10.08.2020 More photographic reach from the Panasonic DMW-TC14.

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Monday 10th. My need for more telephoto reach for distant subjects is now met by combining a 1.4x extender with the 50-200mm lens. The Panasonic DMW-TC14 Tele-Converter provides all the electrical contacts. So that the fitted lens retains its full auto-focus, aperture and image stabilization. The 1.4 TC loses one stop on the lens it supports.

Thanks to the 4/3 crop factor, of 2x, the resulting Full Frame focal lengths soon add up! I made up a simple table to show how the Micro 4/3 focal length is multiplied by the extender's 1.4x and then x2 for the Full Frame 35mm equivalents in mm.

I have been out taking landscape images using the new lens + 1.4x extender combination and it is amazingly sharp, handheld at full zoom! This is all thanks to Panasonic's combined lens and in-body Image Stabilization. In fact I never really thought about camera shake and saw none on the resulting 130 images taken on a half hour stroll. Most of the images were taken at full zoom. Typically not even a single gull, of the usual thousands, presented itself for a super-telephoto opportunity.

Picasa reports that the actual focal length is 581mm equivalent in Full Frame [35mm] terms at full zoom! All in an easily manageable, highly compact form only about a foot [31.5cm] long at full [trombone] zoom. 27cm to the outer edge of the G9's rubber eye-shield retracted to 50mm minimum zoom. Which makes it quite capable of being walked around all day long on a diagonal, camera strap. NO tripod required for stills! I haven't tried video with the TC14 + 200mm lens combo yet.

The 50-200mm Leica weighs 743g with both lens caps and lens hood. The tiny 1.4x Panasonic tele-extender weighs only 124g with both lens caps. The Lumix G9 camera body weighs 663g with lens cap and Q/R camera strap toggles. Making the total 1530g.

 My old TZ7 P&S, 12x zoom camera weighs 276g in its vinyl pouch with only half the reach.

The Leica 100-400 zoom weighs 985g but with 1.4x more maximum reach. Quite close to the weight of the TC14 + 50-200 set at 867g.   Which offers a slightly more flexible range of focal lengths from 50-200mm. [70-280mm with the TC14 fitted.] The TC14 is tiny enough to go in a pocket when not needed.

The Panasonic DMW-TC14 is only compatible with relatively few lenses due to its extended "nose." Which can only fit into a lens deliberately designed with a recess at the rear to accept this extension.

The Leica 200mm f2.8 prime lens and the Leica 50-200mm zoom are the only lenses I know of which fit the DMW-TC14 to date. BTW: The DMW-TC14 teleconverter is remarkably expensive! A 2x version is available for those looking for even more extreme focal lengths but losing 2 stops on the fitted lens. TC Models are also available for the Lumix S bodies.

After several walks with the 50-200mm on the G9 I became comfortable with the weight. I use the Peak Design 'Slim' strap diagonally across my body. With the camera a lens resting beside my stomach at hip level. I can easily let go instead of steadying the lens with my hand. Which is only really needed on rough ground. Just to stop the camera from swinging about wildly. Holding the lens reminds me of the weight I am carrying.

On other walks I have taken the Leica 12-60mm. This combination, with the G9, feels weightless but seriously lacks reach for the rural outdoors. Even the 280mm of the 1.4x TC14 with the 200mm maximum zoom lacks enough reach for small birds and animals. 560mm equivalent in FF terms? You'd have to be quite close to any small birds to have any real impact! 280 [560] is more of a landscape focal length in open countryside. Removing the 1.4x teleconverter immediately embarrasses with its 200mm max reach.

Which leaves me in a quandary. 400mm [800 FF] would provide some serious reach. Enough for smaller birds at greater distances. Say 50 yards maximum? The weight would not be too much of a burden. Being so close to the 50-200 + TC14. The teleconverter doesn't fit the 100-400.

An alternative would be the TC20 x teleconverter on the existing Leica 50-200. The 2x TC is even more expensive than the TC14 but less than half the price of the Leica 100-400. Sadly the 2x TC has a poor reputation compared to the 1.4x.

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