Any review of the Tamron 1.4 converter

[dhbailey]

I have read recommendations for getting a 1.4x converter, and am wondering if any of you have any experience, good or bad, with this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=53109&is=REG

The price is $79.95 at B&H, and there are other Tamron 1.4x converters that cost more, so I am wondering if this is cheap for a reason (i.e. lousy optics, improper AF, whatever) or if this will do well for me.

The lenses I currently have to use with it are listed in my signature. I would especially be using it with the 75-300 IS USM.

Thanks for any input you might have.

[Jon]

I haven't used that particular one, but you get what you pay for. Their "SP" (Super Performance) series has had more work done to preserve the original lens' capabilities. You'll see more deterioration of image quality with this one than with their SP 1.4X. Will it be enough to bother you? I can't say. How critical are you about lens quality? Would you rather get something now that'll be just OK, or delay a little and get something that's good. And for the 75-300, it isn't going to be a Canon or Sigma TC. They physically won't fit. "Good" is probably the Tamron SP.

[Quinn Porter]

It looks like the cheaper Tamron teleconverter would be better for your purposes.

Direct from the Tamron web site (underlined text highlighted by me):


Tamron SP Pro-Series Teleconverters

The SP AF PRO-series teleconverters, with a newly designed optical construction (4-group/5-element for 1.4X and 4-group/7-element for 2X), are designed to be used with lenses that are F/2.8 and of focal lengths of 90mm or greater. This would make the use of the SP teleconverters ideal for the Tamron SP90mm F/2.8 macro, 70-210mm F/2.8 and 300mm F/2.8. Relative illumination is significantly improved resulting in better overall contrast and resolution across the entire image field. In addition, chromatic aberration and astigmatism are better compensated for by virtue of the use of higher-grade glass materials and more sophisticated design techniques than used in universal-type teleconverters. When used with lenses with smaller maximum apertures (F/4 and F/5.6, for example), there will be little difference in image quality as compared with the standard Tamron teleconverters. When used with lenses wider than 90mm, the SP teleconverters can actually comprise image quality.

Tamron Standard Teleconverters

The standard Tamron teleconverters extend the focal length by a factor of 1.4 or 2 respectfully and sustain the same light loss factors as the Pro-series. Though using a teleconverter on wide-angle lenses is never really recommended, these converters can be used with lenses that are wider than 90mm and are ideal for all lenses that are not F/2.8's.

[Olegis]

Here is a review (http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/Reviews/de_TC_vs_TC/a_Tamron_vs_Sigma_1.4x.html) (actually it is a camparison between the Tamron and the Sigma x1.4 converters). Hope it helps ...