Teleconverter questions

D&D

I am new to photography and I am trying to learn, which is going slower than I had hoped. :scratchI have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi SLR Camera Body with Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens and Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 AF Lens.

I was talking with some friends who have been in photography for a while and told them what I am wanting to do (wildlife photos) and they suggested that I get a teleconverter. I was looking around at teleconverters and I have a few questions. First question is, since I have Tamron lenses, does it have to be a Tamron teleconverter or will a Canon teleconverter work also? Second, what are some of the better teleconverters that are out there that will work with my camera and lenses? Lastly, they suggested that I look at either a 1.4X or a 2X, which would be better? :dunno

I am very new to using my camera (outside of auto settings) so forgive me for my questions, I am sure to some of you they are the simplest and easiest things to know.

Also, if anyone knows a good course where I can learn from the ground up how to use my camera on more than auto, it would be greatly appreciated. I am located in Griffin, GA but if it's an online course, that won't matter.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

20DNoob

Well I can start this a few different ways so lets just jump in feet first. The Canons have a protruding front element that may make mounting to Tamron glass impossible. You could try the others as I believe the front of the others are flat. Another thing is your going to lose autofocus once the widest aperture possible hits 5.6(IIRC) so you would have to make sure the non-Canon branded ones you buy are non reporting. They may be able to AF but it'll probably hunt for a bit. You could try renting one locally or online to see if would work out for you, or if you have a proper camera shop close by maybe you can give them a go.

Best of luck.

craig_d

Sometimes a teleconverter is the only way to get the shot you want, but they are always a bit of a compromise. Any defects in your lens will be magnified by the teleconverter, and you're not using high-end lenses to begin with. Teleconverters typically add their own image defects too: typically a bit of barrel distortion and CA. A 2x teleconverter is typically worse than a 1.4x.

Another problem is that your Rebel requires a maximum aperture of at least f/5.6 to autofocus. When a 1.4x teleconverter is on a lens, the lens loses one stop, so in this case you'd be at f/8 when shooting at 300mm, and you'd have to focus manually. A 2x teleconverter causes a loss of two stops, so you'd be at f/11 at 300mm. No autofocus and a very dim viewfinder image.

For wildlife work, ideally you'd want a high-end 1D camera (very expensive), because it can autofocus at f/8 and it also supports much faster continuous shooting than a Rebel. You'd also want a prime (non-zooming) lens of at least 400mm f/4 (preferably f/2.8, but that's one big, heavy, expensive monster of a lens). A teleconverter could safely be used with that setup without losing autofocus, and with relatively little image degradation because the lens would be so much better than any 70-300mm zoom.

With the setup you have, you can certainly learn, and you can get some great shots at relatively close distances. I wouldn't bother with a teleconverter, though, for the reasons given above.

ziggy53

The minimum I recommend for what most people want in a wildlife lens is a used Sigma "bigma" 50-500mm, f4-6.3 EX HSM. While it's not cheap you can generally find them in the $800-$900USD range and the image quality is not horrible. Anything less than 400mm native and most people find it limiting. (BTW the bigma is f6.3 at the long end but they "lie" to the camera and report an f5.6, just so the AF can still function. It's not perfect but it works pretty well.)

You can always use a combination of "blind" and lure to get animals closer to your position.

It takes more patience and more understanding of the quarry but getting the critters close is a valuable technique and often doesn't require much investment.

Take a look at some of the tips in this thread:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=797068

D&D

Wow, thanks for all the info. I still have a lot to learn (some of what your replies said is still greek to me). I am currently working on learning to auto focus (without taking so long that the shot is gone). I currently get pretty close to the wildlife, but for my safety, I wanted to be able to move a little further back. I will look into what you all have said. Thanks again.

angevin1

D&D wrote: »

Wow, thanks for all the info. I still have a lot to learn (some of what your replies said is still greek to me). I am currently working on learning to auto focus (without taking so long that the shot is gone). I currently get pretty close to the wildlife, but for my safety, I wanted to be able to move a little further back. I will look into what you all have said. Thanks again.

Not to worry about being new to your camera and it's settings...it all takes time and we were all new once to these concepts.

My vote comes from the simplest, and that is the near-above post from Ziggy53. A simple BIG-MA lens and no tele. Also a cheap-ish blind and so forth.

Also, I'd recommend using KEH, their down in Atl., and they'll let you stop by and try things if you call ahead and such. SO if they have a lens you'd like to buy, you can call em, same with a Tele. Plus, often them or Adorama or B&H will tell ya if something fits/won't fit on your body!

Cheers!

angevin1

Oh! And I meant to ask...what kind of critters since you mention backing away for safety?

D&D

angevin1 wrote: »

Not to worry about being new to your camera and it's settings...it all takes time and we were all new once to these concepts.

My vote comes from the simplest, and that is the near-above post from Ziggy53. A simple BIG-MA lens and no tele. Also a cheap-ish blind and so forth.

Also, I'd recommend using KEH, their down in Atl., and they'll let you stop by and try things if you call ahead and such. SO if they have a lens you'd like to buy, you can call em, same with a Tele. Plus, often them or Adorama or B&H will tell ya if something fits/won't fit on your body!

Cheers!

angevin1 wrote: »

Oh! And I meant to ask...what kind of critters since you mention backing away for safety?

Thanks for the link, I will check them out.

Critters, all sorts really. Deer, birds, coyote, raccoon, bear, elk, etc. Most aren't a problem with distance but the coyote, bear and elk, I want to keep a safe distance from.

WillCAD

While others have immediately latched onto your question about teleconverters and begun giving equipment advice, I seem to have focused on another part of your post, where you said:

D&D wrote: »

I am very new to using my camera (outside of auto settings) so forgive me for my questions, I am sure to some of you they are the simplest and easiest things to know.

Also, if anyone knows a good course where I can learn from the ground up how to use my camera on more than auto, it would be greatly appreciated. I am located in Griffin, GA but if it's an online course, that won't matter.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Based on this, I recommend that you start with a couple of books - Understanding Exposure, and any of the Dummies books, such as Digital Photography All-in-One for Dummies, or Digital SLR Cameras and Photography for Dummies, or even the older Photography for Dummies

These books will give you a better understanding of the basics of photography. They will translate the "greek" you mentioned, and allow you to get your camera out of the automatic modes with some confidence.

A lot of beginners make the mistake of thinking that they can become better photographers by buying better equipment, or thinking that they can't get the kind of shots they want without a specialized piece of gear. But that's not true; it's the artist, not the tools, that create masterpieces. My advice is simple - learn photography first. Then you'll be able to make up your own mind about whether you need new lenses or other equipment to get specific shots.

Remember - the camera doesn't take pictures, YOU take pictures. The camera, lenses, and other accessories are merely tools with which you exercise your own skills and judgment.

D&D

WillCAD wrote: »

While others have immediately latched onto your question about teleconverters and begun giving equipment advice, I seem to have focused on another part of your post, where you said:



Based on this, I recommend that you start with a couple of books - Understanding Exposure, and any of the Dummies books, such as Digital Photography All-in-One for Dummies, or Digital SLR Cameras and Photography for Dummies, or even the older Photography for Dummies

These books will give you a better understanding of the basics of photography. They will translate the "greek" you mentioned, and allow you to get your camera out of the automatic modes with some confidence.

A lot of beginners make the mistake of thinking that they can become better photographers by buying better equipment, or thinking that they can't get the kind of shots they want without a specialized piece of gear. But that's not true; it's the artist, not the tools, that create masterpieces. My advice is simple - learn photography first. Then you'll be able to make up your own mind about whether you need new lenses or other equipment to get specific shots.

Remember - the camera doesn't take pictures, YOU take pictures. The camera, lenses, and other accessories are merely tools with which you exercise your own skills and judgment.

Thanks. I will look into those books.