Does vibration reduction still work when using a teleconverter?
Asked 12/8/2016
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2 answers
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I have a VR (vibration reduction) lens and am considering adding a teleconverter instead of buying a longer telephoto lens. Will the lens’s VR still work with a teleconverter attached? Also, what are the main drawbacks of using a teleconverter on a VR lens, such as effects on sharpness, autofocus, or shutter speed?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
1
Yes, VR (vibration reduction) built into a lens still works when that lens is used with a teleconverter.
The lens still creates a image. The teleconverter takes that image and projects is larger onto the sensor, but that's a detail that doesn't really matter. The VR system in the lens will still strive to keep the image the lens is forming stable, regardless of what is done to that image later.
One issue is that simply by enlarging the image, any motion will also be enlarged. This is not because of the teleconverter itself, but simply as a result of the enlargement. You would get the same increased apparent motion blur by making a larger print of a small area of a picture taken with the lens normally.
Originally by user7603. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7603
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. If the VR/IS system is built into the lens, it still works when a teleconverter is attached.
A teleconverter magnifies the image formed by the lens, so it also magnifies camera shake. VR still helps, but the longer effective focal length means blur from movement is more noticeable, so you may still need a faster shutter speed, higher ISO, or extra support like a monopod.
The main tradeoffs of a teleconverter are:
- reduced maximum aperture: for example, a 2x teleconverter turns f/4 into f/8, costing 2 stops of light
- slower autofocus
- possible reduction in image quality/sharpness
- greater sensitivity to shake because the image is enlarged
So, VR remains useful with a teleconverter, but it does not remove the usual teleconverter compromises. It’s a cost-effective way to gain reach, but compared with a native longer lens you generally give up some speed and image quality.
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