300 2.8 IS (version 1) with TC's

Hopefully someone can help...

Has anyone gone from the version 1 to the version 2 of this lens and used both 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters? How did the performance compare? I accept that the focus speed will slow.

I suppose my question is this......if you plan on using teleconverters, does the version 2 300 2.8 perform noticeably better than the version 1?

Thanks!

I upgraded from Mk I to Mk II. There are 3 things that I consider its worth the upgrade and IQ is not one of them since both lenses produce stunning pics and I could hardly see the difference.

1) The most important thing for me is weight reduction since I like to shoot hand held and always carry it when I'm hiking.
2) 4 stop IS. I like to go inside the forest when I'm hiking so instead of boosting the ISO I can reduce the shutter speed and get good results.
3) IS mode 3. I kinda like this feature, and almost always use this mode especially for birding.

I have used 1.4X & 2X TCs mk 2 for my 300mm mk1 and to be honest with 1.4X it still focused quite fast and IQ was good, but with 2X both speed and IQ were degraded significantly.

I only tried 1.4X mk2 with 300mm mk2 never with 2X TC. With 1.4TC mk 2, my 300mm mk2 performed better than mk1.

I think with 300mm MK2 you should use TC MK III, I heard both 1.4X & 2X TCs MK III perform very well with new version of telephoto lenses

2loose wrote in post #16309425
I think with 300mm MK2 you should use TC MK III, I heard both 1.4X & 2X TCs MK III perform very well with new version of telephoto lenses

This is what I have read. Trying to justify the 2k (sterling) extra is the problem.

nellyle wrote in post #16309474
This is what I have read. Trying to justify the 2k (sterling) extra is the problem.

Can't you get used one? For me the extra cash that I spent is worth it for 3 things that I mentioned earlier. If you use mostly with monopod/tripod, then just stick with 300mm MK1 and buy TC MK III.

Now that the refurb warranty is 1yr and Canon has the mkii listed in stock(last time checked) I might make the upgrade sooner than I thought I would. Although the savings isn't all that much, it's not like used mkii's are cheap if/when you can find one.

I'd mainly want the upgrade for the reduced weight(for when I'll be caring it around all day/weekend) and improved IS. The fact that there is slight improvement in IQ and performance while using TCs is welcome but not something that has been an issue for me.

I've been nothing but impressed with how well my mki works with both the 1.4 and 2x. The hit with the 1.4x is hardly noticeable and although the 2x is much more noticeable I feel I get results as good if not better than say a long zoom( in both IQ and AF). I recently picked up a mkiii 2x and in realworld shots didn't notice any improvement, actually when I first tried it out anything that was out toward infinity focus(including static objects) looked bad but things toward MFD were fine(not sure what was going on but it seems to be fine now).

I used my 300 with TCs most of the time. (ver.1) The autofocus slowed a bit but I got fabulous results. I wish I could have afforded to keep it, and never considered upgrading to the ver.2.

Tapeman wrote in post #16311192
I used my 300 with TCs most of the time. (ver.1) The autofocus slowed a bit but I got fabulous results. I wish I could have afforded to keep it, and never considered upgrading to the ver.2.

Thanks for the responses so far.

Quick question, was that with the mkii or iii converters?

I;m steering towards the mki of the 300, mainly as it means I can add another lens with the cash saved.

I was using the MK II converters at the time. I now have the MK III converters and the 1.4x is about the same, but the 2x is noticeably better.

I have 300L IS Mk1 and 1.4X mk2 and mk3. Also 2x mk3 and sigma. Previuosly had 2X mk2, it was big difference 2x mk2 vs 2x mk3. but got that 2x sigma (http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_876101_2x_EX_D​G_APO.html) almost for free, and it beats Canons 2X III by miles ... I can't understand why ...

Before I sold my 300mm f2.8 is version one I almost always used a 2x extender iii on the lens. I found the focus to be fine and the sharpness to be great. I didn't post a lot of photos to my fliker, but here are some examples:

Eastern Kingbird
Shot from a kayak in pretty rough water when the sun was going down.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/950619973​4/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/950619953​8/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/950670432​8/

Thanks, they're impressive!