Another Toy Store Find

480sparky · Dec 3, 2016

Found something today at the local camera store I just couldn't pass up, if for no other reason that it looks like it would be fun to use.

It's a 2x teleconverter.................................

........ with a focusing helicoid built into it:

It basically acts as an extension ring when you 'run the lens out'.

I have never seen or even known about such a critter. Back in the 70's and 80's, I did have a 2x TC that the elements were mounted into a bayonet system so they could be removed, making the TC into a 32mm extension ring. But I've never seen the same concept since then. This is a close as I've ever seen.

Paul Howell · Dec 3, 2016

I had one in Nikon mount, not too as a converter and on the cheap macro lens.

tih · Dec 3, 2016

Cool! Who made that thing?

Kirks518 · Dec 3, 2016

Looks like a Vivitar

480sparky · Dec 3, 2016

Yep.... Vivitar

John Wiegerink · Dec 3, 2016

I had one years ago, but mine wasn't called "focusing" and just called Vivitar Macro tele-converter if I remember right. It was a very good 2X converter, but not as good as my Tamron 2X SP converter was at the time. Of course the Tamron couldn't close-focus so I guess it was a compromise.

MattKing · Dec 3, 2016

They are quite handy. Pair one with a 50mm lens and you end up with a 100mm macro, which permits close focus at more convenient working distances. They are also fairly compact in the camera bag.
Mine is a Vivitar with OM mount.

Paul Howell · Dec 4, 2016

I bought mine as an emergency and carried it for a couple of years, but only used once or twice with my 200 F4, fairly sharp in the center but soft in the corners, needed to be stopped down to F8 or 11, dont recall ever using in macro mode.

darinwc · Dec 5, 2016

I have one also. i dont use it much. But a while ago I had a Olympus 55mm f1.2 lens where the focus was frozen at infinity. Using this teleconverter, I was able to use this broken lens as a 100mm and the macro function allowed me to focus the lens!

AgX · Dec 5, 2016

Very handy indeed. Though in case of doubt, use the best converter and add a tube (or two).

AgX · Dec 5, 2016

One likely could take out its interior and just use it just as extending helicoid.

(If I got two of them I'd consider doing so.)

cooltouch · Dec 6, 2016

I've had a Vivitar macro 7-element TC in my kit, in one mount or another, for over 30 years. It's one of the best TCs on the market, and having the focusing helical is very handy when using tele lenses that don't focus very close. Mate it with a regular old 50mm lens and you've got a cheap, but effective, macro lens. I recommend this TC very highly.

AgX · Dec 6, 2016

So this one is of the 7-element design?

Paul Howell · Dec 6, 2016

No not 7 element, more like 3 or 4, not in the same class as a teleconverter matched for a given lens. I had an early model Soligare, this Vivtiar was better, could be used in an emergency, turned my 200 F4 into a F8 and resulting dim viewfinder to point that could only be used in good light.

cooltouch · Dec 6, 2016

Paul Howell said:
No not 7 element, more like 3 or 4, not in the same class as a teleconverter matched for a given lens.

Where have you seen this? The macro-focusing Vivitar TC was made with 7 elements in 5 groups. Vivitar's regular (no macro focusing) TCs back then had 4 elements.

A few years ago, I conducted a rather extensive series of tests, comparing one of my Vivitar macro TCs against a Tamron dedicated TC, which is also a 7-element design, using a Tamron 90mm f/2.5 macro lens and the differences between the two TCs in terms of IQ was negligible.

Paul Howell · Dec 6, 2016

Is the lens pictured a TC? I owned the lens pictured but dont recall it being 7 elements, could be wrong, memories are 30 years old.

Newt_on_Swings · Dec 7, 2016

I have that or something very similar for OM mount, It was kind of neat, but I havent used it much. Its somewhere stored with my lenses. Worked nicely with a 50mm 1.4.

Another Toy Store Find

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