Viltrox’s New 2x Teleconverter Is Here

credits: Viltrox

Viltrox has had a busy December, and on top of its new X100-series conversion lenses (which we will take a closer look at in this week’s Sunday issue), the company has also rolled out a 2x teleconverter for Sony E-mount. The new converter is already listed at B&H, and Viltrox says it works with the same Sony telephoto lenses supported by Sony’s own 2x converter. That includes the Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM and GM II, the 100–400mm, 200–600mm, and 400–800mm zooms, plus Sony’s big primes like the 300mm f/2.8 GM, 400mm f/2.8 GM, and 600mm f/4 GM. Viltrox also adds compatibility with its own 135mm f/1.8, giving that portrait lens a much longer, more unusual reach option.

While compatibility mirrors Sony’s lineup, pricing certainly doesn’t. Sony’s FE 2x Teleconverter comes in at $598, and Viltrox is positioning its version at $280, so about half the cost. The company claims comparable optical performance, and the usual trade-offs of using a teleconverter apply regardless of the brand. A 2x converter doubles the focal length of whatever lens it’s attached to, so a 400–800mm zoom becomes an 800–1600mm lens. But maximum aperture also drops by two stops, meaning a constant f/2.8 zoom becomes an f/5.6, and slower super-telephoto zooms (like the 400–800mm f/6.3–8) can hit f/16 at the long end.

That makes reach the main selling point here, with the teleconverter giving photographers a way to push their Sony telephotos into far longer territory without buying a dedicated super-tele lens. The downside of course is the expected loss in light and potential autofocus limitations, especially at very small apertures. The Viltrox 2x Teleconverter for Sony E-mount is available to order for $280, with B&H estimating availability within the next couple of weeks.

You can see full details on B&H’s website here