2015-10-23

(Full disclosure: I was assigned by Fujifilm to use the new FUJINON XF1.4X Teleconverter to create some sample images. However, this review was created at my own discretion and contains only my opinions from using the teleconverter.)

What is teleconverter?

A teleconverter is a secondary lens that is mounted between the camera and the lens. Simply speaking, it functions like a magnifying glass. The teleconverter enlarges the central part of an image obtained by the objective lens and projects it onto the camera’s sensor. By using a teleconverter with your existing lens, this usually proves to be less expensive than buying a separate, longer telephoto lens. As the teleconverter magnifies the existing image circle, it technically magnifies any aberrations as well.

I received the XF1.4X teleconverter with the XF50-140mm lens from Fujifilm Canada since it’s a prototype that has to be paired up with a particular lens with the right firmware. The XF1.4X teleconverter is weather resistant, solid built, and only weight at 130g. I did not quite feel the additional weight for the hand held shooting. I tried to put it on my own XF50-140mm lens and it did not work at all. A firmware update is required for the camera body and the “XF50-140mm lens in order to provide full compatibility. You are supposing to download the new firmware files on October 29 according to Fujifilm.

On a quiet Saturday morning, I tagged along the Gastown Cycling Racing Team (Racing Reds) riders for part of their routine ride on the Seymour Demonstration Forest trail in North Vancouver. The trail is 11km (one way) with no vehicle access, so I had to bike for 22km while carrying my Fujifilm gear. I was thankful that I had switched to Fujifilm cameras since I’m doubtful that I would be able to ride that distance while carrying some DSLRs with me. My backpack looks bulky, but it’s actually only half full. I haven’t had the chance to get a smaller one for my Fujifilm gear yet.

When we reached the end of the trail, I started shooting profile and action shots for the five riders. I used the zone focus with AF-C mode for 90% of my shots. I didn’t feel that the performance of the autofocus, specifically the speed and accuracy, was any different with or without the XF1.4X teleconverter.

I used the zone focus with AF-C mode for 90% of my shots. I didn’t feel that the performance of the autofocus, specifically the speed and accuracy, was any different with or without the XF1.4X teleconverter.

With the XF1.4X teleconverter on, it produces very sharp, high quality images. I think it features a great optical design that draws the best performance out of the XF50-140mm lens. The images taken with the teleconverter attached have nearly the same image quality as those without the teleconverter. Also, the image stabilization function contributed a lot to my hand held shots. In most cases, stopping the aperture further down resulted in only a minor increase in sharpness. Both the contrast and colour saturation of the images shot with the XF1.4X teleconverter showed only marginal reductions in quality, as compared to using the lens alone.

The XF1.4X teleconverter turns the XF50-140mm f/2.8 into a 70-196mm f/4 lens (105-294mm @ 35 mm equivalent focal length). For my sports assignments, I welcomed the extended reach with the XF50-140mm high performance zoom lens. 

I used the X1.4 teleconverter and the XF50-140mm f/2.8 to shoot the Odlum Brown Vancouver Tennis Open and Canadian Pacific LPGA Women’s Open assignments as well, so stay tuned for my next post!