Using Teleconverter Lenses on Panasonic Lumix Bridge Cameras.

In this video I look at the installation of teleconverter lenses on Panasonic Lumix bridge cameras. I discuss the mounting hardware and the camera set ups needed to get reasonable quality images from the combination of camera and telephoto conversion lens.

I look at ways of reducing the 5.5 metre focus distance to 1-2 metres to enable large close up shots of insects and flowers. I show the comparison of the camera with the equivalent digital zoom to that obtained by the increased optical zoom of the two lens systems.

I demonstrate the effects of aperture and resolution from the centre of the lens to the corners and how using the centre of the image is best for nature images such as birds etc., as most images will still need some cropping to enlarge them. For video where the lens resolution is not as paramount as that needed for still images. You can see the benefits which this two lens system has over any digital zoom.
The setup uses great image magnification and a very sturdy tripod system is needed to support the whole assembly to stop any vibration due to wind, ground vibrations etc. A remote shutter cable or self timer is needed to release the shutter.

I also discuss some merit in using the electronic shutter in some circumstances to eliminate the vibrations caused by the mechanical shutter firing.

To ensure subject motion doesn't cause image blur camera shutter speeds need to be at least 1/250 second in stills mode as any slight subject movement is highly magnified.