Fuji 1.4x Teleconverter

Magenta Flower, 07 June 2016. Fujifilm X-Pro2, Auto White Balance (shot under overcast light), Fujinon 100~400mm set to 400mm and shot wide-open, Fujinon XF 1.4x teleconverter gives T8 at 560mm at 1/85 at Auto ISO 200, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution file to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely display full resolution images at full resolution.

(more throughout the review)

Introduction

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

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This is a 1.4x teleconverter for Fuji's longest X-mount lenses.

Like most good 1.4x teleconverters, there is little to no loss of sharpness or autofocus speed, and also little gain in focal length.

Adding only 40% to the focal length turns the Fuji 100~400mm f/4.5~5.6 lens into a 140~560mm f/6.3~8 lens. It makes any lens a full stop slower, but only 40% longer.

Compatibility

It's a Fuji X-Mount, and as of June 2016, only works with the:

50-140mm f/2.8

and

100-400mm f/4.5-5.6.

While you might thing you could attach this to any lens, notice the protruding optics at the top. To attach this to a lens, the lens needs to have nothing but air at its back. Most shorter lenses are filled with glass, so you can't attach this converter to them.

This converter is optimized for long lenses, which is why it protrudes into the back of a lens.

Specifications

Name

Fuji calls this the Fujinon Teleconverter XF 1.4x TC WR.

Fujinon is Fujifilm's brand name for their lenses.

XF is Fuji's line of good lenses for their X-mount cameras.

TC means teleconverter.

WR means weather resistant.

Optics

7 elements in 3 groups.

Focal Length

Multiplies focal length by 1.4x.

Maximum & Minimum Apertures

Reduces all apertures by one stop.

Close Focus

Unchanged.

Maximum Reproduction Ratio

1.4x that of the original lens.

Size

2.2" maximum diameter x 0.5" extension from flange.

58.0 mm maximum diameter x 15.0 mm extension from flange.

Weight

4.450 oz. (128.7 g) actual measured weight, no caps.

Fuji specifies 4.5 oz. (130 g).

Announced

21 October 2015.

Included

Converter and two caps.

The front cap is a special extra-deep cap to swallow the front extension of the optics.

Fuji Model Number

16481892.

Price

$450, or only $100 as a kit along with the 100-400mm lens , June 2016.

Performance

Overall

I used this converter with the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6, with which it works splendidly.

This converter doesn't lose any sharpness, and AF speeds appear to be the same.

While it doesn't degrade performance to any significant extent, adding only 40% doesn't make a lens that much longer, either.

Autofocus

AF works great, I didn't detect any slowing with the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6.

Mechanical Quality

It's well made, with a gasket at the back.

The front protrusion is rubberized.

Sharpness

Dirty Umbrella, 07 June 2016. Fujifilm X-Pro2, Auto White Balance (shot under overcast light), Fujinon 100~400mm set to 400mm and shot wide-open, Fujinon XF 1.4x teleconverter gives T8 at 560mm at 1/220 at Auto ISO 200, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution file to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely display full resolution images at full resolution.

There's no loss of sharpness. Used with a premium lens like the Fujinon 100~400mm, it's super sharp even shot wide-open at 400mm, which is where it would be the softest

As you can see in the image above, it's super sharp and contrasty (of course the dirty umbrella is 3D and most of it isn't in focus).

Know that if shot through any distance that atmospheric heat shimmer is also magnified, and while the air may look clear to you, looking at your images later you often will see the softening effects of heat shimmer if you're shooting at long distances.

Image Stabilizer

The stabilizer of the Fujinon 100~400mm works great with this teleconverter. No problems here.

Data

The EXIF and finder shooting information correctly displays the effective focal length and aperture with the converter. It does not show the setting on the lens.

For instance, with a lens set to 400mm and shot at its largest aperture which is normally f/5.6, the camera will read f/8 and EXIF records 560mm.

Recommendations

I've bought and used 1.4x converters for decades. They are tiny and pop in a bag, and since you never know when you might need one, why not? They are much smaller than 2x converters and don't lose sharpness, don't slow autofocus and lose only one stop, not two — but they don't gain much focal length either.

I'd certainly pay the extra $100 to get one as part of a package deal with the 100-400mm lens.

If you get one of these converters as part of the package and hate it, I'm sure you can eBay it for more than you paid, so you win either way.

I got mine at B&H, I'd also get it at Adorama or at Amazon

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Fuji does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used camera. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

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