Should I get an Extender?

[dsze]

I was strongly liking the idea of adding an extender, 1.4X maybe, to my 70-200 f/4. I love the lens, but sometimes, like at the Zoo and in the boat for wakeboarding shots and at football games, I would have liked some more distance. I looked at them at 17th street tonight for the first time though and was blown away by the prices. I guess I didn't expect them to be so expensive. However, there was a Tamron version for CONSIDERABLY less $$. Having no experience with extenders, what can you guys tell me before I get any closer to buying one.

Is it worth the $$ to have 1.4X or better just to save for a longer lens? Does the 1.4X degrade enough quality to make it pointless?

Whats the diff. in the MUCH cheaper Tamron version?

thanks,
daniel

[drisley]

I can only answer the quality question.
I use the Canon 1.4x extender on my 135F2L, and there is NO quality loss at all. I've done side by side, 200% blow-up comparisons, and there is NO loss in quality that I can see.
As a matter of fact, the sharpest pictures I've ever taken are with the 1.4x extender.

[briangig]

if you go with an extender, get canon...why would you bother spending 500-600 dollars on L glass, and then put a cheapo tc in bewtween it and the camera.

Also, with the 1.4x, you lose one stop of light. With the 2x, you lose two, so you will lose autofocus if you use the 2x with the f4 lens. Also, be aware that with the 1.4x, you will be at f5.6, so you better have some good light.

[Vegas Poboy]

I have the 70-200 f/4 and use the Canon 1.4x never had a problem with it just losing one stop in low light, but I'm hoping the 20D will get that back with better ISO settings. Look for a use one & go for the Canon that way you'll never have problem when you purchase more Canon lense.

[blackviolet]

fyi - there are 2 different tamron models

- there is the af 1.4x (it's black), which only has 4 elements and it's (IMHO) a worthless piece of crap - ¡¡mucha distorsión!!.

- there is also the sp af 1.4x (it's white) with 5 elements. the quality is actually pretty good. it also works with a lot of lenses which normally don't give af due to their speed. it also fits a whole heck of a lot of lenses too....

obviously the canon ef 1.4x II is supurb, but i suppose it depends on how often you are planning to use it and how full your pockets are.

[Panza]

If you get an extender I would strongly advice you to get the Canon EF 1.4X.

If you get the 2X you will loose two stops of light and you will loose auto-focus. You don't think it will be that hard without AF, but it actually will. With long lenses the DOF is so shallow and it's hard to get it 100% manually.

[rick barclay]

Considering the cost of 500 and 600mm lenses, I'd say both extenders are
well worth the money. The thing you need to keep in mind when using
an extender is that it needs a heck of a lot of light and a wide open
aperture to work. Even on a bright day, if you inadvertently stand in the
shade while shooting, chances are good your exposure will be near black.
I use a 2x converter with a 100-400 latched onto a Mark II, and I turn the
temperature setting all the way up to 10000 when I shoot. I'm satisfied with
the quality of the pictures I get, but I always have to be aware of the
best possible light source. I'm looking forward to getting some nice winter
shots with snow on the ground using this combination.

[Cadwell]

I don't know about the Tamron TC, but I've used the Sigma 1.4x EX TC with the 70-200 f/4L a lot and it works very well. There is not noticeable drop in image quality or focusing speed.

[dsze]

Thanks for all the advice. Much appreciated!

-daniel