Canon teleconverter TC-DC58B review - Having purchased a Canon Powershot S3 (reviewed by me in May 2007), I decided to upgrade the already impressive zoom power of this camera by purchasing the TC-DC 58B teleconverter. The top end of the zoom, with this attachment fitted, is now the equivalent to a focal length of over 600mm on a 35mm camera. Not bad at all for a small digital but use of a tripod is recommended.

I got a good price for what is ,to be honest, a ridiculously overpriced accessory but gainst the £250 I paid for the camera, £75 for the teleconverter was entirely disproportionate. On receiving the lens, I then discovered that I needed an adapter in order to attach it to the camera and was not best pleased by this extra cost for what amounts to a little more than a plastic ring.

Cost aside, the image quality achieved with the lens is comparable to that obtained with the integral lens, but there is a serious problem: the right hand part of the image is not sharp. There is a bit a play in the lens fitting and I had thought that this may be responsible but tests have shown that this is not so. The equipment is being used by my daughter for bird photography, so with a central subject the blurring does not constitute much of a problem. If the main subject is included in the right hand section of the frame, then the problem is serious.

Canon arguably have the digital market well wrapped up and their cameras are excellent for image quality and value but costly accessories like this cause me to question their integrity. The cost of the adapter is nothing short of scandalous.