dream bit of kit...
 

Thought I'd share an idea for a bit of kit that I'd love to have - unfortunately no one makes the thing...

I want 1.0x DG tc.
I figure it could be the same size/weight as a 1.4x, but would not add a stop so wouldn't affect AF on any camera/lens combo. It would need to be stackable, so you could also add a 1.4x or 2x as required.

The way I see it there would be two advantages:
1. any existing lens would effectively become a DG lens, great for dslr users.
2. you could leave it the camera all the time, which would be a big help with regards to the issue of dust on the sensor.

No doubt my idea is hugely flawed...

Nikon F7/D3 - similar to F6 but with automatic hyperfocal focussing and accepts Leaf/Hasselblad Digital Backs. Also featuring the removable pentaprism of the F5.

How about a zoom teleconverter for use on prime lenses? but then, it'll probaby cost more than the lens itself.

I can't make up my mind if this is a wind-up.

The DG part of a sigma lens is a anti-reflective coating on the rear lens element. This coating is to minimise glare from reflections of digital sensor when it is exposed. A 1.4TC (DG) would have the same reflection minimising effect but....

In my brief three year DSLR experience (20,000 exposures) and in all lighting conditions, I can honestly say glare from sensor reflection was a problem once only.

I use Nikon lenses, some old others new. None are DG equivalent, only Nikon's new 300mm f2.8VR has such coating.

Sensor reflection issues have been exaggerated by Sigma for pure marketing reasons, its is just not a big deal!

I'd like a Canon 500 or 600mm F4 DO, now that would be a great compact supertele. I'd also like to have a fully weatherproof, high quality canon DSLR WITH 1.6x crop...those are the 2 things I'd love to have but aren't being made.

Russ

Ah, someone picked up my post from a while ago about having a DG teleconverter to give the same (dubious imho benefits) of an actual DG lens.

Now what we really need is a I.S. or VR 1.0x teleconverter, that will effectively make all lenses in front of it I.S. or VR.

How about a teleconverter (any mag), that does not loose any F stops? But, I'm guessing the cost of making the prototype teleconverter would make the company go bankrupt.

Minolta sort of do this with their anti-shake system built into the camera body. Mind you, having apparently discontinued their 300mmF4, 400mmF4.5 and 100-400mm Apo-zoom lenses they're obviously not going after the birding market!

Pentax did (maybe still do) a low mag telecon that converted any PK manual focus lens into an AF lens if it was fitted to an AF body. Probably not too difficult to get the I.S. 1.0x TC though it would kill the batteries and not be small.

I must say, I'm drawn to the idea of a piece of neutral kit that sits between the camera and lens to keep dust off the sensor.

In the same way as we have a filter on the front of the lens, it would be a filter on the front of the camera.

I'm not sure about all the fancy stuff, but I'd been thinking along the same lines as "postcardcv" but purely as a dust preventer. So it would have to have all of the AF connections but would be optically flat and could be left on the camera body. Too much to ask?

I don't think it would be possible, gentlemen. Assume an optically flat 1X TC. It would have to take up a certain amount of space in front of the lens mount - i.e., you can't make it zero mm thick, and because of that it would function the same way as an extension tube - you would lose the ability to focus at infinity. Unless, of course, you also modified either the camera's lens mounting or the back of the lens.

In short, you could design a new camera body that could use such a thing and take existing lenses, or you could design a new line of lenses that can function with, and indeed require the 1XTC, but you would have to do one or the other.

I'd like a 12 Mp digital back for my Nikon F4E. Why on earth manufacturers haven't thought of this (well, apart from Leica). Would be nice to unclip the film back and clip a digi one on.. Also be nice to clip a 22Mp digi insert into a Blad film back as well.. Dust? who cares about dust..:rolleyes: