Tamron Extenders

I was looking around on B&H and found the Tamron 1.4x extender. Anyone have this? Its about $80 compaired to Canon's $200

Just wondering about image quailty, etc with it.

I have one Tamron MC4, and I also have a Canon.

Which one you want to use depends on what lens it will be used with.

---Bob Gross---

Mostly my 70-200 f/4L

I think you'll find there is a lot of difference in teleconverters beyond the price tag.

---Bob Gross---

Hense the reason I asked.

We assume that you read the sticky thread about teleconverters.

All x1.4 teleconverters will decrease your light by one stop. For some camera bodies and some lenses, this will mean the difference between autofocus and no autofocus.

Basically, for an L lens, I stick to the Canon type. For a consumer-type lens, I stick to the Tamron type. I won't or can't put the Canon on a consumer-type lens.

If you start with a really sharp lens and add a really good teleconverter, then you will get a really good x1.4 result. Any other combination, and it won't be quite that perfect.

I stack them. One 100-400mm L lens, one Canon x1.4, one Tamrom x1.4, then the camera.

---Bob Gross---

there are 2 tamron 1.4 extenders. the cheap one (black one) has 4 elements and is pretty cheap in price. you usually find this one in the cheap section with cheap lenses (28-200's 90-300's, etc.). the quality on this is noticably crudy - soft, washed out, and a bit of edge distortion.

the sp model (the white one) is quite good, imho... it has 5 elements and doesn't really add any noticable distortion or softness. i've had both the sp and the canon and found it hard pressed to tell the difference between them. it's about US$170 vs. $270 for the canon. also, it will fit lenses without recessed rear elements and you can use it without 'taping' pins on slow lenses.

the sp 2x extender, on the other hand was not very good in my tests

Very useful info - not sure but we don't seem to have a sticky on Tamron converters

Does that mean that the SP will fit any Canon/Tamron lens regardless of design (rear elements) or lens speed?

There are basically two categories of teleconverters. One kind, I'll call it the Canon kind, will accept the back end of L lenses. The other kind, I'll call it the consumer kind, will accept anything in an EF lens.

It's kind of interesting, though. These seem to have similar function, but when you put them side-by-side, the difference becomes visibly more apparent. Then when used, the difference in the resultant image becomes more apparent.

---Bob Gross---

If anyone has any personal expeirnce and or a reference... a confirmed reference,. I could add Tamron info to the Sticky. As it is,. I have never touched one of these T-cons.

The info in the sticky is based on a combination of first hand expeirience,. manufacturer data, and input from the members of this forum. (thanks to all who keep adding to this endeavor! )

Part of the reason that the Sigma line is included is this forum up untill just recently, has been decidedly Canon and Sigma biased. Most users contributing have only had expeirience with these lenses.

Sigma T-cons are also virtually interchangeble with Canon T-cons as far as compatibility. And of course,. Sigma remeians to this day the only "Non-OEM" Mnaufacturere of Super Telephoto lenses.

Anyway.. I digress...

It would be great if we could get the Tamron info together and add it to the sticky. The trouble is.. I doubt it will be easy to find first hand info on compatibility with a $5,000.00 lens and a $75.00 T-con....

For that excellent lens,. I would only put a Canon or Sigma 1.4X on it.. just my own humble opinion. The optical quality of the lens in question is superb,. and the Canon will maintian this excellent quality,.. with the Sigma also coming very close.

Thanks, I'll check the sigma's out right now.

CDS- i myself am very canon and sigma biased, but i am speaking from experience regarding the tamron 1.4x sp extender/teleconverter​. i definitely wouldn't lump it into Bob's 'consumer' pile.

i'll take some pix later when time and light permit...

I don't think that product has been mentioned here. Only MC4.

---Bob Gross---