Introduction: Photographers can extend their zoom capabilities without the expense of new lenses by using the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD. With its 2x magnification, the teleconverter allows shooters to get significantly closer to the subject while maintaining apparent image quality. The Rokinon glass gives decent contrast and sharpness, especially when considering the relatively low price of the unit.

When shooting at longer distances, apparent sharpness is a must. The ideal situation for using a teleconverter is when you’re shooting at a longer focal length with good light. Teleconverters work best with prime lenses, particularly with fast lenses (f/2.8 and faster). The Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD is compatible with Canon’s FD line of lenses. This makes it a somewhat niche item, but wildlife and sports photographers could certainly find a use for it.

What is the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD and How Does It Work?

The Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x for Canon FD cameras is a small optical device that fits between your lens and camera body. When attached, it does not affect the autofocus or exposure settings of your lens, a significant advantage for maintaining normal shooting operation. The teleconverter magnifies the focal length of your image by a factor of 2x. That means if you use it with a 100mm Canon FD lens, the combined focal length amounts to 200mm. The Rokinon is a Japan-made product that offers excellent quality and a satisfying user experience at a reasonable price, in contrast to high-priced extenders made by camera companies.

Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD: Enhance Your Photography with 2x Zoom

One of the main benefits of the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD is the way it allows you to achieve a 2x zoom without needing to buy a new, heavy, and expensive telephoto lens. When using the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD with a prime lens, you save money and you also lighten your load because the teleconverter is much less weight and bulk. Whether you’re shooting wildlife or getting a closer shot in a sporting event, the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD primes your existing lens for a 2x boost, enhancing its capabilities, allowing you to bring the scene closer, and do so while maintaining excellent image quality across the frame.

Complete Guide to Using the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD

Using the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD is straightforward. First, ensure the teleconverter is compatible with your lens; then, fasten it between your Canon FD lens and your camera body. It will automatically and effectively double the focal length of your lens, giving you a serious boost in zoom power. However, with any teleconverter, there’s a slight risk of diminishing light transmission. So make sure you’re aware of your exposure settings to compensate for any potential issues.

Top Features of the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD for Canon FD Lenses

There are a few main strengths that make the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD a good converter for photographers who shoot with Canon FD or FL mount cameras and want to retain autofocus and exposure setting controls. The first is the doubling of the effective focal length (if you can call it that with a manual-focus lens). This means that a lens with a 200mm effective focal length now has 400mm. There’s also the fact that this teleconverter is quite lightweight and compact. The combination of features means that it’s a good option for achieving decent results with long-distance subjects.

How to Attach and Use the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD

Using the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD with your Canon FD lens is a simple process. You first take the lens off the camera and then attach the teleconverter to the lens. Following that, you put the lens and teleconverter combo back on the camera. The instructions say to make sure everything is secured tightly, with no gaps or misalignments, because the setup you’re using should now be doubling the lens’s focal length.

But it’s also essential to check all these connections because the setup is also a light path. If you were doing this in reverse order, with the light-path problem unsolved first, you’d seemingly have twice as much focal length and almost no light if you were trying to take a picture with the setup.

Pros and Cons of the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD for Photographers

The Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD has several advantages. Among them is the ability to “zoom” without having to invest in a whole new set of lenses. It is much lighter and more compact than a zoom lens, easy to use, and works well with Canon FD lenses. But there are downsides. A teleconverter reduces light reaching the sensor, which can lead to image quality issues in low-light situations. And there’s a slight loss of sharpness; the expected result when using a teleconverter. Would I recommend the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD? Sure. If you want to work with Canon FD glass and need a compact, lightweight, and inexpensive zoom solution, it’s a sensible choice.

Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD Review: Is It Worth the Investment?

Photographers who wish to expand the zoom capabilities of their Canon FD lenses will find an economical solution in the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD. It doubles the focal length, which gives faraway subjects the appearance of being much nearer. The benefit of this teleconverter is most evident, I found when I used it in conjunction with a 50mm lens for portraiture and a 200mm lens for shooting a bird in a tree.

Rokinon rates the teleconverter’s maximum aperture as f/5.6, so you are trading brightness for more reach. But if you’re using the 200mm lens at 200mm with the teleconverter, you’re hitting the same exposure triangle values that you would with the 100mm lens at its maximum aperture of f/2.8.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD

Attributing priority to user-friendliness, Rokinon has made certain that using their 2x auto teleconverter is a convenient and uncomplicated affair. To install it, for instance, you simply attach the converter to your lens before attaching the lens to your camera body. The teleconverter’s “Auto” functionality means that it works with your camera’s metering system, which in practice gives you very similar results as if you were shooting with a zoom lens—provided you had a way to mount it to your camera. Still, you must take care to use the converter only with Rokinon prime lenses that are compatible with it, as using it with incompatible lenses will obviate the convenience of using an auto teleconverter.

Why Choose the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD for Telephoto Photography?

For telephoto photography, the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x is an excellent alternative to a telephoto lens. Its 2x magnification allows you to shoot distant subjects in the same way that you would with a telephoto lens, yet it offers the advantage of being lightweight and easy to transport. The Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x doubles the reach of your Canon FD series lenses, making it a convenient choice not only for wildlife and sports photographers but also for anyone shooting distant landscapes.

Comparing the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD with Other 2x Teleconverters

When putting the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD next to others, it stands out for its price, coming in at nearly half that of the nearest competitor. While it is indeed $75 cheaper than the next least expensive option, over half the teleconverter’s price is accounted for purely by the price of the front lens cap. The metal construction of the teleconverter itself is pretty sturdy, and it feels good to use, but (merely as a point of comparison) the construction quality of the competing models is even better. Other teleconverter options almost all feature coatings that enhance contrast and minimize flare to a much greater extent.

How to Get Sharper Images with the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD

The Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD may not yield the absolute sharpest images, but it’s certainly capable of producing good results if you know how to use it. And by “know how to use it,” I mean using it with a tripod for the most part. That is a “must” because the camera is stabilized and your image will be stabilized. With the auto teleconverter lens, you can capture around 550mm.

That is a lot of reach, but you must keep in mind not to introduce any shake. As for the shutter speed, you must correspondingly increase it, and that is something you have total control over. And then there’s lighting. If you have good lighting, you can capture a sharp image. If you don’t have good lighting, you can still capture a sharp image, but there is a higher likelihood of it having an unfavorable exposure compared to a sharper, more intensely lit image.

Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD: Best Practices for Optimal Performance

To get the most out of your Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD, you must understand how it works with your camera. This means practicing in different environments to learn your settings and how the teleconverter affects them, particularly exposure. The teleconverter will cost you a stop or two of light, so make sure your exposure is dialed in before you start shooting. Keep the teleconverter and whatever lens it is attached to clean, and you can also benefit from using manual focus, for which the teleconverter can sometimes require more finicky precision than a stop-and-pop autofocus system can provide.

Where to Buy the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD for Canon FD Lenses

You can buy the Rokinon 2x C/FD auto teleconverter from several online stores, such as Amazon, and B&H Photo, and some camera specialty shops. Always confirm compatibility with your specific Canon FD lens model before you buy. Customer reviews can give you an idea of the experiences that other users have had, as well as what you might expect in terms of performance. Make sure to buy from a respected seller so that you can have confidence in the authenticity of the product and access to a warranty if needed.

Conclusion

For photographers wishing to increase their zoom range, the Rokinon Auto Teleconverter 2x C/FD is a budget-friendly and compact way to do so. At its core, this teleconverter doubles the focal length of Canon FD lenses. Thus, it becomes a working telephoto system with an effective aperture of f/5.6. The slight reduction in light and sharpness is mitigated by using proper techniques, so I would say the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks of this excellent and affordable teleconverter.