Extenders

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Looking to lighten my load for fieldwork, I'm contemplating using an extender with PL mount zoom - principally the RPZ 18-85.

I've used a Nikon 1.7x with their high-end zooms and this has resulted in good work and happy clients, but when it comes to PL extenders I'm a virgin.

To maximise bang for the buck I'd probably want to go for a 2x extender, and I mostly shoot the zoom as a variable prime.

Any thoughts, advice, or warnings of possible pitfalls? Obviously there's no 'dedicated' RED extender optically matched to the RPZ, so how well can I expect a 'generic' extender to work? Am I likely to be happy with the results at 4K? The only name I know in this field is Century/Schneider, are they about the best?

And lastly, if anyone is selling, please PM

Many thanks

Mike

 

[Tim Duran]

YOu probably know this, but the big downside is loss of stops.

There were some new Century extenders on eBay 2-3 months ago. Pretty good price.

 

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Well yes, 2x = 2 stops usually.

Century and Optex are the names I've heard. Anything much to chose between them? Any other gotchas peculiar to cine use?

Mike

 

[Nick Gardner]

If i recall correctly, whoever makes them uses the same optic, which if i recall correctly is a nikon doubler, i may be wrong, i defer to the Jaceks and Duloses or Ducli. They also magnify things like chromatic aberation, so start off with a good lens, and as always, stopping down helps. I believe many optical nerds recommend haveing a doubler set up specifically for every lens you intend to use, but i have never seen this in practical use, other than say a 25-250 coming with it's own doubler.

Nick

 

[Mitch Gross]

Angenieux now makes PL to PL 1.4x & 2x extenders. Previously they made them only to fit their zooms.

Not all lenses can be mounted on the available extenders out tere. Many lenses extend too far behind the mount and the extender has to have a little room for it's optics to function. The available space in current models is is about 14-16mm. A little birdy told me that there will be a new 2x extender coming soon that will fit lenses others cannot.

 

[Filip Orlandic]

I got the Schneider Optics 2.0x Extender from Abel Cine a few months ago. I'm satisfied with this one.

http://www.abelcine.com/store/Schneider-Optics-2.0x-Extender-for-Arri-PL-35mm/

 

[Tim Duran]

Mike, when I was considering the Angenieux extenders, one positive is that the lens coverage increases as stops go down. So the 24-290 goes from 35mm to S35mm plus, but down to T 4 or 5 or so. Angenieux extenders, as I recall, are $6,000=$7,000, far more than Century's.