Most photographers, be they amateur or professional, like to carry a telephoto lens in their kits. Sometimes you need to be able to zoom in on the action when it's impractical for you to move closer with your feet!
I'm sure that most of us have, at one time or another, wished that we had a little bit more of a zoom, and could get just that little bit closer. Of course, investing in a new longer lens is extremely expensive and not always viable.
A cheaper way to extend the focal length of your lens is to buy a teleconverter (or extender). This will multiply your focal length by anything from x1.4 to x2.
So, are teleconverters worth using? Use this list of the pros and cons of teleconverters to decide whether this tool is worth adding to your photography arsenal!
Pros
- The most obvious reason to use a teleconverter is to increase your focal length. An x2 converter will double your focal length, taking a basic 70-200mm lens up to 400mm!
- Teleconverters don't weigh a lot, but professional telephoto lenses often do. For instance, Canon's 100-400mm lens weighs 1,363g (about 3 pounds). That's a lot to be carrying around.
- Using a teleconverter doesn't affect your minimum focusing distance, which will mean that you can still use a telephoto lens to get close-in to a subject that isn't that far away.
Cons
- Using a teleconverter can drastically reduce the speed of your lens. The lens receives less light with a teleconverter, and this reduces the maximum aperture you can use. With an x1.4 converter, you'll lose one stop, and with an x2, you'll lose two stops. If you are shooting in low light, or indoors, this could have a big impact on your work.
- A teleconverter can multiply any any small imperfections that your lens might have, as sharpness and contrast can suffer. Teleconverters work best if you put them on higher quality glass.
- Increased focal lengths will also mean that any camera shake problems are more magnified.
- Teleconverters can slow down the speed at which your camera can focus. If you have an entry-level DSLR, you might find that it can't autofocus at all with a teleconverter. Of course, you can get around this by shooting with manual focus.
In Conclusion
Remember, if you own a cropped frame camera, your focal length will already be magnified by around 1.6, so it's possible to get a very long lens indeed! Do bear in mind, though, that not all lenses are compatible with teleconverters, so be sure to check your lens' compatibility before investing in a teleconverter.
All in all, teleconverters are a useful tool for all photographers. For those just starting out, teleconverters enable a far wider range of photographs to be taken. As long as you are aware of the limitations they impose, you can use teleconverters to improve your photographic results.