Teleconverters – When You Need to Get Even Closer

A teleconverter is a clever little contraption that you can place between the lens and the camera housing when you want to shoot at a greater focal length than you normally do. The result of using this converter is that a tele lens will be slightly more “tele”. In other words, using the teleconverter, the lens will have a greater maginifcation and the subject will appear closer. 

The teleconverter is inserted between the lens and the camera housing.
 

There are many different types of teleconverters with different levels of magnification. They are, however, not compatible with all types of lenses. The more light sensitive a tele lens is the better results you will get when using a teleconverter. In general, we recommend that you buy a teleconverter of the same make as your lens. Nikon produces three different models, the 1.4x, the 1.7x, and the 2.0x. These three models are shown below:

             1,4x                            1,7x                                          2,0x

The larger the value the more you increase the focal length. For instance, if you mount a 1.7x teleconverter on a 300mm lens the total focal length will be 510mm (1.7 x 300 = 510). Depending on what model you use, you will still be able to use auto focus when the converter is inserted. Although you need to pay attention to the fact that a converter will reduce light somewhat. The larger the value indicated on the teleconverter the more light you will lose.

A hyena shot with a 300mm tele lens.

The same hyena shot with a 300mm lens + 1.7 teleconverter = 510mm.

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