Customer Reviews

Olympus Zuiko EC-20 2x Teleconverter for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A 2X teleconverter requires a lot. Not only does it have to have good optics itself; it has to link well to the primary lens, supporting quick focus and aperture settings. It requires high end optics on the far end of the teleconverter, as well. The Zuiko 2X teleconverter easily meets these requirements.

Used with the Olympus E-3 and the Zuiko 300mm f2.8 lens over the course of two weeks in the field, it performed flawlessly. Autofocus, even on birds in flight, was quick and reliable. I've cropped photos taken with the teleconverter and my 300mm by as much as 50% and not been able to find any defects or flaws. The focus is crisp across the image. Because the Olympus System uses Four Thirds technology, with a much smaller sensor than most digital SLRs, the potential for problems is probably higher. I encountered none.

This is a fine piece of optics that does exactly what you ask of it. Highly recommended.

OK, let's get this out of the way -- the EC-20 isn't cheap. You can buy a nice lens for your E-system camera for less than this guy costs.

But once you start looking past the "kit" lens(es) you bought with your camera, you'll want to move up to Olympus' higher-grade optics. And if you ask me (although I'm quite aware you haven't), the EC-20 should be one of the first upgrades you look at.

Coupled with the 50mm f/2.0 macro lens, it's a boon to close work -- letting you get frame-filling images without having to be on top of your subject. For everything else, it can essentially double the number of lenses you own, presuming you plan ahead a bit when you buy them. Buy the EC-20 as your first step up from your kit lens(es), and you'll save yourself money (and weight!) over the long haul.

And did I mention that images you take with it are tack sharp?

I just purchased Olympus Zuiko EC-20 2x Teleconverter. I have used it with the Zuiko 14-54mm zoom, the Zuiko 18-180mmm zoom and the Zuiko 70-300mm zoom on an Olympus E-330 with much success. I couldn't be more pleased. I'm accustom to Nikon film cameras with high dollar Nikon glass, but I am very pleased with Olympus digital products. I have already gotten some beautifully sharp, calander quality, wildlife pics @ 1200mm (35mm equiv) with the Zuiko 70-300mm four thirds digital zoom. Simply Amazing! I have paid Nikon much more for much less.

I have been using Olympus 4/3 equipment since the advent of the E-1. I thought that the 2X teleconverter would be a nice addition to my lenses. Using my 50-200 mm zoom I was disappointed that the otherwise amazingly sharp lens became very soft wide open (f7) with the teleconverter. By upping to f11 the image sharpened and useable. Of course, I was hoping for a quick and dirty way to get a truly super-telephoto lens but it was not to be. i think that it was my expectation rather than the lens performance which was at fault here but none-the-less I thought it would be worthwhile to post this review to advise others that the combination of the 2x and the 50-200mm has some problems. Also, I was surprised to find that the lens was actually manufactured in China, not Japan. The build quality is excellent and for those who have lesser expectations this might be a very good choice. One needs a VERY fast lens with this piece of equipment. i have returned the teleconverter and will search for another purpose built option.

Fantastic piece of optics. I am a professional photographer and it's primary use will be to work with my Olympus 70-300mm zoom, creating the 35mm equivalent of 280-1200mm...WOW!!! Giving up 2 f-stops is no big deal when the trade off is such incredible magnification, short focal distance and cost savings compared to fixed 1200mm lens out on the market. Remember to check for lens compatibility before purchasing!

I was using the EC-14 with the 50-200 mm f2.8-3.5 SWD lens on the Olympus E-30 and was obtaining mixed results. Sometimes autofocus would take a long time to happen, sometimes the images weren't so good. I just couldn't understand it, because this combo had yielded excellent results on the E-520. I asked around in the photography forums, fiddled with the camera configurations and still wasn't happy.

Meanwhile, the EC-20 was just sitting there waiting for its chance. One day, frustrated, I thought, "What the heck!" and put it on the E-30 with the 50-200 mm lens. Everything changed: autofocus became quick and reliable, the number of keeper images increased dramatically and I got some fantastic shots. I do mostly bird photography and that extra distance can, many times, be the difference between getting and not getting a shot. But a 2x teleconverter making this much of a difference in relation to a 1.4 teleconverter, well, it makes no sense.

Truth be told, I was resistant to using the EC-20 because of the loss of 2 f/stops: less light in a system that performs better in good light could mean disaster. But apparently my fears were unfounded. Autofocus is great even in difficult situations (common when photographing birds in bushes, for instance), image quality is flawless, the whole combo is performing like a dream even when the light isn't adequate.

Olympus classifies the EC-20 as a "standard" lens, while the EC-14 is a "high grade" lens. I don't see any difference in build -- and I must confess that the first thing I did with the EC-20 was drop it from about 3 feet onto a carpeted floor, with no damage whatsoever to it -- or optic quality, so don't know where this distinction comes from. I have to presume that the EC-14 is water-resistant like all HG lenses, whereas the EC-20, being a standard lens, is not. No problem for me, since my camera isn't water-resistant either.

Considering the abuse the EC-20 has suffered in my hands and the results I'm getting with it, there is only one logical conclusion for me: my dollars were well spent on these fine optics.

The Olympus Auiko EC-20 2X Teleconverter for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras

is a wonderful addition to your lens set. Light loss is minimal, (Just

the amount associated with doubling image size). Solidly built. Converts

my Sigma 50-500 to an amazing 100-1000mm! Great combo.

Gary

I'm able to get increased functionality from a variety of lenses because of the increased focal length the teleconverter provides. It allows me to be farther away from a subject when using my macro lense and increases the range of my zoom lenses. It's extremely useful even though it costs 2 f-stops of light. Since most of my macro shots (which is where it's most useful for me) are done in brighter light, the loss of the f-stops isn't critical.

I have spent hours playing with the Zuiko EC-20 2x teleconverter with an 18-180mm lens on my Olympus E-520. Not much luck when using it in the woods to take bird and critter photos... scores of fuzzy photos.

UPDATE: Olympus now posts information for compatibility of all their lenses with the EC20 under SPECIFICATIONS section. In fact there are few lenses that actually work with this converter. Most cases they work with Manual Focus center weighted. It is not specified at all for the 18-180mm or the 50mm macro or even the $6000 90-250mm!

UPDATE: I recently bought a Zuiko 50-200mm lens for my E-520. This is an excellent fast lens that takes sharp clear photos even at full extension of 200mm. I added the 2x convertor (Olympus says it will work AF with center focus) and was amazed to find that even at the 400mm maximum, the photos are still mostly sharp and generally just fine with a little Photoshop treatment. This was hand held by the way. So Olympus... while you don't always help the customer with good information, you sure do come through with great products. I have changed my rating to 5 stars but only for the 50-200mm/2x converter combination.

Excellent addition to my E-510. In fact I would almost consider it a must have. RFG