Century 2X w/18-50

[NateWeaver]

I just got my hands on a Century 2X PL converter, to get me through until I get another lens besides the 18-50 that I own.

Anybody else tried this combo? Looking at _H proxies full size things look a tiny bit soft, but not as bad as I expected.

A side benefit is that it keeps the package nice and small...but losing a stop from 3 to 4 is a no-go for night work...

 

[LEON]

.but losing a stop from 3 to 4 is a no-go for night work...

I thought you would lose TWO stops !

 

[Brian Broz]

I have used the Century 2X and it worked very well.
We were shooting 3K 60FPS but didn't notice any substantial resolution loss.
I thought it was a 2 stop loss however.
I will probably pick one up before my 50-150mm lens on order.

 

[Steve Gibby]

I own a Century PL 2x and an Optex PL 2x, both of which I've used with various PL lenses on RED, including the RED 18-50 and RED 300. The results were good, with no obvious weirdness. I could be wrong, but it didn't seem to me that it was a full 2-stop loss when using them.

On the Schneider/Century web page for the PL 2x there is currently no tech info on it, just a note that info is coming. http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1097&IID=1960

 

[Mitch Gross]

It is a two stop loss.

 

[chuck colburn]

Zooms are very sensitive to any possible back focus or other optical errors when using extenders. I would have a optical tech with a collimator check the lens/extender combo to make sure it's set up right for your zoom lens. It's not just the back focus that can be affected, but other inherent optical limitations that zooms have such as the dreaded "S" curve and various rectilinear and chromatic errors.
2x extenders cause appx. 2 stops of lost. 1.7x's about 1.5 stops and 1.4x's about 1 stop.

Just another thought. If you can avoid using the extender with zooms and just use it with primes I think you will be better off.

 

[Stacey Spears]

I have the Century 2x as well. The focus range is really, really small when it is on. Its easy to miss nailing focus with it. With that said, I have gotten good results with it. Also have some bad due to missing focus.

 

[NateWeaver]

After I posted this, I put it on to check out the stop loss and yes indeed, it seemed to be 2 stops.

I AC'd for almost 10 years, but I'm not sure I ever was asked to put one on if it was in a DP's kit!

The entire point of it is to have something in the kit to get past 50 if a lens rental is not in the cards for personal shoots, etc. With 2 stop loss it's clear that it's not going to be good for much!