Camera Lens Teleconverters

Certain photographic subjects benefit from using a long-focal-length lens. Whether you’re on the sidelines of a football game or out on safari hoping to catch a glimpse of the big five, focal lengths like 400mm, 600mm, and even 1200mm let you fill the frame with your subject for engaging, detailed photographs. The only downside is that a longer focal length usually means a higher price tag.

What to Consider When Using Teleconverters

Teleconverters attach between your camera body and your lens to increase the focal length of your existing lens collection. By investing in a teleconverter, you can get more versatility out of your current lenses without a major cost investment.

Teleconverters are a fantastic accessory for long-range photography, but they can impact the way you shoot and the overall settings you can use.

Maximum Aperture

No matter what lens you use, teleconverters reduce your available maximum aperture by between one and two stops. The amount of aperture reduction depends on the magnification power of the teleconverter. It’s important to remember that an f/2.8 lens will max out at f/4 or f/5.6.

Autofocusing

Autofocus systems are designed for direct communication between the lens and camera body. When you introduce a teleconverter, your autofocusing system may perform slower or with less accuracy. 

Whenever possible, select a teleconverter with pass-through electronics for the best AF accuracy and response time.

Magnification Level

The two most common varieties of teleconverters are 1.4x and 2x. These numbers represent the focal-length magnification level. 

If you’re using a 200mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter, then your functional focal length will be 280mm. When using a 2x teleconverter, a 200mm becomes a 400mm lens.

Teleconverter Compatibility

Teleconverters go in between the lens and camera body, so you need to make sure you choose a model that’s designed specifically for your lens mount. Some lenses work well with teleconverters, but some lenses aren’t designed to be used with them.

As you shop, pay attention to the lens mount but also make sure that your specific lens will accommodate a teleconverter.

Quality Counts for Teleconverters

While some photographers prefer to choose accessories like teleconverters made by their camera brand, there are many reliable third-party companies to choose from. Third-party accessories are often less expensive but still offer high-quality electronics and functionality. Whether you select a teleconverter by Canon, Nikon, Sony, Sigma, or Kenko, you can vastly expand your kit’s capabilities with one of these devices.