991.
Toronto / New York City

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4 Comments

Considering that Tony does not understand how aperture works on full frame and crop sensors, I find his logic flawed and do not care to watch this video.

In his previous posts and videos, he states that a 25mm 2.8 lens say on a Micro 4/3rds is the same as a 50mm / 5.6 on a full frame. Yes, the 25mm would be the equivalent of a 50mm on a full frame, but the aperture is only equivalent as far as depth of field. The light gathering ability is the same. If they were not, then why do flash meters have no switch to indicate what size of sensor?

In one thread, even Ryan Brenizer chimed in that Tony's logic was flawed.

Tony just does not get it.

Felix - before you discount anything Tony Northrup says as bogus because you don't agree with a tutorial he did, maybe you should take the time to gather ALL the facts and come to a technically sound and valid opinion instead of limiting yourself to what you currently take as gospel. Tony has researched this ad nauseum and is willing to be proven wrong, but the math behind his assertion is factual, accurate and repeatable. How do you go from discussing the relationship between lenses, sensors and f-stops to an assumption that since there is "no switch" on a flash that proves he's wrong....? Huh? If you disagree, fine. If you have PROOF he is wrong - present it and everyone will listen. Nuff said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtDotqLx6nA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5zN6NVx-hY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Im4W_9blhY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OtIiwbAZi8

enjoy.

It's quite simple, really. Take a photo on a full-frame camera with, say, a 28mm f/2.8. Now crop it in Photoshop, as if a smaller sensor was sitting in the camera capturing a smaller area. Your field of view has changed. Did your photo get any darker by cropping it? No, it did not.

Tcons work great for video and TS lenses. He doesn't mention that.