first use of my 2x extender

I started using my recently purchased Canon 2X Extender III (on my 70-200 f2.8 IS II) this past weekend taking shots of my kids sledding. I only shot for a short while but made a couple of mental observations.

1. The focusing as my kids rode down the hill wasn't all that great. I was shooting in Manual using AI Servo and center AF point. Ended up deleting a majority of the shots which was stupid of me. Next time I'll keep them so I can post them to see if I have an issue.

2. Whenever I attached or detached the extender,some of my camera settings (at least the shutter speed/ISO/aperture) were reset. Why? This annoyed me.

Anyone else experience this?

Autofocus slows down with converters. It is the nature of the beast. I still find them useful though.

3 things to consider...

assuming you're using gear in your sig, the 5D2's AI Servo performance is known to be spotty
the center point at 5.6 acts differently than the center point at 2.8
the teleconverter also has an overall negative impact on AF systems

coeng wrote in post #15605379
1. The focusing as my kids rode down the hill wasn't all that great.

The 2x will always slow down focusing, and often cause the lens to hunt forever to find focus. This is normal with the 2x - nothing is wrong with your gear. Such performance has always been expected when using the 2x.

coeng wrote in post #15605379
2. Whenever I attached or detached the extender,some of my camera settings (at least the shutter speed/ISO/aperture) were reset. Why? This annoyed me.

You are using the 2x on an f2.8 lens. The 2x extender adds two stops (or takes them away, depending on how you look at things). So, without the extender, your lens is a 2.8 lens. With the extender on it, your lens effectively becomes a 140-400mm f5.6 lens. So, if you had your aperture set to anything wider than f5.6, the settings would change when you put the extender on, because the lens is simply not capable of anything wider than f5.6 when the extender is on there.

So basically you're telling me I bought it for the wrong reason? I was hoping to use if for extending my range when shooting sporting activities that my kids engage in.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #15605744
assuming you're using gear in your sig, the 5D2's AI Servo performance is known to be spotty

After almost a year of owning my 5DM2, I'm really starting to get frustrated with the negative comments I keep hearing about this model. I was finally able to afford it last March when the price dropped after the 5DM3 was introduced. It was a big step up for me going from a 40D to a FF sensor. Since then I've had to deal with performance issues, loud mirror slap, and other things. I just can't win.

coeng wrote in post #15606679
After almost a year of owning my 5DM2, I'm really starting to get frustrated with the negative comments I keep hearing about this model. I was finally able to afford it last March when the price dropped after the 5DM3 was introduced. It was a big step up for me going from a 40D to a FF sensor. Since then I've had to deal with performance issues, loud mirror slap, and other things. I just can't win.

Even if Canon could magically make a perfectly and absolutely flawless camera system, why would they sell it to anyone? What would they sell next year?

(And if even they DID sell a magically perfectly and absolutely flawless system, someone would find SOMETHING to complain about...)

coeng wrote in post #15606653
So basically you're telling me I bought it for the wrong reason? I was hoping to use if for extending my range when shooting sporting activities that my kids engage in.

It does sound like you may have bought it for the wrong reason.
I use my 2x quite a bit, but always for animal/bird portraiture, never for focus-tracking animals that are in motion. In my experience, it just won't work for focus-tracking as the AF is extremely handicapped when a 2x is used.

The 7D with a 1.4x extender may have been a better choice for sports. Not to say what you have wont work. The 5D 2 is a very nice camera. Give the set up more time to learn and compensate for its short comings in focus response and you should be fine.

The 2x III does affect the IQ quite a bit, but stopped down 2/3 to 1 stop it gets really good again. Have you microadjusted your lens to the body?

I sold my 2x III. Focus was just to slow for me. Air show? Forget it. Sports? Decent. Image quality wasnt that great IMO. I might try the 1.4 III.

flashpoint99 wrote in post #15606960
The 7D with a 1.4x extender may have been a better choice for sports. Not to say what you have wont work. The 5D 2 is a very nice camera. Give the set up more time to learn and compensate for its short comings in focus response and you should be fine.

+1.

I don't see how it can be THAT difficult...

Use center point only, al servo, get the initial lock-on on your kid/sled when they are stationary, continue shooting by moving the camera and follow the subject.

The focus is a bit slower with the 2xIII, but it definitely isn't unuseable. Likewise with the IQ. Once you're used to it then you work with it. Don't get disheartened just because your first try with it wasn't perfect. If that was the case then no one would buy an 85L

the 2X will definitely slow you 70-200 down, but I find the combo very useful. you will need to get used to shooting with it before you faster moving targets.

if you want to explore other options, the 70-300L is a fantastic lens. it a variable aperture, but it will give you 300mm with very fast AF and great IQ wide open.