2X III on a 70-200 2.8 II

Does this combo work, the 2X III extender on the 70-200 2.8 II L ? thinking of buying an extender and wondering if the AF will still function. Thanks

Yes it does... It does slow it down, but completely usable for the most part for static shooting. It is OK for servo, but accuracy is quite a bit lower with the 2x III. IQ remains really good, however, stopping it down to f/6.3 or f/7.1 sharpens it up quite a bit from f/5.6.

It focuses extremely slow and it also does hunt focus a lot back and forth. Lastly, you really need to step it down to at least 7.1 for acceptable sharpness. Wide open at 5.6, it's really not great.

some examples

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Thanks for the info!

TheLensGuy wrote in post #16109022
It focuses extremely slow and it also does hunt focus a lot back and forth. Lastly, you really need to step it down to at least 7.1 for acceptable sharpness. Wide open at 5.6, it's really not great.

Extremely slow?

I thought it was quite snappy to be honest. Not bare-lens fast, but not 85L slow, either. As long as not going from MFD to infinity, it was extremely quick on the 5D3.

IQ wide open is a bit soft, but a slight stop down improved it quite a bit and extremely sharp at f/7.1.

Invertalon wrote in post #16109339
Extremely slow?

I thought it was quite snappy to be honest. Not bare-lens fast, but not 85L slow, either. As long as not going from MFD to infinity, it was extremely quick on the 5D3.

IQ wide open is a bit soft, but a slight stop down improved it quite a bit and extremely sharp at f/7.1.

85L is a portrait lens. 2x TC on a 70-200 is a bird/reach/etc lens, totally different beasts. The AF speed for me using the 2x with the zoom was useless. It is just way too slow to track anything moving, planes, helicopters, cars, it's just not easy to use.

In terms of the sharpness, I have 200L along with 70-200 IS II, and the two does not even compare with the TC. If this is acceptable to you, then I guess that's what matters:

http://imageshack.us/a​/img823/9374/1or7.jpg

vs

http://imageshack.us/a​/img507/5010/6w3b.jpg

These were both shot at 7.1 I believe.

TheLensGuy wrote in post #16109417
85L is a portrait lens. 2x TC on a 70-200 is a bird/reach/etc lens, totally different beasts. The AF speed for me using the 2x with the zoom was useless. It is just way too slow to track anything moving, planes, helicopters, cars, it's just not easy to use.

lol seriously? Those are easy to track with the combo. Bad technique?

Granted when I try to catch little Bifs such as winter swallow it was extremely difficult, frustrated tbh, but cars, planes and such is easy as, as long as you weren't talking about F1 cars going at 250km/h, or Fighter jets in mid air

kin2son wrote in post #16109445
lol seriously? Those are easy to track with the combo. Bad technique?

Granted when I try to catch little Bifs such as winter swallow it was extremely difficult, frustrated tbh, but cars, planes and such is easy as, as long as you weren't talking about F1 cars going at 250km/h, or Fighter jets in mid air

Yes, I have bad technique, I also don't know much about photography let alone focusing on moving objects. Who needs a 6k glass when you get can a 2k one and attach a $400 converter to it, because it focuses fast enough.

I "only" have a Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS and a Sigma 2x APO EX DG tc and I think the AF speed is still very good. Of course here I'm not talking about twilight conditions.
But I sometimes use this combo coupled with my 7D (or T4i) for some wildlife shots (whenever I don't feel like lugging my 120-300 2.8 OS around).
I've never really had any problems with its AF speed, and even do some BIF occasionally.

I would assume the Canon 70-200 II and 2x III would be at least as good, probably better.

All I would use it for is for the Loons and the Bald Eagles at our lake.

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My 2X III slows down AF from MFD to infinity when used on my 70-200L II and my 200L II. TLG, are you saying that on your 200L IS, the drop in AF speed is not so severe?

I used this combo a couple of times for air shows. The focus is slower but the real problem is carrying it around all day!

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I think the combo is very usable. Are there better ways to get to 400mm? Sure. If you are going to shoot at 400mm all the time get a 400mm prime. If you are going to carry the 70-200 and want to get to 400mm occasionally, get the converter.

That looks good!