Teleconverters and the 70-200 2.8L

[Cecil Walker]

Has anyone had any positive or negative experiences with using teleconverters and the 70-200mm f/2.8L lens?

I'm looking for feedback on image quality, recommendations on which teleconverter works best (1.4x or 2x), etc.

Thanks!
Cecil

[nitwit3]

I use the 1.4X 11 and it works great with the 70-200 f/2.8L...the AF is exactly the same as it is without it.

On the 100-400IS it refuses the AF so you have to Manual focus.

The 70-200 needs a little boost in my opinion and that's what you get. You might have to use a mono-pod or tripod full out.

The Nitwit

[mar1958]

I just got the 1.4x teleconverter and I have a 100-400 and 70-200IS L lens. I tested on the later last saturday and it was very sharp and worked well. I took the same shot at 200 with and without the teleconverter and I did not notice a difference other than the distance. mark

[Cecil Walker]

This is great news! I really wouldn't want to give up image quality for magnification.

Appreciate all the feedback on using teleconverters with the 70-200mm 2.8L lens!

Cheers,
Cecil

[Wayne Booth]

mar1958 wrote:
I just got the 1.4x teleconverter and I have a 100-400 and 70-200IS L lens. I tested on the later last saturday and it was very sharp and worked well. I took the same shot at 200 with and without the teleconverter and I did not notice a difference other than the distance. mark

Have you tried it with the 100-400 IS yet? Just curious before I buy the 1.4.

Thanks

[Roger_Cavanagh]

The 1.4 does work with the 100-400. Here's a link that explains how to make AF work:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/TipsPage/index.html#Anchor-Ho-32425

I haven't tried - I've got the lens, but not (yet) the converter.

Regards,

Roger

[nitwit3]

I didn't mention that did I, well, that's where the Nitwit name came from. Yes, it will work with that tape but it does a lot of very disturbing banging around while in search on the 100-400IS...If you can handle that you are home free. I just didn't like the noise in the fairly long search process with the tape on the 100-400..no tape for the 70-200 and it's perfect.

I talked to Fred about it because I thought it might be causing damage to the 100-400, (it's that disturbing). He said no damage will occur..just a slow noisey search. He, like Don Cohen at DLC Photography, use the manual focus...but for those who need the AF..the fix is there waiting.
The Nitwit

[surfinrcp]

Hey guys using the converter either 1.4 or 2.0 on the D30 which am I better off with? I see that the 5.6 doesnt have IS and that the 4.5 - 5.6 does have IS for $400 more. The other thing that I am reading from people is that after 300mm to 400mm the quality of the image isnt that good as it is between 200 and 300mm. What do you guys think? Which am I better off with and further more should I stik wiht the 1.4 or move up to the 2.0 converter?

[rojoyinc]

which one you would be better off with would depend on which one you need more?

I have a Kenko 2x that I got to play with. Since it effectively doubles my 2.8 lenses - it makes them 5.6
This limits its useability. (not good for sports)
I got it mainly to shoot critters that frequent my backyard. It is considerable softer than the 80-200 2.8 without it - but sharpening in pshop makes for good useable images. The 1.4 will not double your focal length like the 2X - but it also doesn't double your fstop. So you'll need to think about whats more important - more light or more magnifacation.

I don't use the 2X much (fstop is to limiting) but it's fun when I see some neat birds/animals in my backyard.

[Jim B]

Has anyone ever tried stacking the two Canon converters with a 70-200 2.8?

I can see doing this in a pinch if you only needed a 5x7. I seem to recall reading a message of a few people doing this with good results. The discussion mentioned that the larger focal length would attach first to the camera.

Jim B
Florida

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Jim B wrote:
Has anyone ever tried stacking the two Canon converters with a 70-200 2.8?


I don't think you can just stack them together. This mob:

http://www.fixationuk.com/repairs.htm#stack


have developed a mod (GBP70) that avoids breaking something.

Regards,

Roger

[Jim B]

Roger,

Do you know if the new x II model extenders have a problem? In this link they show the older models. I seem to remember a friend mentioning that he has also done this, I'll have to contact him to see if he used any spacers.

I read the article and they say that it can be used with any grey series lens, does this mean any lens other than L, and does it mean that L lenses do not require this? I can't see how it could make a difference since the spacer is actually between the extenders. Thank you for the information.

Jim B.

Just read this in Arthur Morris's BBS, dated March 2001:
Canon's Extenders EF 1.4x II and EF 2x II should be in dealers hand's no later than early April, so you should be able to obtain them soon. Minimum advertised price will be approx. $450 apiece. In addition to the improved weather resistance, both new extenders feature improved anti-reflection coatings on their inner barrels. The optics of the new 1.4x are the same as the original, but the 2x has been upgraded for better optical performance with the current generation of IS super telephoto lenses. The new 2x also has a recessed rear element that allows the 1.4x to be stacked behind it without the need for an intermediate extension tube. Canon Inc. is not officially recommending this combination, but in our experience it seems to work and produce reasonably sharp photos.

Has anyone tried this with the new Canon teleconverters?

[Mark_Mason]

I took this shot with my XT and a 70-200 with a 2x extender.

http://m-mason.smugmug.com/photos/100794012_yQvjP-L-1.jpg

You have to have good light with this setup. The darker parts of the stadium forced me to really bump the ISO and they still turned out dark.

-Mark.

[rjg5]

I use the 70-200 plus 1.4 for soccer and it does a great job!