It's that time of year ... to just spend some money! (help me PRACTICALLY spend it)

I'm meeting with my seller tonight for my zeiss 50. if all goes well, i'll make some more orders with her for stuff not yet available locally OR just plain cheaper with her. i think i'm ready to order the 270EX II speedlight as well to match the zeiss 50 for a lightweight combo.

ok

2x extenders: (i will use this for a moonshot, and then no more)
i think it makes sense to get the III over the II
but does it make sense to get canon at all ... i could just get a Kenko DGX Pro 300 2x

Canon 2x III - 500usd
Kenko 2x - 204usd

next

i need a midzoom lens for the "group pics" on the second body

24-105L <- this would complete my FF lens lineup
vs
18-55 IS + 600D body <- this is actually cheaper and will give me a crop camera to use in tandem with the 2x for that moonshot

it's a happy problem to have. if money was of no consequence, i of course would buy the best of these (or all of them) e.g. BOTH the canon and kenko 2x (for 4x magnification). buuuut. i'm not made of money, so i need help to decide

24-105 has MUCH better image quality than the 18-55 IS...
24-105 on left, 18-55 IS on right.

2x Extenders - had the Mk2 (good) I now have the Mk3, it's significantly better but you can't stack it with other extenders which have a protruding front element. The Mk3 is worth it IMO + don't sell it after the Moon shots as it will extend the versatility of any compatable lens you already have.

I have the 24-105 and it gives great results on all Canon sensor sizes. Don't think you would be too happy with the 18-55 (though it's good for the price) - now a 17-55 F2.8?

Can't speak for the 600D - never tried one!

thanks for the comparison shots shedberg. that's a lot of resolution in favor of the 24-105. how zoomed in are those? are those from the center or the sides?

johnf3f wrote in post #13098561
2x Extenders - had the Mk2 (good) I now have the Mk3, it's significantly better but you can't stack it with other extenders which have a protruding front element. The Mk3 is worth it IMO + don't sell it after the Moon shots as it will extend the versatility of any compatable lens you already have.

I have the 24-105 and it gives great results on all Canon sensor sizes. Don't think you would be too happy with the 18-55 (though it's good for the price) - now a 17-55 F2.8?

Can't speak for the 600D - never tried one!

you mean i can't put Kenko 2x behind the Canon 2x, i thought the protrusion was only in front? body - kenko 2x - canon 2x - lens

i can't spend too much on an EF-S lens though, and whatever happens, the kit lens is almost free with the body anyway.

after discussion with the SO.

i'm going kenko DGX Pro 300 2x. she said i could buy the III if i still need it, at least this way, i'll be benching a cheap kenko instead of a canon III.

i'm going 600D (T3i) with kit lens. she said, what if the new 24-XX comes out? at least this way, i can use it for two things ... group shots and moon shot and still get a 24-XX in the future.

i'm getting the 270EX II. nuff said.

Zeiss 50 delivery tonight!

woohoo. when it rains, it pours.

mike cabilangan wrote in post #13098622
thanks for the comparison shots shedberg. that's a lot of resolution in favor of the 24-105. how zoomed in are those? are those from the center or the sides?

Can't recall the details, I did those shots when I got my 24-105 like 2 years ago. They were both the center of the frame, though. I was focusing on the license plate.

[QUOTE=mike cabilangan;13098622]th​anks for the comparison shots shedberg. that's a lot of resolution in favor of the 24-105. how zoomed in are those? are those from the center or the sides?

you mean i can't put Kenko 2x behind the Canon 2x, i thought the protrusion was only in front? body - kenko 2x - canon 2x - lens

There is an extra rear element in the Canon 2x Mk3 unlike the Mk2. From my experience of stacking the 1.4 & 2x Mk2 extenders on my 600 it wasn't worth the bother and gave poor shots, I was better off cropping with one extender.
I have yet to try the Mk3 on the Moon but I have high hopes!

shedberg wrote in post #13103981
Can't recall the details, I did those shots when I got my 24-105 like 2 years ago. They were both the center of the frame, though. I was focusing on the license plate.

were these wide open or stopped down?

johnf3f wrote in post #13104168
There is an extra rear element in the Canon 2x Mk3 unlike the Mk2. From my experience of stacking the 1.4 & 2x Mk2 extenders on my 600 it wasn't worth the bother and gave poor shots, I was better off cropping with one extender.
I have yet to try the Mk3 on the Moon but I have high hopes!

i see. thanks for the info then. my original plan of getting a 2x Canon III and a 2x Kenko would have been a waste of money

mike cabilangan wrote in post #13105246
were these wide open or stopped down?

i see. thanks for the info then. my original plan of getting a 2x Canon III and a 2x Kenko would have been a waste of money

It would probably have been a waste of money anyway. There is simply too much loss of IQ with stacked converters. It does work - but really it is only for emergency use! Probably Papperatzi only?