A Review Of The Olympus MC-14 1.4x Teleconverter for the 40-150mm f/2/8 Pro Zoom

[@videotrust64]

This guy is the Bob Ross of micro 4/3 reviews

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

That's very falttering, Francesco. I'm not sure I can live up to it but thanks!

[@pauljohn4441]

Thank you, David🙏 I'm getting this one too.

[@smokey62productions99]

Whenever I’m thinking of buying a new lens my first thought is to go see what David said about it. Thank-you Sir ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@robobertelliclark988]

I enjoyed the review and was pleased that your professional opinion matched my enthusiastic amateur experience of this converter. But it had never occurred to me to attempt using it with old legacy lenses. That proved to be great today when I used it with my big old Russian MC MTO-10, a 1000mm catadioptric lens. It already has the equivalent view of a 2000mm f/10 lens using Four-Thirds gear, but with the MC-14 added I now also have the equivalent of a 2800mm f/14: absolutely magnificent for brightly lit reasonably static objects such as lunar photography. Thanks for the tip!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad it was helpful. The mirror lens and converter must be a real handful to use. Camera shake takes on a new meaning at 112x magnification I should think. What fun!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

+Firstname Lastname I can't seem to answer your question directly - no reply button for some reason. so I hope you see this. You'd have to evaluate the Nikkor lenses on an individual basis because the Olympus converter needs a lens with a sunken rear element. The only one I know it works with is the 300mm f/4.5 model I show in the video. The 200mm I have doesn't and I don't think many will. Maybe someone know of others? Essentailly the converter is designed for the 40-150 f/2.8.

[@ofmetalphilosophy4837]

RIP David. We miss you

[@marioarias9942]

I just ordered this 1.4 extender for my 40-150 2.8 pro. Great reviews and informative info on your experience Dave

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad it was useful, Mario!

[@reg171reg]

I had been waiting for this review. I went ahead and ordered my 40-150mm with 1.4x converter anyway so it's good to know it's a winner. For the price difference you'd be stupid to buy the lens on it's own or at least supremely confident you will never use the extra reach. Another great review David

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

reg171reg Glad you liked the review! I think 1.4x converters were about this price in film days so now, even at full price this is good value. But at half that with the lens, as you say, you'd have to bertain you'd never want it. I'd say it's worth it even if all you want to do is increase the image size at the pro zoom's nearest focus, let alone for the longer telephoto reach.

[@mastersalls]

⁰0⁰⁰0

[@j.d.hughes3728]

Excellent. In the process of buying the 40-150 and the 1.4 TC for my GH5 so your comments are reassuring. As I get older the thought of even an ff Nikon and 70-200 Nikkor hanging in my hands on a full day's tramping round Silverstone becomes daunting!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I know the feeling! I covered Silverstone many times for various newspapers. You don't realize how big the track is until you go off in search of a batter position.

[@j.d.hughes3728]

@@DavidThorpeMFT It's big! Know every corner intimately. Fell off at all of them. Much quicker if you are in a car but Silverstone wouldn't let me do the GP in my Mini 1275GT for some reason....

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

@@j.d.hughes3728 Cars might be quicker but nothing like the entertainment value of bike racing, in my opinion. I used to go to Brands Hatch to see Agostini, Phil Read etc. I worked with Barry Sheene a lot at one time, one of the greatest guys I've met.

[@ytano5782]

My Optimion: Lens and Converter is ONE product. The 12-40 an 40-150x1.4 is simply amazing. I carry it with me in a Think Tank TurnStyle 20 (sling bag) - alle the time!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

+André Adami Fantastic pair of lenses, I agree. And the converter fits the Olympus 300mm f/4 too which will be a bonus for some photographers.

[@mbaddah]

That last line is a classic :) Absolutely love watching your reviews even though i dont shoot m43.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'm flattered - thanks Mohammed!

[@ThatBritishChap.]

A wonderful video David thankyou. Have you also tried the mc20?

[@davidcoote8395]

Just purchased the 40-150 and a 2x converter. Traded in 45-200 & 100-300 Panasonic first generation lenses. Initial results are very impressive and I too now only have 2 lenses in my bag. The other being a Panasonic 12-60 f2.8-4. Great reviews thanks. ps. your book E-M5II Menu System Simplified has been very well thumbed while I got used to the menus and setting up my camera.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks, David. It's fantastic how Micro Four Thirds gear can be trimmed down to a minimalist state, just 2 lenses and a a compact body and yet cover everything from wide to long tele at wide aperture. Great choice of equipment, obviously thought through.

[@davidcoote8395]

@@DavidThorpeMFT I’ve just purchased the 1.4 converter. I think, after a few trips out with both, that the 1.4 is more useful for walking about. The extra stop helps when out in parks and woodland. The two times is working well in hides.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

@@davidcoote8395 Yes, the 1.4x is a good compromise, a one stop loss of speed not being too awkward and lenses usually having sharpness in hand that makes the inevitable loss of sharpness of a converter hardly noticeable. The 2x is pushing things a bit but with a tripod and care can work well.

[@ChrisBrown-lb7bx]

Miss you David x

[@victorbart]

I tried it with the Panasonic 100-300 zoomed out so there is room for the teleconverters. But the hole in the 100-300 lens is to small to stick it on.

[@orange42]

victorbart I presume putting a thin macro spacer ring in between them would stop it from focussing to infinity?

[@victorbart]

orange42 That cripples the lens because I don't need a 100-300 macro lens. The M43 system is really missing a teleconverters which is compatible with many lenses.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

victorbart I agree. It needs 150 and 200mm f/2.8 and 300mm f/4 primes with stabilization for Panasonic plus general purpose converters, 1.4 and 2x to fit any lens. A tilt shift perspective and rising front control lens would be useful too for architectural photography. Maybe a minority interest but all those things would make MFT a solid choice for many professionals and dedicated amateurs.

[@pandanuscreekfilms6841]

thank you very much for the review, very helpful as I am looking at buying this lens and converter combination for wildlife video (for my blackmagic pocket cinema camera 4k)

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad it was helpful. It ill be a great lens for wildlife, so versatile and with the built in tripod mount and sliding lens hood, convenient too.

[@romainprovost7164]

DAVID, super vidéo. En utilisant ce teleconverter avec le 40-150mm F/2.8, l'ouveture passe donc a F/4, est ce que cela te pose problème (cette perte de lumière). Enfin est ce qu'il est difficile de stabiliser à main levée lorsque l'on en bout de zoom (420mm = 300mm x 1,4) ? Cela serait pour aller avec un EM1 Mark 3, boîtier avec une stabilisation à main levée géniale. Merci

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Merci beaucoup, Romain! La stabilisation fonctionne très bien avec le convertisseur, pas de problème du tout. La perte de lumière est inévitable mais un zoom 56-210 mm f / 4 est toujours rapide par tous les standards

[@romainprovost7164]

@@DavidThorpeMFT merci de ton retour. Savoir que tu parlais français à été déterminant dans la rédaction de mon commentaire haha. Malheureusement je ne suis qu'un piètre locuteur de la langue de Shakespeare !

[@JohnHPhotographyFilms]

Great video David. I am about to 'convert' (loved your pun by the way!) from the d810 and a variety of glass, over to the GH5 to predominantly shoot video. The 40-150mm will be the first lens i buy for it and i have been dwelling whether the 1.4TC is worth it, but by the looks of it, it certainly is. Great video once again!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks, John! I personally think the 1.4x is worth having. The zoom has plenty of sharpness to spare so there isn't any noticeable loss with the converter. It is obviously there if you look at 100% but for video I don't think you 'd see any loss. The _Ex.Tele Conv._ option is quite spectacular on the GH5 with the converter if you are shooting FHD. Full quality with a FF equivalent focal length of 840mm. Beautiful perspective effects.

[@Murphy252000]

Freaky, was just researching this to gauge price of Fuji's converter when released! I guess you would highly recommend a teleconverter then from what you say in video? Great review!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Emmet Dallat I Would, always with the proviso that it comes from a good maker. Won't be cheap but there have been some awful converters around over the years and when you buy expensive Olympus or Fuji glass it makes sense to get the converter designed specifically for the make. Having said that, the Olympus 1.4x works extremely well with old Nikkor lneses, so I'd imagine the Fuji one would too.

[@SKgeostrat]

Hello David, as always, very nicely done. You have sold me.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Steinar Knai Thanks, Steinar.

[@Jurinspired1]

Thanks David for your well-researched, well-informed, and well-written videos. I really enjoy your turn of phrase and playful irony. Wondering, after viewing this one, how it is you capture what the viewfinder sees when you're showing the speed of the auto-focus. Also, when making that segment, did you have to use a particular one of the Oly bodies with the MC-14? Thanks in advance for sharing your secret in this regard, if you're so inclined.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

jurinspired Thanks for the kind words! I make the focus videos by videoing the PC screen while running Olympus's PC Capture and pointing my E-M1 or E-M5 out the window. Because the camera is connected by USB cable rather than wifi for Capture there's no lag so you see what the camera sees exactly and in real time. I think I used the E-M1 for that particular sequence but focus speeds are identical for both bodies in single AF mode. The same thing could be done with a Panasonic body but their software is 3rd party and has to be paid for. The Olympus Capture software is brilliant, essentially the same as controlling from the camera. The fact that it is free is icing on the cake.

[@Jurinspired1]

David Thorpe Thank you, David - perfectly clear now. Looking forward to your upcoming videos and articles. Your blog over at m43blog.dthorpe.net is fast becoming one of my "primes." Keep it up!

[@iklop1478]

hello thank you for your very helpful review where did you take the pictures? is it st' donat sur l'herbasse?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad it was helpful. No, it's at Bellegarde-du-Razes near Limoux/ Carcassonne. The French countryside and villages are breathtakingly beautiful and over so much of France. I fell in love with the country the first time I went there age 16 and it has been a big part of my life ever since.

[@photobillyexplores]

David how about a review on the 12-40 f2.8??? that would be grand.. keep up the great videos

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'll do that - I've had one for a long while but felt it was probably too late for a review. Maybe I was wrong!

[@photobillyexplores]

@@DavidThorpeMFT no please do!!! am a noob but m43 does everything I ever wanted, i bought the 40-150 on the strength of your review! top work dave

[@Steyrshrek1]

Love the foggy time lapse.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Me too - what amazes me is that with **** all video training, I can do stuff like that. I'd have needed to be a rich man 20 years ago to even think about doing such a sequence.

[@uushin]

Hi David, Thanks for the excellent review. You mentioned that the converter is 1/2 price if we buy it with the lens but I couldn't find such option anywhere (checked amazon and getolympus, etc) ... any idea? Cheers!

[@JKHtheIII]

+uushin I know it has been 5 months since your original comment, so this may not have been available then, but in the US it seems you have to buy grey market international versions to get the kit with 40-150 and teleconverter. I am making plans to build a kit around Olympus (I've been trying to use my wife's 2006 Canon Rebel XTi) for the advantage of learning on an evf. One of the main reasons i have settled on the Olympus over the cheaper Sony is the high quality lenses with greater reach, which this kit really helps.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

+James Hayes Strange, all this marketing stuff, isn't it? I can't see why they wouldn't make a 2 part kit out of it in every market. Or none, I suppose. But some and not others, bizarre!

[@kevinbehbahany6685]

Hi David, thank you very for this video. I have Pen E-P5, if I get only the converter, which Nikkor long focal length lenses with work please? many thanks.

[@christinecoughlan4699]

After seeing and hearing your review on the mc-14 1.4x Teleconverter I wonder and I ask you,is it possible to use this Teleconverter on any 35 mm film lens with a micro four thirds adapter (Olympus OM 300 mm f/1:4.5 + adapter + mc-14 1.4x in a E-M5 markII camera). Thank you very much for you wisdom gentleman.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, once the correct 35mm film lens->MFT adapter is fitted the, the converter will fit the back of the adaptor. That's because the adaptor spaces the lens away from the camera body which leaves room for the protruding front element of the 1.4x.

[@christinecoughlan4699]

@@DavidThorpeMFT Thanks-gracias-merci-kiitos. I am CONVERTED.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

@@christinecoughlan4699 Haha! Thanks for the laugh, Christine.

[@phrenzy1]

the question is do you stop down in not portrait bokeh situations or stay wide open and bump the iso as you loose light...

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Whichever suits you best, I suppose.

[@romainprovost7164]

DAVID, peux tu reprecisee avec quelle optique du micro 4/3 est compatible le MC-14 ? MERCI

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

The 300mm f/4 and the 40-150mm Pro.

[@timmabbb]

Hi David, thanks for the videos, very helpful! I'm just getting used to my GX7. I was wondering if you has the 45-150mm Panasonic and if so, could you do a review? I have the 14-42mm and want to get a zoom, trying to decide between the 45-150mm and 14-140mm. Thanks.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Timma Thanks for the kind words! I haven't got that lens but I do have the 14-140 which I'd recommend to anyone. It's a lot more expensive than the 45-150 but has excellent stabilization and image quality. I'd recommend the 14-140 as cheaper in the long run, too, since it is a lens you are not likely to want to replace no matter what other body or lenses you buy. Might be worth looking at the tiny 35-100 f/4-5.6 too which is very sharp and would go nicely with the GX7. Personally, I'd buy the 14-140 and aim at getting a 45mm f1/8 Olympus for portraits and shallow depth of field eventually. You could keep the 14-42 for occasions when you want to keep it compact but I bet you'll use the 14-140 most of the time.

[@timmabbb]

.

[@timmabbb]

David Thorpe Thanks for the advice! I appreciate it!

[@rbelatamas]

Thank you very much!

[@pablomauricio9263]

Hi David! wil this converter work with the panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 and keep the stabilization ??? Thanks in advanced.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Hi Pablo - sorry to say this converter will only fit the Olympus 300mm f/4 and the 40-150mm f/2/8. It has an element that juts out from the front and which hits the rear element of all the other lenses, sadly.

[@pablomauricio9263]

David Thorpe Oh! 2 bad, thanks. I will consider one of the 2 olympus teles. Good vídeo.

[@torogozazul]

Hi David, what about ataching an extender between TC and Lumix lens?

[@ChefWhite]

I tried attaching an autofocus extension tubes between MC14 and 4 different Panasonic Lumix lens. None of the lens works with MC14. The camera can't autofocus nor manual focus. Also, I found the Olympus MC14 works well with old MInolta MD or AF lenses.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, I can use the MC15 with my Nikkor 300mm, works well. I have a feeling adding the TC14 to the mix, given the multitude of contacts with on body and lens, it may just be too much. The TC14 was designed specifically for the 40-150 and 300 Pro Olympus lenses. Maybe that is the problem.

[@danhorne1513]

Hi David. I'm worried about stabilisation when using this with the Olly 40-150mm and a GX8. Does the GX8 IBIS actually work with this focal length?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, it'll work fine. The lens/converter will tell the GX8 who they are and the GX8 will stabilize them. It's quite happy to stabilize any lens, Micro Four Thirds or not but in that case of non-Micro Four Thirdsyou have to tell the camera the focal length.

[@ToolCraze]

I have the GX8 and the olympus pro 40-150mm and unfortunately the IBIS in the GX8 is not good enough for that lens. I also have the G85 and the IBIS on that is fantastic with the lens. I can easily handhold shots at 150mm down to 1/20 and if I hold my breath I can go down to 1/8 with decent hit rates. Perfect for using the lens indoors.

[@joennick1]

Can the converter be used on the GX7 and/or GX8. I like the Oly lenses but think the GX8 is the best MFT camera on the market right now...but I have the GX7 for now. Thanks.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

+joe nick Hi Joe - yes the converter will work on any MFT camera but up to now only on the 40-150mm f/2.8 lens. No reason other than it juts into the rear of a lens and the others don't have clearance for it. So GX7/8 no problem.

[@joennick1]

+David Thorpe great. Thanks. Don't know whether to hold out for the Pany 100-400 rumoured to be out sometime next year!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

+joe nick I think it would be a case of what you planned to do with it. The Panasonic is a seriously telephoto long zoom, the Olympus covers a more normal range. There's a good case for having both but if it had to be one or the other, the Olympus is much more generally useful.

[@moenlighted7681]

would you recommend the olympus over the newly announced 50-200mm leica lens

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

That's difficult. I've only just got my 50-200. The major advantage of the 50-200 over the 40-150 is its compact size. The advantage of the Olympus is that wonderful fixed f/2.8 aperture at 150mm. And the converter, too, of course. I think those are the salient points. But i'll know more in a while.

[@artbymaddie]

great review

[@antoinecp04]

Could i use this teleconverter with my lumix 35-100mm on my Gh5s m4/3 ?? Great video btw!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Unfortunately not, Antoine. It only fits the 40-150 and 300mm Olympus Pro lenses.

[@russwakefield5914]

Hi David just purchased a Panasonic 100-400mm for my OM E5 MKll would I be able to use the MC-14 convert?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Unfortunately not, Russ. It works only with a couple of the Olympus lenses, the 300mm and the 40-150mm f/2.8. The front elements of the convertor fit into the rear of the lens so the lens has to be designed with the MC-14 in mind. It'll fit legacy lenses with an Micro Four Thirds mount converter, Nikon->Micro Four Thirds, for example.

[@jimmadley1]

Its possible use this teleconverter with m.zuiko 14-150mm?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Sadly not, Jim. It fits the 40-150 and 300 Pro lenses only.

[@andyvan5692]

good video, nice pun to finish (I'm converted too ).

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

andy van Thanks Andy!

[@Lordvader330]

RIP

[@mainlymusicman]

so the converter takes away light or adds.. is he saying?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

The converter turns the lens into a 56-210mm f/4 zoom. You lose one stop.

[@mainlymusicman]

shitty.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

It has nothing to do with the lens at all. It is the law of optics. All teleconverters are the same - a 1.4x loses 1 stop of light, a 2x loses 2 stops.

[@michaelangelo9634]

Does using adapter looses quality?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, it does since all it is really doing is magnifying the image. It can only work with the detail that the lens provides. In practise, the quality of the lens means that it can afford to lose some sharpness without any great loss to perceived IQ.

[@michaelangelo9634]

@@DavidThorpeMFT thanks alot!!!

[@marcyoung5826]

I'm sold!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

+Marc Young You are converted then :-)

[@joker_season]

Next 2x converter!!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'll try, I'll try!

[@Mrcherrardcohen]

I have found my stills setup

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

***** So what have you settled on?

[@Mrcherrardcohen]

I am going to purchase the lenses use them with the GX7 and wait on the EM1 upgrade

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

***** Yes, good thinking.

[@chichungchung]

Does mc-14 have any problems with GX7?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

If it'll fit the lens, it'll fit the GX7 but as of now it only fits the 40-150mm f/2.8 zoom and the 300mm f/4 Olympus. It's physical thing because the front element stick out and fouls the rear glass of the other lenses.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

b Tommy Douglas Thanks Tommy.