70-200 f2.8 IS II with 2x TC or 400mm f5.6L

Looking to get another telephoto lens, I have had the 300mm f4L twice. Love it but compared to the 70-200 in terms of sharpness, Surprisingly I found the 70-200 to be sharper. Looking to get the 400 but wanted to know how it performs overall and also in terms of sharpness comparison to the 70-200.

Bare, the 70-200 is about as good as it gets. That lens takes Canon's extenders very well with the obvious slight hits on image quality autofocus speed.
However, if you are going to be at 400mm a lot IMO plan "A" would be to get Canon's 100-400 IS II.
I wouldn't be without either one.

Go for 70-200 f2.8 IS II with 2x TC
It more useful and sharp

DJHaze596 wrote in post #17927639
Looking to get another telephoto lens, I have had the 300mm f4L twice. Love it but compared to the 70-200 in terms of sharpness, Surprisingly I found the 70-200 to be sharper. Looking to get the 400 but wanted to know how it performs overall and also in terms of sharpness comparison to the 70-200.

Heya,

The 2.0x III would do well. AF speed will take a hit. IQ will take a hit. But it will not be horrible, but you'll have 400 F5.6 with modern IS. It will still be heavy. The 400 bare will be faster and lighter, so it depends on your needs. Right now the 400 prime is aging, so I would wait a bit and see what else comes out. The 100-400 II is outstanding, but is of course, $2k. So it depends on your budget.

Do you want another lens? Or do you just want a little more reach sometimes?

If you want to save a buck, try Yongnuo's 2.ox III TC, it's a clone of the Canon III, for less than half the cost. Seems to perform next to it.

Very best,

I have only done 1st round of testing but so far I have found Sigma EX APO DG 2XTC to be just slightly better than Canon 2XTC III.
That Sigma TC is cheap enough used to be very worthwhile giving it a go.

Choderboy wrote in post #17928956
I have only done 1st round of testing but so far I have found Sigma EX APO DG 2XTC to be just slightly better than Canon 2XTC III.
That Sigma TC is cheap enough used to be very worthwhile giving it a go.

Did you AFMA both TC's first?

skid00skid00 wrote in post #17929041
Did you AFMA both TC's first?

No, but as I tested with 100-400 II at the long end it would not make any difference.

Choderboy wrote in post #17930237
No, but as I tested with 100-400 II at the long end it would not make any difference.

I don't understand how "at the long end..." would matter. Can you explain, please?
Thanks.

OH, wait... Does your cam only have 1 AFMA setting per lens, not wide and tele, like my 5D3?

skid00skid00 wrote in post #17932328
I don't understand how "at the long end..." would matter. Can you explain, please?
Thanks.

OH, wait... Does your cam only have 1 AFMA setting per lens, not wide and tele, like my 5D3?

Anything older than the 7D!! only allows 1 AFMA setting per lens; one at each end is a luxury that came along much later

f5.6 lens with 2x converter is f11. So PDAF is not possible, only live view. Live view AF is CDAF at sensor so AFMA not applicable.

Choderboy wrote in post #17930237
No, but as I tested with 100-400 II at the long end it would not make any difference.

I'm confused. This would've given you f/11 right? So no autofocus. Why would AF even factor into this?

But you say the Sigma had better IQ than the Canon, which is interesting. I tried the Canon 2XTC III once on my 70-200IS II and also on my 200mm f/2.8. The prime have the better result. Here's a sample:

frugivore wrote in post #17932354
I'm confused. This would've given you f/11 right? So no autofocus. Why would AF even factor into this?

But you say the Sigma had better IQ than the Canon, which is interesting. I tried the Canon 2XTC III once on my 70-200IS II and also on my 200mm f/2.8. The prime have the better result. Here's a sample:

Hosted photo: posted by frugivore in
./showthread.php?p=179​32354&i=i175316839
forum: Canon Lenses

But I didn't need 400mm often and AF was really slow, so I sold it.

I thought I explained clearly, maybe not.
Yes, f11. No to "no autofocus". Live view AF is possible at f11. However live view AF is Contrast Detect Autofocus done on the sensor as opposed to Phase Detect Autofocus which is used when you use viewfinder.
As it is done on the sensor, not only is AFMA not applicable, AFMA settings are not used for Live view. No AFMA is required as AF is done on sensor, ie, what is there to calibrate?
Mirrorless cameras have no AFMA because they don't need it. DSLRs use AFMA as a means to calibrate the PDAF sensor and system with the imaging sensor. A DSLR used in liveview is really a temporary mirrorless camera.

Choderboy wrote in post #17932370
I thought I explained clearly, maybe not.
Yes, f11. No to "no autofocus". Live view AF is possible at f11. However live view AF is Contrast Detect Autofocus done on the sensor as opposed to Phase Detect Autofocus which is used when you use viewfinder.
As it is done on the sensor, not only is AFMA not applicable, AFMA settings are not used for Live view. No AFMA is required as AF is done on sensor, ie, what is there to calibrate?
Mirrorless cameras have no AFMA because they don't need it. DSLRs use AFMA as a means to calibrate the PDAF sensor and system with the imaging sensor. A DSLR used in liveview is really a temporary mirrorless camera.

Sorry, I began my post before I saw your second post. I totally understand AF tuning.

So what was better about the Sigma? Do you have samples of both to show?

Choderboy wrote in post #17932346
f5.6 lens with 2x converter is f11. So PDAF is not possible, only live view. Live view AF is CDAF at sensor so AFMA not applicable.

Too many sites and too many threads. I missed that we were talking about a 2x TC.

frugivore wrote in post #17932396
Sorry, I began my post before I saw your second post. I totally understand AF tuning.

So what was better about the Sigma? Do you have samples of both to show?

No worries. Sigma a little sharper and a little less CA.
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1454673

skid00skid00 wrote in post #17932654
Too many sites and too many threads. I missed that we were talking about a 2x TC.

Yep. I was also confused, forgot I tested with 300 F4 so was at f8 and did not use live view.