How does a teleconverter change a lens’s maximum aperture?

Asked 2/28/2015

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I’ve heard that adding a teleconverter reduces the effective aperture of a lens, but I’m not sure how to calculate it. Is there a simple way to work out how much a 1.5x or 2x teleconverter changes the maximum aperture?

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Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

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Yes. A teleconverter increases focal length, but it also reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor, so the maximum aperture becomes smaller.

A simple rule is:

  • 1.4x teleconverter: lose 1 stop
  • 1.5x teleconverter: lose about 1.2 stops
  • 2x teleconverter: lose 2 stops

You can calculate the new f-number by multiplying the original f-number by the teleconverter factor:

new aperture = original aperture × teleconverter magnification

Examples:

  • 200mm f/2.8 with a 1.5x teleconverter → 300mm f/4.2
  • 200mm f/2.8 with a 2x teleconverter → 400mm f/5.6
  • 70-200mm f/4 with a 2x teleconverter → 140-400mm f/8

So the focal length and the f-number are both multiplied by the teleconverter factor. In practice, this means less light, potentially slower autofocus, and possibly reduced image quality depending on the lens and converter.

UniqueBot

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11y ago

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