EX25 & TC14 both use together?

[NatureTTL]

Not sure has this been asked before!
Can EX25 & TC14, both use together?

Read in the following thread that both components cannot be used together.

http://www.auspiciousdragon.net/phot...ourthirds.html

Anyone with experience regarding this? What is the limitation?

Currently, I have the EX25 and considering TC14.
Appreciate and thank you for your advise.

Cheers..

[drewdam]

hey think u should post this to 4/3 forum...better respond i think

[NatureTTL]

Ok, Thanks.

[NatureTTL]

Not sure has this been asked before!
Can EX25 & TC14, both use together?

Read in the following thread that both components cannot be used together.

http://www.auspiciousdragon.net/phot...ourthirds.html

Anyone with experience regarding this? What is the limitation?

Currently, I have the EX25 and considering TC14.
Appreciate and thank you for your advise.

Cheers..

[OlyFlyer]

That link is dead.

I do not have the TC14 but I have the EX-25. As far as I know, the EX-25 must be stripped of its electronics to be able to work with TC14. That is actually what I did the same day I received it. I see no reason to have any "intelligence" in a dumb tube. If you are handy you can do it by yourself, else you have to ask a friend with soldering tools to desolder the contacts and connect the male end to the female end of the contacts with 9 wires. That way the EX-25 is not recognized by the camera anymore. I see no reason for that.

But, remember, be careful because it is an expensive tube, if the contacts are demaged it will not work with any lens and there is no more warranty after such surgery.

[Blu-By-U]

Originally Posted by OlyFlyer .... it is an expensive tube, if the contacts are demaged it will not work with any lens and there is no more warranty after such surgery.

OUCH!!! Wonder why did Oly added a circuit to it anyway? As mentioned, it's just a dumb tube.

Why would one want to operate both the extension together??

[drakon09]

I think you only need to tape up the contacts, haven't tried it myself but that's the usual way for the other camera brands.

[drewdam]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U OUCH!!! Wonder why did Oly added a circuit to it anyway? As mentioned, it's just a dumb tube. Why would one want to operate both the extension together??

believe it provide the exif info when u use len + ex25...

[Blu-By-U]

Originally Posted by drakon09 I think you only need to tape up the contacts...

Cannot. AF and aperture cannot be used then. It would be like using an adapter with manual lenses.

Think drewdam, you are right on this. So bypassing them like would not be a problem. No need to show in the EXIF anyway.

[NatureTTL]

Sorry, for the dead link..

This is the live one http://www.auspiciousdragon.net/phot...ourthirds.html

Wanted to play around and explore the different combination.

For eg.
A) 1.4 TC + 25 EX + 50mm lens = 105mm
EX tube in-between TC and lens, maximise the overall focal length

B) 25 EX + 1.4 TC + 50mm lens = 70mm
TC in-between EX tube and lens, does not maximise the overall focal length but allow closer focus, therefore, increase magnification.

But not sure what is the limitation, in terms of camera's controls such as metering and perhaps AF (Although MF is fine with me).

Seems like both cannot be use together since aperture cannot be controlled (feedback from Blu-By-U).

Sigh...

[Blu-By-U]

As mentioned in your link and Olyflyer, you may need to do some surgery. Remove the chip inside and connect the terminals.

Olyflyer please explain more, would you loose any function of the lens or will it function as normal?

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U OUCH!!! Wonder why did Oly added a circuit to it anyway? As mentioned, it's just a dumb tube. Why would one want to operate both the extension together??

The circuit is added because Oly want to prevent complaints about the TC-14 or a certain lens not giving the expected quality when used with EX-25. It is a fact that some lenses work badly together with extension tubes and TC:s. The EX-25 will not work stacked on a second EX-25 to get higher magnification. That is I think the main reason for this "intelligence". If the EX-25 detects non-compatibel lenses or combinations it simply stops working or is blocking some functions, like AF. I see no reason for that, I can read and decide for myself if I want to use something against manufacturers recomandation, no need Oly to decide that for me. Fact is that even the TC-14 has the same kind of "intelligence" built in, which I also have problems to understand the need for. There are no moving elements in the TC-14, so the firmware can not do anything important to me, except the above and the EXIF update. So if I had the TC-14 that would also undergo the same surgical threatment with OlyFlyer as chief doctor. That is an even more expensive tube so I would have to be even more careful.

The use of dual tubes is a very good way to inrease or decrease magnification. If you put TC-14 first than EX-25 than your lens you will increase the magnification compared to without TC-14. The advantage is that you do not have to get closer to the subject which would happen if you would add an extra extension tube or macro bellows. If you put the TC-14 between the EX-25 and the lens than it works as a 1.4x tele converter, increases the focal length and by doing that increases the working distance and reduces the magnification. I see no reason to allow Oly to block that way of working. A clear written warning about compatibility issues should be enough, those who don't read the documentation should not rule the way things are designed, they are just themselves to blame.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by NatureTTL Wanted to play around and explore the different combination. For eg. A) 1.4 TC + 25 EX + 50mm lens = 105mm EX tube in-between TC and lens, maximise the overall focal length

That is not really correct. In that case you still have a 50mm lens but the magnification is increased by 1.4.

Originally Posted by NatureTTL B) 25 EX + 1.4 TC + 50mm lens = 70mm TC in-between EX tube and lens, does not maximise the overall focal length but allow closer focus, therefore, increase magnification.

Quite the opposite, yes, you'll get 1.4x times focal length but also reduced magnification because you actually can not focus as close as without the TC-14.

Originally Posted by NatureTTL But not sure what is the limitation, in terms of camera's controls such as metering and perhaps AF (Although MF is fine with me).

No limitation after the surgery on the EX-25 if it is done properly. Of course, main focusing is done by moving closer to the subject than the focusing distance indicated on the lens but AF is working and aperture is working also. In fact, I think AF is faster after the surgery since there is no firmware in between camera and lens any more, just some wires. TTL is also working but you will get vignetting if you are using the flash on top of the camera. Metering is also working without problems, why shouldn't anything work? Just added some wires.

Originally Posted by NatureTTL Seems like both cannot be use together since aperture cannot be controlled (feedback from Blu-By-U). Sigh...

No, not without some surgery. Both should work after surgery but you loose EXIF data information about the presence of EX-25.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U Remove the chip inside and connect the terminals.

No, I did not remove anything, just added some wires to connect the terminals. Of course after de-soldering the connections to the firmware but I left everything inside.

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U Olyflyer please explain more, would you loose any function of the lens or will it function as normal?

I think I just explained in my other posts. If you have more questions, just ask. I actually missed out something. I lost the weather proofness because I did not had the patience to put back two of the three rubber rings. I don't really care because I have the E-500 and the kit lenses, so what is the point in having a weather sealed EX-25 in that case? If I had E-1 and pro lenses I would have spent the extra time to put them also back but now I just regarded that as a waste of time.

[NatureTTL]

Wah.. OlyFlyer, you are really the Oly Guy..

Seems like there are more things to explore rather than simply just 2 extentions and a lens.
Thanks for your clarification regarding the tube, convertor and lens relationship.

My aim here is to, as far as possible, increase the magnification as well as working distance mainly for macro photography. Sad to say that, currently the longest macro lens Olympus had is only 50mm. Not sure how is the performance of Sigma 105 macro and even the 150mm. On the other hand, looking forward to Oly Zuiko 100mm macro lens (still dreaming ).

Cheers..

[Mikefellh]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U OUCH!!! Wonder why did Oly added a circuit to it anyway? As mentioned, it's just a dumb tube.

The camera probably needs to know what's attached in order to adjust for certain lens combinations. Actually the firmware for the tube has been updated already so there must have been something wrong originally. Also there's the EXIF issue...without the electronics your EXIF information would be incorrect!

Originally Posted by drakon09 I think you only need to tape up the contacts, haven't tried it myself but that's the usual way for the other camera brands.

If you just tape the contacts, none of your lenses will work because the tube passes the signal on to your lens don't forget!

[selamatlzh]

Originally Posted by NatureTTL Not sure has this been asked before! Can EX25 & TC14, both use together? Read in the following thread that both components cannot be used together. http://www.auspiciousdragon.net/phot...ourthirds.html Anyone with experience regarding this? What is the limitation? Currently, I have the EX25 and considering TC14. Appreciate and thank you for your advise. Cheers..

I have used it before, read below. No surgery done.

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=169989

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by selamatlzh I have used it before, read below. No surgery done. http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=169989

Whithout doing this:



and than this




...and finally you have to re-assemble everything again,

or else it will not make your AF and aperture work. It may not stop the camera from taking pictures but you'll have to use fully open aperture which is not good, especially with TC.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Mikefellh The camera probably needs to know what's attached in order to adjust for certain lens combinations. Actually the firmware for the tube has been updated already so there must have been something wrong originally. Also there's the EXIF issue...without the electronics your EXIF information would be incorrect!

I think that is a common misunderstanding. The camera only needs to know that to be able to set the EXIF info and to be able to decide which functions to block with which lens. If I remember it well the reason for firmware update was because the EX-25 refused to work with a Sigma lens.

[NatureTTL]

Thanks to all for your input.

At the monent, I will pull the hand brake first regarding the purchasing of TC14.

There might also be compatibility problem when use even with the 14-45mm and 40-150mm Olympus standard lens. Saw this piece of information in one of the website. Things like AF will not work, but some say there's no problem. I also getting confused, dunno which is correct

Moreover, considering the major surgery need to be done to the EX25, if wanted to use both together.

Will consider again, after I have upgraded my lens to high grade/prime lens.

Cheers...