Stacked Lenses

[superzoom]

I have seen comparisons between different tele-converters as well as the stacking combinations, but I have never heard of anyone or seen examples of using 2 TCON-14B converters stacked. It seems to me that this lens has the best/sharpest image quality in its class and more useable zoom range. Others stack the TCON-14B with inferior lenses but not with itself. Can it be done? Has anyone tried it or seen photos from this combination? Also, what do the TCON-14B users use for a lens support/tripod mount? I had the Panasonic FZ10. I am planning on using this combination on the Panasonic FZ20 when it is released, but only if I can come up with a support for it. I dont want to get into fabricating one myself. Any help? Thanks, Dave

[orion999]

:-)probably because it is too expensive an experiment to do getting merely 1.96x (still less than 2x, why not get a 2x tele instead?).

[Mikefellh]

Like the Raynox 2.2x, the DCR-2020Pro:
http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/digital/fz10/index.htm

[shene]

superzoom wrote:

Can it be done? Has anyone tried it or seen photos from this combination?

It is not worth trying for a number of reasons. First, since the front thread of TCON-14B is very large (i.e., 86mm), one need 86-62mm step-down rings. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find 86mm rings. Second, the quality of these converter lenses are not good enough to be stacked. If you do, you shall see significant chromatic aberration along high contrast areas, lower sharpness at center, poor edge sharpness, and lower to low contrast. Third, when stacking lenses, the one with higher power should be the one mounted on camera. In this way, a narrower angle of view can be used to "see" the coverage of the lower power lenses. Unfortunately, this is impossible because the exit pupil of the top TCON-14Bis too small to allow the bottom TCON-14B to "see" through, and, as a result, vignettingmay occur. The following link shows you a result of stacking a TCON-14B and a Sony VCL HGD1758 together: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...essage=6936760

Also, what do the TCON-14B users use for a lens support/tripod mount? I had the Panasonic FZ10.

You may consider Bogen's telephoto support. See here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...essage=7050824

CK

http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam

Nikon Coolpix 950/990/995/2500/4500/5700 and Panasonic FZ-10 User Guides