I use the Velbon Ultra Maxi - comes with either a pan head or a ball head and I have found it to be good for light weight travel. Though not the most sturdy, it sifices for use with my K10D and 18-200mm Sigma. However, I would not want to use it with anything much heavier than that. It is very versitile and above all LIGHT which is what I wanted. I don't think there is a smaller full height pod.

http://www.velbon-tripod.com/ultra_maxi.htm

One thing to consider is buying on route. When I used to go to Nepal I always passed through Dubai! A great place for camera equipment then and probably still now.

In Kathmandu I found it hard to find decent processing! That was back in 1997 when I was last there.

I just went with the flow, noting that most were at 1024 on the longest and chose that! I will downsize and remember that in the future.

Anyway, if a picture is good enough it will be fine at 800!

View over London from near Horniman Park - Wembly Arch is just visable.

K10D, ISO100, 1/80 at F13 and 55mm

Make sure you only back up to DVD Rs as re-writable CDs and DVDs data deterates with time due to the nature of the dye used.

I too am yet to be convinced, however the obgective of the first test was to look at auto focus capability and effective lens speed - both proved better with the front converter! Now it is time for the image quality tests. I am planning to shoot as close to identical mm with and without the converter. All tests will be done using AF to see if the AF function is affected at all.

Roll on the next bright sunny day!

Vignetting can be resolved, however, the objective is to get the best in camera - a true alternative to a standard 2x converter.

I think I had SR off due to the lack of communication of the true focal length which is required for the best SR results.

That is true, however with the Bower, the set up is much harder to hand hold (on count that it is heavier than the Tamron), that is why I need to do more tests - the shutterspeed needed to be closer to 1/400 to ensure camera shake was catered for. I plan to shoot with the 70-210 at equivalent of about 200 for all the test shots to see the difference - this time I will use the tripod.

I have ordered the step up ring and will hopefully get it within a week and will post the results then.

Not having £600 to purchase the Sigma lens I wanted and being very dissatisfied with my 2x converter I spotted this for $99 and decided to give it a go:



It is a Bower 2x converter that goes on the front of the lens! (62mm thread)

Here are my test shots (only to illustrate speed and magnification, all hend held and taken through a window):



Sigma 18-200 @200 f9.0 ISO 100 1/320



+Tamron 2x @400 f9.0 ISO400 1/200
(Focus has some trouble locking on, slower and more noisy)



+Bower @400 f9.0 ISO100 1/250
(vinyeting visable but focus unaffected and much better light performance)



Sigma UCII 70-210 55mm filter thread.
+bower @420 f9.0 ISO100 1/200
(No step up ring so held infront of lens)

Colclusion so far is that the vinyetting makes the Bower unusable on the Digital only lens but if I have gone for a bigger thread size on the Bower, that might have been less of an issue. However, on the 70-210 35mm image circle lens (I can't do a full test till I have the step up ring) I seem to have a very usable 140 to 420 zoom that performs much better than the Tamron 2x converter. Weight isn't bad either. and this cost me only about £64!

Once I have the step up ring I will post some more test shots - I may even use my tripod this time!

Put it this way, if it is the only option that can give you p-TTL, would you really mind?

Anyway, big camera, big flash - people always assume you are a pro!