Converter or Not?

Some preliminary test shots with the SMC Pentax-FA 100mm f2.8 Macro at f2.8, first one without and second on with the SMC Pentax T6-2X Converter. The first image is cropped in Photoshop to show the same image as the second one which is uncropped.
[IMG]http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/johnriley1uk/001Pentax100mmCropped.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/johnriley1uk/002Pentax100mm2x.jpg[/IMG]

not john the first has better detail and colours,

I'm not usually very good spotting noise or which photo is better, but this is clear cut

So the answer is not, do you agree John?

Cheers
Rich

I think there is less of a difference than I would have expected. The colour issue could easily be dealt with by tweaking the saturation and contrast.

G

I think not.

There's no substitute for trying these things out for ourselves. I've always been disappointed with converters and wondered how the Pentax ones would perform. However, the price has always been high and well out of reach.

This test so far has been a bit severe, using the prime lens (albeit a good one) at open aperture. There is every likelihood that at smaller apertures the performance would be much better.

So far what it does show is a slight loss of contrast, hence the lower colour saturation. As George points out, this could be adjusted further. When we look at the image at greater magnifications there is not that much difference in actual resolution, far less than I thought there would be and quite impressive.

The next test will be in the field - back to Martin Mere perhaps - where our 300mm lenses will become 600mm, or a very long 900mm-equivalent on digital. How this will suit us for wildlife is really the point, but this won't be tested out soon because of other commitments.

A further test shooting on film is also needed, as with colour slides there is potentially a real value in shooting distant objects. Not so easy to blow up a colour slide...not without negating its advantages anyway.

Work in progress.

I see the colour has suffered ,but if you take a close look the image is actually sharper. If you study the green object bottom right, you can see the yellow dots!......on the top shot they are blurred!......or is it just my eyes?............................Ken

Ken, I think we now all have spots before our eyes....it's very close.

So who can tell me what book cover this is? I'll give you a clue - it's the back cover, bottom left.

Struwelpeter?

G

Guess again....

"The spotters guide to Anoraks."

Neil

Some people would think you are very close, Neil.

The answer is the "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia"....

Nothing wrong with a bit of harmless role playing occasionally, just dont dont take photographic evidence and you should be OK

On the subject of converters, I think all this test proves is that this converter works well with a particular lens, you have to get your finger out John and get it tested with the 300mm,

So stop playing D&D and get out into the real world

I'll make a special effort this weekend!