VERY long zoom shots with FZ18 and Nikon TC...

[John_Reed]

Here are some shots from a "safari" on the Elkhorn Slough, near Moss Landing, CA. All taken with my new FZ18 at full zoom in 5MP EZ mode, with Nikon TC-E17ED teleconverter, a 1.7X multiplier, for a total of ~1100mm of focal length. They're handheld, taken from the deck of a pretty stable boat. Enjoy? First, a Sea Otter relishing a clam he's about to eat:

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/202801269-L.jpg

A Sea Lion basking on the shore:

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/202802067-L.jpg

Now here's one that blows my mind, it's about a 50% crop of a distant Coyote, which makes it the equivalent of a 2X digital zoom, or ~2200mm:

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/202801898-L.jpg

Last, but not least, not anywhere near the zoom of the others, but two Otters "Doin' what they Oughter:"

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/202800261-L.jpg

You can see other postings from my great little FZ18 here. (http://john-reed.smugmug.com/gallery/3554580#201379690)

[Mike63]

Those look great for that zoom range. Gene may want one of those for his wildlife photo's.:)

[tim11]

Just the right camera for the purpose John. And it doesn't cost an arm either. How do you find the IS? Still very effective?

[John_Reed]

Just the right camera for the purpose John. And it doesn't cost an arm either. How do you find the IS? Still very effective?Here's one of the first shots I took with the camera "out of the box," full zoom handheld, at 1/4 second!

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/201379983-L.jpg

[TheWengler]

I really like the otter shot. Very nice. Some lady almost hit me pulling out onto 1 from the Whole Enchilada at Moss Landing on Sunday. I didn't know that if I'd just pulled over I'd be on safari.

[tim11]

Full zoom at 1/4sec. That's something indeed.
Considering such lens in DSLR term.... i.e. 500 mm IS. hmm....... it won't be less than $5000 to have equivalent reach for my D80.

[John_Reed]

I really like the otter shot. Very nice. Some lady almost hit me pulling out onto 1 from the Whole Enchilada at Moss Landing on Sunday. I didn't know that if I'd just pulled over I'd be on safari.I went with 2 ladies, one drove for the trip. We ate at the "Whole Enchilada" on Sunday after the Elkhorn Slough Safari boat ride was over. Maybe we saw you? Or vice versa?

[TheWengler]

I went with 2 ladies, one drove for the trip. We ate at the "Whole Enchilada" on Sunday after the Elkhorn Slough Safari boat ride was over. Maybe we saw you? Or vice versa?

Sorry, I wasn't at the Whole Enchilada. I was driving up 1 from San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz. I went through at about 6:15ish. I always find myself driving through there around sunset and it's always gorgeous out.

[John_Reed]

Sorry, I wasn't at the Whole Enchilada. I was driving up 1 from San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz. I went through at about 6:15ish. I always find myself driving through there around sunset and it's always gorgeous out.Are you a student at UCSC? We were back on the road going north to the SF Bay Area by about 1PM, everybody had "stuff to do." Still, it's a small world, isn't it?

[TheWengler]

Are you a student at UCSC? We were back on the road going north to the SF Bay Area by about 1PM, everybody had "stuff to do." Still, it's a small world, isn't it?

No I don't go to UCSC. I live in Santa Cruz. I just graduated from CPSU and was camping in Morro Bay over the weekend.

[John_Reed]

No I don't go to UCSC. I live in Santa Cruz. I just graduated from CPSU and was camping in Morro Bay over the weekend.Being able to regularly drive up and down Hwy 1 along some of the most beautiful coastline, not to mention beautiful Pacific sunsets as well! Envious.

[TheWengler]

Being able to regularly drive up and down Hwy 1 along some of the most beautiful coastline, not to mention beautiful Pacific sunsets as well! Envious.

I can't complain.

[Benjamin2007]

Here are some shots from a "safari" on the Elkhorn Slough, near Moss Landing, CA. All taken with my new FZ18 at full zoom ... a total of ~1100mm of focal length. They're handheld, taken from the deck of a pretty stable boat. Enjoy?
First, a Sea Otter relishing a clam he's about to eat:

Last, but not least, not anywhere near the zoom of the others, but two Otters "Doin' what they Oughter:"

John
I loved all of those safari shots with the FZ18!
I particularly liked the otter shots, they're one of my favourite marine mammals! :cool:
Both The Wengler and you are indeed lucky to live on the West Coast!
cheers,

[John_Reed]

John
I loved all of those safari shots with the FZ18!
I particularly liked the otter shots, they're one of my favourite marine mammals! :cool:
Both The Wengler and you are indeed lucky to live on the West Coast!
cheers,The grass is always greener... I've been to Sydney, and I think IT's a beautiful place, and envy the folks who get to live there. So maybe we're both lucky? Thank you for your comments. If you saw my gallery link, there are other sea otter shots that I didn't post here?

[Benjamin2007]

The grass is always greener... I've been to Sydney, and I think IT's a beautiful place, and envy the folks who get to live there. So maybe we're both lucky? Thank you for your comments. If you saw my gallery link, there are other sea otter shots that I didn't post here?

Hi John

No complaints about Sydney and no envy about the West Coast! :)
I love living in Sydney. :D
I was simply acknowledging the photographic potential of such beautiful surroundings & how lucky you both were to be able to take advantage of them!:)
My comment was simply meant as a compliment. :)

I am excited about both the photographic potential of Sydney :) & buying my first digital camera. :D

cheers,

[debu_17]

The long zoom shots are excellent. The photo depicts , if not a thousand, at least 900 words.
Could u update how u made the water look so placid?

what is the shutter speed used?

[John_Reed]

The long zoom shots are excellent. The photo depicts , if not a thousand, at least 900 words.
Could u update how u made the water look so placid?

what is the shutter speed used?If it was a bay on the ocean, then it'd be subject to ocean waves, and the water would be a lot more turbulent. But a slough, being "inland" from the sea, is buffered from all that wave motion, and hence the water's pretty smooth. Not only was the Otter surrounded by this "smooth" water, but I was shooting from a boat quite a distance away floating on the same water. So you know it couldn't have been too choppy, or there wouldn't have been much of a picture to show! :o

Thanks for your comments!

[sollyUSA]

Hi John. We are looking at the Panasonic FZ18 after your incredible photos. I'm having trouble looking up the tele converter. Is there a Nikon product number for it that is different from your reference? I'm not getting a hit when I search on the Nikon site for info on it. I must be inputting something wrong. Thanks.

[Telecorder]

E-Buy has one listed going on 11/25...
http://search.ebay.com/nikon-tc-e17ed_W0QQftsZ0

[bbbinohio]

Hello,

Great shots!!

I am buying the Nikon TC-E17ED now (I think I have found one) but I don't know what you mean when you say that you used it in conjuction with a 1.7X multiplier. What is a 1.7X multiplier? Does it screw on like a close-up lens, or something?

Thanks,
Bob

[rschofield]

I am buying the Nikon TC-E17ED now (I think I have found one) but I don't know what you mean when you say that you used it in conjuction with a 1.7X multiplier. What is a 1.7X multiplier? Does it screw on like a close-up lens, or something?

Bob,

The TC-E17ED is the 1.7X multiplier -- also called a conversion lens. (That's what the '17' embedded in the model number stands for.) You'll need a lens adapter tube (e.g., DMW-LA3 or equivalent for the FZ18) and a step ring to mount the 60mm thread conversion lens to your adapter tube.

[Telecorder]

The 1.7X teleconverter effectivly increases the native lens' focal length by 1.7X eg; adding a 1.7X TC to a 400-mm native lens increases its apparent focal length to 1.7 x 400-mm or 680-mm.

Keep in mind that the TC will also affect the aperture by the same factor... eg a 400-mm native lens with max aperture of f/5.6 with a 1.7X TC added becomes an effective 680-mm lens with a max aperture of f/5.6 x 1.7 or f/9.5

For a fixed lens camera such as a Pany FZ30, the TC is affixed onto the end of the lens usually via the filter threads.

[speaklightly]

Excellent photos, John-

I always love following your photos.

Sarah Joyce

[amature]

Hey John. I loved your pictures!!! I just bought a panasonic fz18 and some books on photography as setting aperature, ISO, etc. are a step up from my Kodak easyshare 4x. After pricing the Nikon tc-e17ed at $800, I was wondering if you thought the Panasonic 1.7 teleconverter dmw-lt55 would give me the same quality as your Nikon only at a much smaller price ($180). We are going on an Alaska cruise soon and I want to be able to capture the wildlife like you did. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[tim11]

John has been missing from these forums for a while now. I hope he will come back.

[amature]

Well thats too bad. If anyone has any thoughts re: panasonic teleconverter, it would be greatly appreciated.

[rschofield]

The Panasonic teleconverter is reputed to be a rebranded Olympus TCON-17. Whether that is true is up to others to determine (I happen to believe that it is true).

In any case, the Olympus TCON-17 is probably the most widely used teleconverter on the FZ30 & FZ50 and this would not be true if it weren't a good lens. And it can be had for considerably less money than the Panasonic.

The TCON-17 (without suffix) is listed on eBay often but I find it interesting that people bid up the price to the $130 - $150 range when they can "Buy it Now" directly from the Olympus store for $90 -- that's how I got mine. They list it as new/damaged packaging but mine looked like it came right off the shelf of a reputable local brick & mortar store.

I am not denigrating the Nikon 1.7 lens -- I've seen fabulous photos taken with it -- but it is extremely expensive and hard to find, as you know. :)

[tim11]

The Panasonic teleconverter is reputed to be a rebranded Olympus TCON-17. ....

I'm not sure what you mean by that but the fact is that Olympus made the TCon 17 for Olympus cameras but camera enthusiasts found many other uses for it including many Panasonic series. You will have to find an adaptor for different cameras I think.

I will put my TCon17 on Ebay one day since I have no use for it any more, along with my FZ20.

[Honest Gaza]

You should hang on to the FZ-20 Tim.....I wished I had.

[tim11]

Why Gaza? I have never use it ever since I got my D80. I hope my 8 y.o. son will be more interest with taking photos if he can use the FZ20 but he has other more interesting things to do on his own. So as it is now the FZ20 just sit there doing nothing waiting for its expiry date.

[Honest Gaza]

Just sometimes it would be nice to break out the FZ-20 with the amazing versatility that it has (without having to lug around various lenses).

Sometimes, you just want the shot and don't require the "artistic" ability of an SLR

[amature]

Thanks rschofield for the info on the teleconverter. Thats exactly what I was looking for. I'm going to call the company tomorrow to make sure it's compatible with the fz18. It's always good to save money!!!

[Phill D]

Tim I tend to agree with Gaza I'm sure I would miss it. I am toying with moving to a dslr myself & was wondering if the FZ would be able to help meet the cost but from what I see it would be worth much more as a back-up camera or for use by the kids when they want more than their phones can do. FZ20s seem to be going for about £50 (or $100) on ebay & a camera shop offered me even less so at that price I can't bring myself to let it go. It just makes the dslr justification more difficult to the nearest & dearest :(
I noticed John has't been around here for a while as well, I hope he comes back soon too he was getting some lovely shots with his pannys & always had sensible advice.

[rschofield]

I'm not sure what you mean by that but the fact is that Olympus made the TCon 17 for Olympus cameras but camera enthusiasts found many other uses for it including many Panasonic series.

Many people, myself included, believe that the Panasonic DMW-LT55 is nothing more than an Olympus TCON-17 with the words "Panasonic DMW-LT55" printed on the lens barrel.


You will have to find an adaptor for different cameras I think.

Both the TCON-17 and LT55 are 55mm threaded conversion lenses. If your camera requires something else, then a step ring will be required. If your camera does not support add-on filters or lenses, then a lens adapter tube will be required. Each will be specific to the camera and lens/filter desired.

[TDN169]

Wow! how far away were they from

[John_Reed]

Quick comment on TCON-17 vs. Nikon TC-E7ED: I have both, and find the Oly to be lacking in a couple of respects.

#1, it generates more edge distortion and CA.
#2, it isn't as sharp as the Nikon
#3, although it claims to be 1.7X, I've measured no better than 1.62X, unlike 1.7X Nikon.

The Oly IS much lighter than the Nikon, however, and it's an exercise in good biceps building to tote the Nikon around all day!

[tim11]

Welcome back to the forum John. Where have you been? Is everything alright?

[John_Reed]

Yes, Tim, everything's OK, thanks for your concern. I've been on a sabbatical from this forum for awhile, but maybe I'll start coming around again now and then.

[Phill D]

Yes good to see you back John. Your excellent shots & sage advice has been missed.

[Mike63]

I agree I miss your advice and pics, Welcome back!!