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Decent Teleconverter for Z1
I know that several people have asked this question before - and yes I have seen the previous threads about the Canon 1.4 - but I have to ask again. Has anyone found a half decent teleconverter for the Z1?
I don't think that 1.4X is anywhere near enough (I am looking for wildlife shots) as the Z1 has a very wide native lens. I know that Century make a 1.6X, but even that is a bit short of what is needed. I really feel that at least 2X is required or slightly more if possible. I have heard of the Raynox 2.2X from other threads, but as it is a native 37mm lens it vignettes terribly, even at full telephoto. What I was thinking of was a Canon, Sony or even better Century lens that was 2X with a screw thread designed to fit another camera - I would guess with at least a minimum of 52mm lens fitting to prevent vignetting. I don't have one to try, but I am guessing that people who had VX2000's/PD150's might have purchased a 2.0X for these cameras (which had a 58mm thread) and this might just be about right. Sure it would vignette when pulled back to a wider angle - but I wouldn't be using it for wide angle! A 72 - 58mm step down ring is easily purchased. Any ideas or advice is much appreciated. |
Ok so you know about the Canon C-8 1.4x.
do you know about the Canon C-8 1.6x? ...do you know it has 5 elements in four groups with spectra hard coating? ...do you know it has a filter thread of 72mm? ...do you know what a 72-67mm step ring can do? Ok quiz is over ... a Canon C-8 1.4x screwed into a Canon C-8 1.6x gives a very nice Canon super 6 element 2.24x which puts you into 120mm+ country now ain't that a bitch... have fun :) |
Hi John,
Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't know that the Canon 1.6X had a 72mm thread - I thought that it was much smaller. It certainly might be worth considering - if I could get my hands on one. I don't know about the idea of 2 teleconverters strapped together - I have to carry all of this gear many kilometers - so a one lens solution is a must. I am travelling to Antarctica in a coupe of months and will have to do a lot of difficult walking with all my camera gear and tripod on my back - so the less weight the better. All the best, and once again thanks for the help. |
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can you explain to me how you are getting the 1.4x and the 1.6x to work together? i thought the 1.6x had a 48mm thread or something... what do i need to get this done... i already have the 1.4x lens with the proper ring adapter... so how do i get the 1.6x to work? thanks joel |
Here you go
Camera > 72-58 > 58-48 > Canon 1.6x > 72-67 > Canon 1.4x |
just found a canon c8 1.6 second hand for 25 euros....just waiting for the 48mm ring to be able to try it out. Anyway...thnx for the tip. at such costs I feel much better then spending 1400 on a century.
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after searching for a long time i found some metal step down rings to attach my C8 1.6. Very happy with it. If anyone knows a c8 1.4 for sale...let me know I am lookin for one.
John Jay ..you made my Day! THNX |
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Thanks Jane; glad I could help, good luck |
Jane,
Obviously you are getting no vignetting with the C8 1.6. That was my biggest worry with the 48mm rear lens - but it sounds like it is no problem at all from your reply. The 1.4x that John is using has a larger rear lens - so definitely does not vignette. This also gives me hope that both the Sony HG 58mm and the screw on Century 2X adaptors for the old PD170 will work as well as the Canons. The Canons of course are the right price!!! I tried a 2x that I bought on the net. It was a piece of junk. Had a 72mm rear thread so I thought that I was on to something - but it turned out that it is not a 2x, but more like a 1.2x - and a very soft one at that. I think that I have learnt the hard way (but at least it didn't hurt the wallet too much) - trust only known lens manufacturers! |
graeme,
I can use the c8 1.6 when zoomed in very satisfactory. Ther is vignetting of course when you zoom out..............something that you also have when you spend 1400 euros on thye century teleconverter...... I love the depth of field with the c8 on my z1...... |
can someone who uses john jay's recipe for a teleconverter post some footage soon? i was just out today doing a wildlife comparison of the fx-1 (using only 12x zoom) with an XL2 with a 35mm telephoto lens, and the XL2 is still superior (in my opinion) for this task. i'd be really curious to know how this 1.4x/1.6x combo works. it would be so great if it can measure up to the XL2 in this regard because it is so much less equipment to carry.
thanks! |
Has anyone tried the Century DS-20TC-58 2.0x Tele-Converter Lens-58mm (B&H # CEDS20TC58) (link here). Though this costs $400, it seems like a solution that would provide somthing close to John Jay's 1.4x + 1.6x with a single lens and a 58mm thread diameter.
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Shawn,
I am with you on this one - thats also the question I would like answered. I believe that this is definitely the answer to the Z1 teleconverter question - but I am not willing to part with the money unless I know that it works. I can't get access to one to try it, as they are not easy to find in Australia - anyone in New York walking past B&H with their Z1? |
shawn, you're reading my mind. i have the century 2x for my GL2 and want to try it with the fx-1, but i have to get the step ring first. i'll let you know how it goes. unless someone else beats me to it.....
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It would be really great if there was a step ring that had a bayonet-twist mount attachment to the front of the FX1 (like most of the Century FX1 lenses) and then stepped down to 58mm - it sure would be a lot easier to work with it in the field. |
Meryem,
Any luck with the Centruy 2X? I have a chance to buy one, but won't unless I know that it works. |
i have a step ring on order at B&H, but since they've been closed, i'm not quite clear when it should arrive. i'll let you know when it arrives...as shawn mentioned, it is a bayonet mount, and the century 2x is a bayonet mount, so i'm not quite sure how this will work. or if it will work. any ideas on this?
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Meryem,
Can you try it by holding the Century in front of the FX1/Z1 at full telephoto and see if there is any vignetting etc. I think that this will be the main problem. Please let us know what you find. Your help is much appreciated. |
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If you ordered the 72-58 Step Down Ring (link here), then I cannot see how that would connect to the DS-20TC-GL, unless the GL version of the adapater also has threads on it - does it? The only 'end' Bayonet Step-Down Ring that B&H seems to carry is this B60-B50 adapter (link here). I have no idea what size bayonet the Sony FX1/Z1u has. What I was really hoping for was a Sony FX1 bayonet to 58mm step-down ring (similar to this link). Anyone know what size bayonet is on the Sony FX1/Z1u? I think your best bet is to try to jury-rig something like Graeme is suggesting - maybe using an open book on a table with the FX1 behind it, or block of wood with a 'V' cut it in. That's such a bummer that you have the wrong mount! I hope something works out. Also, B&H shipped an order for me very quickly once they re-opened. Typically, they send you a notification of shipment - hope you hear something soon. |
I posted this on another thread ( In your neighbourhood , wildlife thread ) I believe that the converters you are talking about will result in a considerable image quality loss . You will need converters with optics capable of capturing at HD quality. At this time the only one available is a 1.6 century. Check the above thead for its number. Why go HD and then loss image quality!!!!!!
Regards Mick |
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The only information I have that the optics are designed HDV resolution is from the Century importers in the Uk.
They tell me the lens quality is to a higher standard (hence the diffence in price) to complement and take advantage of the Sony HDV lens. Of course this could just be sales talk. I have just completed some Red Deer rut filming with and with out the converter and there was no obvious quality loss. Regards Mick |
i'll let y'all know what i discover, if anything. off the top of my head, the 2x is a nice clean hunk o glass. we'll see what happens.
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If the tele converters aren't good enough you could always do your own convertion of the camera to take a tele photo lens see the follwing link
http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthrea...&highlight=fx1 Regards Mick |
Some pictures of that (or a similar) hack were posted here long ago. If you don't mind spending a lot of time, voiding your warranty, possibly ruining your camera, and shooting with a Frankenstein monster then this might be just the thing for you... ;-)
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Century x2 tele converter
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If so, can you please show how it looks. All the best Carl |
hm, i thought did write a post about this a while back, but apparently it never posted. operator error, no doubt. here's a link.
http://ia300143.us.archive.org/3/ite.../parakeets.mov you need H.264 QT7 to view it. this is a hurry-up test, so the lighting is crummy, but you get the idea. this did not look so dark before i compressed it, but for some reason, it did not translate well to the web at all. i shot my local parakeets because i think birds give a good idea of resolution. you can also get an idea of how much distance is gained with the 2x. first shot is without the 2x, second is with the 2x. with the 2x, the green bird on the left looks a bit soft, but i was focusing the lens on the bluebird. also because of the bayonet mount, i was only hand-holding the 2x in front of the camera. i think having it actually mounted would help a lot. my conclusion is that with a screw mount and real step rings, the century 2x would work at full zoom. vignetting occurred at around 85%-90%, if i recall correctly, so full zoom is the only option. sorry this test is not ideal because of the lighting/compression issues, but i hope it gives some useful info. i think we should lobby century optics to make a 2x with a 72mm mount. there are a lot of compromises here for the $$, but it is still better than nothing. |
Thanks for the footage
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All the best Carl |
Any good macro lens for the FX1?
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jim: awhile ago, i purchased a set of hoya 72mm screw-on macros, and they are not only inexpensive (the set cost $62), they work pretty well with the FX-1. i bought them for my XL2, but the lens is not high rez enough to get great images. but as it turns out, with the FX-1, they work very well up to +4mm. nice!
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Thanks for the info
do you have a link where i can read more on these? |
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search
B&H carries these. i happened to buy mine from ebay. |
thanks for the link
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So what's the final judgement?
Is there a final recommendation from all this, the best solution? Does the 2.0x with the General Brand 72-58 step ring do a great job?
And to clarify the one post on bayonet or screw mount, do I look for the lens and step in screw mount for my Z1U? Thanks to all. |
since this thread was started, century optics released a 1.6x extender. check out boyd's pics and evaluation....
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...highlight=1.6x much better than the jerry-rigged solutions we proposed but a tad expensive... |
Telephoto Teleconverter for Sony HVRZ1
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But the Canon C-8 does not seem to have a thread for the 48 adapter to fit in, am I missing something or do I have to (Kludge-glue) them together? :) |
Hey Jose
the answer is under your nose :) Camera > 72-58 > 58-48 > Canon 1.6x > 72-67 > Canon 1.4x the numbers refer to step down filter rings you need so that it all screws together eg 58-48 means a 58mm to 48mm step down ring etc also see a clip I posted here http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...t=58525&page=3 |
Thanks John
I did actually understood the statement you wrote Camera > 72-58 > 58-48 > Canon 1.6x > 72-67 > Canon 1.4x and already ordered the step down rings from B&H but my post was refering to the C-8 because I received it today and it seems that it doesnt have a thread in the 48mm side :) Anyway I will wait for the adapters to arrive and will post some photos if it works |
Sounds as though you have the distance scale attachment still fitted
undo the knurled screw and remove it via a twisting action; after it is removed you will see the 48mm male threads |
Thank you :) yes it had
worked as you wrote |
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