2x converter? at DVinfo.net

Christopher Leclair · March 13th, 2006, 01:16 PM

What am I looking for for ultra zoom. I have a IS 16x lens right now, but wanted something for long range zoom on nature/wildlife. I've heard of a 2x zoom but not sure what it is or looks like. Can someone post a link to the product? How does something like that affect low light conditions (i.e. does it reduce light penetration) and what should I be expecting to pay for it?

David Cummings · March 15th, 2006, 10:59 AM

It's just a 72mm screw-on type lens that you stack on top of the stock 16x lens. You can pick one up for $120ish. there might be a very, very small amount of light loss due to the added elements but I've never really noticed anything.

here's one on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-XL1S-XL1-7...QQcmdZViewItem

K. Forman · March 15th, 2006, 11:07 AM

I would be very leary of those cheapy tele extenders. I got one for my GL1, and everything turned out way too soft. It makes a good paperweight though...

Andrew Khalil · March 15th, 2006, 11:19 AM

I don't think there are any good 2x XL extenders. If you need more range, perhaps the best way to get it would be with the EF adapter and EF lenses. Canon does make 1.4x and 2x extenders for their ef lenses.

Meryem Ersoz · March 15th, 2006, 11:50 AM

here's a link to the 1.6x designed for the XL cameras:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont....x=0&image.y=0

the 2x is designed for its 35mm line of lenses, and, as andrew points out, can be used with an XL camera, EF adapter, and EOS series of 35mm lenses. you might want to do a search here for using 35mm lenses with an XL camera, if you want ultra zoom. 1.6x will give you a bit more reach but not what i'd call "ultra".....

Christopher Leclair · March 15th, 2006, 02:54 PM

In terms of the specifics does a 16x lens with 1.6x does that in turn make it a 25.6x lens (essentially)?

Andrew Khalil · March 15th, 2006, 03:31 PM

no, you need to multiply the mm measurement of the lens (I forget what it is for the 16x IS) by 1.6.

In my opinion, the X measurement isn't really useful and it's more informative to use mm in most situations.

David Cummings · March 16th, 2006, 03:18 PM

yeah it's true those extenders aren't a great way to go. One thing I did for wildlife (and spy-photo looking shots for my upcoming project) is to get one of those XL-to-NIKON mounts from xl1solutions, ZGC, Lesbosher etc... and mount 35mm nikon lenses for some pretty freakin' crazy telephoto shots. because your puting a 35mm lens directly in front of a 1/3"ccd, the diference in target size will change the focal legth of a 100mm lens to something like 700mm.

Christopher Leclair · March 20th, 2006, 08:08 PM

Thanks everyone, I haven't decided what route to take just yet, but I'll check into that stuff. The budget is pretty tight right now, so I might just hold off considering the cheaper alternative seems to not yeild the desired result.

March 13th, 2006, 01:16 PM	#1
Christopher Leclair Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas USA Posts: 53	2x converter? What am I looking for for ultra zoom. I have a IS 16x lens right now, but wanted something for long range zoom on nature/wildlife. I've heard of a 2x zoom but not sure what it is or looks like. Can someone post a link to the product? How does something like that affect low light conditions (i.e. does it reduce light penetration) and what should I be expecting to pay for it?

March 15th, 2006, 10:59 AM	#2
David Cummings Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: denver, colorado Posts: 80	re: 2x It's just a 72mm screw-on type lens that you stack on top of the stock 16x lens. You can pick one up for $120ish. there might be a very, very small amount of light loss due to the added elements but I've never really noticed anything. here's one on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-XL1S-XL1-7...QQcmdZViewItem

March 15th, 2006, 11:07 AM	#3
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I would be very leary of those cheapy tele extenders. I got one for my GL1, and everything turned out way too soft. It makes a good paperweight though... __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

March 16th, 2006, 03:18 PM	#8
David Cummings Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: denver, colorado Posts: 80	RE: 2x thingy yeah it's true those extenders aren't a great way to go. One thing I did for wildlife (and spy-photo looking shots for my upcoming project) is to get one of those XL-to-NIKON mounts from xl1solutions, ZGC, Lesbosher etc... and mount 35mm nikon lenses for some pretty freakin' crazy telephoto shots. because your puting a 35mm lens directly in front of a 1/3"ccd, the diference in target size will change the focal legth of a 100mm lens to something like 700mm.

March 15th, 2006, 11:19 AM	#4
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	I don't think there are any good 2x XL extenders. If you need more range, perhaps the best way to get it would be with the EF adapter and EF lenses. Canon does make 1.4x and 2x extenders for their ef lenses.

March 15th, 2006, 11:50 AM	#5
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	here's a link to the 1.6x designed for the XL cameras: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont....x=0&image.y=0 the 2x is designed for its 35mm line of lenses, and, as andrew points out, can be used with an XL camera, EF adapter, and EOS series of 35mm lenses. you might want to do a search here for using 35mm lenses with an XL camera, if you want ultra zoom. 1.6x will give you a bit more reach but not what i'd call "ultra".....

March 15th, 2006, 02:54 PM	#6
Christopher Leclair Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas USA Posts: 53	In terms of the specifics does a 16x lens with 1.6x does that in turn make it a 25.6x lens (essentially)?

March 15th, 2006, 03:31 PM	#7
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	no, you need to multiply the mm measurement of the lens (I forget what it is for the 16x IS) by 1.6. In my opinion, the X measurement isn't really useful and it's more informative to use mm in most situations.

March 20th, 2006, 08:08 PM	#9
Christopher Leclair Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas USA Posts: 53	Thanks everyone, I haven't decided what route to take just yet, but I'll check into that stuff. The budget is pretty tight right now, so I might just hold off considering the cheaper alternative seems to not yeild the desired result.