S3IS and TCON 17.... won't focus

[jedcrocker]

Hello,

I just picked up an Olympus Tcon 17 telephoto adapter (1.7x) for my Canon
S3is. I've seen many sample shots from this combo (well, at least the S2, but these models are virtually identical mechanically, right?) so they appear to be
compatible.

The converter is attached to a 52mm Lensmates adapter tube with a 52-55mm
step up ring. I assume this is how many other users of this combo set it
up.

My problem is that the camera will not focus beyond the mid point of the
zoom range with the tcon 17 attached. I've tried with and without the
camera menu teleconverter setting on, macro, super macro, manual focus, etc. It won't even come close to focusing.

Just looking through the tcon, everything looks sharp and clear (optically beautiful). Actually, if I just put the TCON up to the S3 lens backward, it focuses fine (without the magnification, of course!). Without the tcon, the camera focuses beautifully.

I have tested this lens on another S3 with the same results.

Anyone else have experience with this camera and teleconverter combo? I'm trying to track down some S3 owners who have made the TCON 17 work.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

[dhbailey]

I'm guessing here, but:

There's a setting in the shooting menu called CONVERTER, and it gives you two options plus off. Set it to WC-DC58A if you're using a wide angle converter, and set it to TC-DC58B if you're using a telephoto converter. These are the two Canon conversion lenses. I don't know if these settings work for other conversion lenses beside Canon lenses.

[XaiLo]

yes sir ree, flip the switch. but remember the camera is calculated for a 1.5x lens :(

[BowerR64]

yes sir ree, flip the switch. but remember the camera is calculated for a 1.5x lens :(

But still adding 1.5 means 18X thats the focal power of some telescopes. Walmart sells 700 mm telescopes and if you add the 1.5X you are near that.

The 1.7 would bring it to a 20X thats ALOT! for a camera? :confused: a P&S none the less.

Those that want more mre more, are nutty nutty nutty. :D

[jedcrocker]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses. I have tried the teleconverter setting in the menu (I've tried every setting I could find!). Unfortunately, it still isn't cooperating.

I contacted Canon support to see if they could assist. As expected, they told me to buy a Canon lens.........

By the way, does anyone know exactly what the telephoto or wideangle lens setting in the menu do to the camera?

Thanks again

[BowerR64]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses. I have tried the teleconverter setting in the menu (I've tried every setting I could find!). Unfortunately, it still isn't cooperating.

I contacted Canon support to see if they could assist. As expected, they told me to buy a Canon lens.........

By the way, does anyone know exactly what the telephoto or wideangle lens setting in the menu do to the camera?

Thanks again


They help it focus.

How far was your subject when you were trying to focus? can you manualy focus with it on?

Is it a dark low light setting? when you add glass you lose Fstop so when your using the telephoto lens you need a little more light then if you dont have it on.

Try and focus on somthing outside, across the street in the daytime.

1.7X is right on the edge of being to much.

I looked once into getting the tcon lens and there was quite a few different models. Are you sure you got the right one?

[danielg]

I'm using a Sony 1.7X TC and I have no problems focusing. Of course keep in mind that with that much zoom, you need to keep your camera pretty stable because the slightest movement will be magnified by the long zoom.

[XaiLo]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses. I have tried the teleconverter setting in the menu (I've tried every setting I could find!). Unfortunately, it still isn't cooperating.

I contacted Canon support to see if they could assist. As expected, they told me to buy a Canon lens.........

By the way, does anyone know exactly what the telephoto or wideangle lens setting in the menu do to the camera?

Thanks again

To be honest with you sometimes I have to wonder about that myself. most of the time I forget to turn it on and off. and I really don't notice a difference either way, though I'm sure it does something. As stated though I'm sure it helps with focus and pretty much convinced it doesn't hurt. :) Any chance of a refund?

Oooooops I forgot also the S3 uses a different CCD.

[BowerR64]

I wonder if it doesnt do somthing with the image stabalizer? or what about the assist beam? the converter can block the assist beam so it wont help in low light. What about the Fstop? could it alter the way it calculates light? like say you compose the shot with no lens on and the camera says "ok there is X amount of light, then you put the converter on whileholding the shutter down. Now the X amount of light has changed because you have now added 5 new layers of glass. ;)

I dont know for sure what it actualy does but im sure they didnt just add it in the menu for the hell of it. :D

[BowerR64]

But then again..... look at the G7? who knows what canon has been thinking latley :eek:

[jedcrocker]

Thanks again for the input. Here is where I am with my analysis;

- The TCON 17 I have looks good optically
- Won't focus on 2 different S3is cameras

This leads me to believe that either the TCON is defective or it is not compatible with this camera.

To answer the second item, I'm still hoping to track down someone who actually uses an S3 with the TCON 17 (I seem to have found a bunch of S2 users with this lens but no S3s yet)!

I guess along this line, it sounds like the Canon TC-DC58B and Sony 1.7x (can you let me know the actual model number for the Sony lens?) work fine.

Thanks again for the help. I'd posted this question a few places and this group is by far the most responsive.

By the way, I also picked up a Raynox 6600 0.66x wide angle lens. I haven't critically tested it yet, but it looks great so far...... great increase in field of view, almost zero distortion.... just need to check for corner softness in the photos. For this lens, the wide angle lens setting in the menu *appears* to make no difference in camera performance.

[BowerR64]

Thanks again for the input. Here is where I am with my analysis;

- The TCON 17 I have looks good optically
- Won't focus on 2 different S3is cameras

This leads me to believe that either the TCON is defective or it is not compatible with this camera.

To answer the second item, I'm still hoping to track down someone who actually uses an S3 with the TCON 17 (I seem to have found a bunch of S2 users with this lens but no S3s yet)!

I guess along this line, it sounds like the Canon TC-DC58B and Sony 1.7x (can you let me know the actual model number for the Sony lens?) work fine.

Thanks again for the help. I'd posted this question a few places and this group is by far the most responsive.

By the way, I also picked up a Raynox 6600 0.66x wide angle lens. I haven't critically tested it yet, but it looks great so far...... great increase in field of view, almost zero distortion.... just need to check for corner softness in the photos. For this lens, the wide angle lens setting in the menu *appears* to make no difference in camera performance.


Before you spend more money, have you looked at the lens? They can be adjusted. Maybe some one before you adjusted it for a different camera?

There are several lenses inside them and moving them apart or closer changes the focal points. It could be just a little out. Maybe the lens was taken on a trip or it went out of focus from vibration during shipping?

The body of the lens could unscrew, or there are little rings with slots that you can screw in and out to change the distance the lenses are apart.

Another thing that happens is mold. If its been in a damp environment mold can grow beteen the glass and the mold actualy etches the smooth finish off the coating and that can appear to be out of focus or a softness. Have you tried the camera outside with the smallest apature to see if you can pinpoint a spot on the lens? Its more common then you think.

Think about this, the canon lenses are made of plastic, and so are the raynoz lenses. You know why? plastic seals better. Plastic is not only cheap but when you put glass inside plastic then you seal it with metal rings the plastic actualy seals around the metal rings and requires less work.

A metal body lens with metal rings can have little air gaps between the threads that can let in moisture and it can get in between the lenses and mold.

Canon has been at this for years, they know the little tricks.

[todo boggy]

I guess along this line, it sounds like the Canon TC-DC58B and Sony 1.7x (can you let me know the actual model number for the Sony lens?) work fine.


The Sony is VCL-DH1758...i am still hesitant to which i should choose, Canon, Sony or Raynox :confused: :confused:

[Sintares]

I wonder if it doesnt do somthing with the image stabalizer? or what about the assist beam? the converter can block the assist beam so it wont help in low light. What about the Fstop? could it alter the way it calculates light? like say you compose the shot with no lens on and the camera says "ok there is X amount of light, then you put the converter on whileholding the shutter down. Now the X amount of light has changed because you have now added 5 new layers of glass. ;)

I dont know for sure what it actualy does but im sure they didnt just add it in the menu for the hell of it. :D

The tcons for fixed lens cameras do not unlike tcons for dslrs steal light, the f stop remains the same.

I don't know about the S3 but on Sony cameras the convertor setting is not really needed especially for tcons.

All it does on the Sonys is restrict the zoom to starting at x6.2, and thats only to stop the "tunnel" effect if you pull the zoom all the way back to wide.

And the only people that helps is the newbies who would not realise that is a normal effect of tcons and panic.

[jedcrocker]

Thanks for the tips. I have checked the Olympus TCON 17 and it is a sealed unit with no adjustment possible. I have also tested the lens with a Canon A520 and it appears to work fine.

So.... based on the fact that it wouldn't focus on either S3is I tested it with, on any setting, I have to assume this lens is not compatible with the S3. As I'd stated before, Canon didn't really want to talk about it, they just told me how easily I could buy a Canon lens.

I have also found one other user out there that had trouble with a TCON 17 on an S3, so until we hear of someone making this work, other users may want to be careful with this setup.

Thanks again

[XaiLo]

The Sony is VCL-DH1758...i am still hesitant to which i should choose, Canon, Sony or Raynox :confused: :confused:

pic (click) this one... :eek:

[todo boggy]

pic (click) this one... :eek:

i dun quite get wat u mean Xailo....

[XaiLo]

just joking man just saying you have to have one in order to take a pic.:)

[todo boggy]

Okie Xailo.....Cool....

hmmmm.....so it seems somehow the TCON 17 may not have a perfect match with the S3 and tht will probably remind us all s3 users to better consider the Canon TC-DC58B or Raynox DCR-1540PRO or Sony VCL-DH1758(can someone with the combi of S3 and Sony post some pics to let us see?)

[XaiLo]

danielg, uses the Sony.

[danielg]

S3is + Sony 1.7TC

http://static.flickr.com/76/230994320_5869c15b6a.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/87/234332468_68c0e415aa.jpg

[todo boggy]

They're just too good danielg...FANTASTIC shots!!! I'm more than impressed....I think its gotta be SONY for me and guess what? The price in Malaysia is as below:

Canon TC-DC58B - RM500
Raynox DCR-1540PRO - RM564 (only available in Singapore)
Sony VCL-DH1758 - RM486

I'm gonna rush to the Sony store soon to get it before my trip to Manilla on 19 Oct 2006...thanks a lot to Xailo & Danielg

[danielg]

Todo, Cool!! You are coming over to Manila? IS it part of a tour/vacation? What are the areas you are planning to visit, maybe i can give you a list of place to visit and take photographs. Where will you be staying here?



They're just too good danielg...FANTASTIC shots!!! I'm more than impressed....I think its gotta be SONY for me and guess what? The price in Malaysia is as below:

Canon TC-DC58B - RM500
Raynox DCR-1540PRO - RM564 (only available in Singapore)
Sony VCL-DH1758 - RM486

I'm gonna rush to the Sony store soon to get it before my trip to Manilla on 19 Oct 2006...thanks a lot to Xailo & Danielg

[todo boggy]

Todo, Cool!! You are coming over to Manila? IS it part of a tour/vacation? What are the areas you are planning to visit, maybe i can give you a list of place to visit and take photographs. Where will you be staying here?

I'm coming over coz my friend(Malaysian) is marrying a Filipino and I'm his best man :D. We'll be staying in Eurotel Hotel in Las Pinas I guess and I'll be there from 19-25 Oct 2006. No plans to go anywhere yet, perhaps u can make some suggestions to where I can visit and snap some pics....last year we went to Anilao(woo-hoo..i love this place!!!) and Tagaytay but did not go to the volcano crate due to rain....

[danielg]

I'm coming over coz my friend(Malaysian) is marrying a Filipino and I'm his best man :D. We'll be staying in Eurotel Hotel in Las Pinas I guess and I'll be there from 19-25 Oct 2006. No plans to go anywhere yet, perhaps u can make some suggestions to where I can visit and snap some pics....last year we went to Anilao(woo-hoo..i love this place!!!) and Tagaytay but did not go to the volcano crate due to rain....

Todo, Las Pinas is pretty much south of Manila so, Tagaytay and Anilao are definitely must see for you. Try dropping by Roxas Blvd along Manila Bay. the whole strip by the famous Manila Bay is lined with restaurants and is a favorite among photographers. While you are there, drop by the "old walled city" of Intramuros, so many historical places there to see and shot some shots.

[todo boggy]

Todo, Las Pinas is pretty much south of Manila so, Tagaytay and Anilao are definitely must see for you. Try dropping by Roxas Blvd along Manila Bay. the whole strip by the famous Manila Bay is lined with restaurants and is a favorite among photographers. While you are there, drop by the "old walled city" of Intramuros, so many historical places there to see and shot some shots.

Thanks a lot for the tips Daniel....i will note them down..in fact i'm jotting them down already ;) :)