Pros and cons of teleconverter lenses for SLRs

A friend recently asked me if buying a teleconverter for his SLR lenses to shoot close-ups would affect the aperture and shutter settings on these lenses.

The answer is yes: A teleconverter can give you a longer range, making an 85-mm lens similar to a 120-mm lens, for example. But it will also make the lens "darker" (f/3.5, say, instead of f/1.8). With less light coming in, you might need to use a flash, slow shutter speeds, or a higher ISO setting, especially indoors. That could result in blur from hand shake.

If you're shopping for an SLR zoom lens, check out our latest DSLR camera lens Ratings.