What's The Difference?

[hairygorillaz]

Whats the difference between a 2X teleconverter and a +4 close-up filter?

Since both magnify by a factor of 2, whats the difference?

 

[catchlights]

one can focus at infinite, another one can't

 

[hairygorillaz]

The +4 close up can't?

 

[Dream Merchant]

Wait ... chope!

This is not a trick question right?

 

[psychobiologist]

2X teleconverter just double the focal length, and reduces the amt of light by a couple of stops, minimum focus distance unchanged, can focus at infinity

close up filters dont reduce light significantly, allows you to focus closer, cannot focus at infinity.

take for example 80-200mm + 2x converter, 160-400mm, you are still focussing at min 1.5 metres.

80-200mm with a +2 close up filter, its 80-200mm, but now you are focussing at 0.75 metres.

 

[psychobiologist]

a +4 filter lets you focus four times closer to the subject. ~ thus achieving magnification

 

[megaweb]

The +4 close up can't?

Correct, with close-up filter, you cannot focus infinity.

Main differences between TC and Closeup

TC
- double focal length, thus magnification increases
- able to focus infinity
- double min. focusing distance

Close-up
- focal length unchanged but able to focus nearer, thus magnification increases ( not sure formula )
- unable to focus infinity
- min. focusing distance is reduced and fixed, and depend on diopter value ( read below )

For close-up or diopter info, pls refer to Macros & Close-ups FAQ#7

 

[Kirika]

Teleconverters introduce light loss and some IQ degradation, but it also means you can snipe stuff with your now increased tele lens thanks to infinity focus. +4 close ups don't introduce light loss but they do tend to degrade IQ quite a lot unless you're using the expensive stuff.