Mini-Review: YongNuo 2x III TC (Canon Knockoff)

And one of the local wildlife in our house.

With the big Canon sale, I picked up a Canon III version, and will see if it has the same issues. If not, the YN will go back to Adorama. If so, then I will just sell the Canon.

Okay, give me a few minutes to add several replies to cover the next 10 photos. I did a quick comparison to the Canon MKIII 2x so that everyone can see the differences. First I will give my thoughts on this, and then add all the photos.

AF Speed

The 2 are very close to each other to call this a draw. They are both quite fast on the 70-200 II for example, the AF just jumps to focus, no real lag.

Fit and Finish

There are noticeable design differences between these 2. They are both built well, but the Canon has a nice black seal ring where it mounts to other lenses, the YN has a red anodized recessed ring. This means the front of the TC is not sealed at all unless your lens has a seal. The rear seals are nearly identical. The machining on the Canon is more refined and it doesn't hang on some lenses I have tried where the YN might be a bit tighter of a fit.

The YN is shorter than the Canon, and the front element sticks out less than the Canon. This means that this TC can actually mount to more lenses depending on the rear element to flange distance of said lenses.

The inner elements seem to be more restrictive on the YN, and a bit more open on the Canon, so it is most certainly a different lens configuration inside.

IQ

Again, I call this a draw, they are both quite good, and nearly identical both in the center of the frame and the edge.

Operations

This is where the differences become more noticeable. The YN will over expose on newer bodies like the 7D2 and 5D4, and expose properly on cameras like the Rebel SL2 and most likely older offerings. It is an odd thing. The Canon has no issues. The YN causes camera lockup and errors on the 7D2 and 5D4 on the Sigma 150-600 (no errors on the SL2), but no errors occur with the Canon TC on the same cameras.

Conclusion

If you only really care about AF and IQ, or care about budget, and can live with setting a negative exposure compensation, should your camera model need it, then the YN is a good buy at 1/2 the price of the Canon. If you don't want to mess with such things, and just want the TC to work well as an overall package, then the Canon is the better tool. If you shoot in the elements, the Canon gets the nod there as well, with a better front seal Oring.

More comparisons, you can see where the machining is more refined on the Canon, and how the Canon (left sides) seems more open internaly in the lens group.

More pics showing the front of the TC

And finally the overexposure using the same exact settings and subject material, in AV mode. I had to dial in just over 2 stops under exposure with the YN to get the same exposure. YN on the left...

Comparison shots, Canon first, then the YN at 2 2/3 negative EC. I probably should have dialed in 3 stops actually to bring these more in step with each other.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18484887
More pics showing the front of the TC

Hosted photo: posted by TeamSpeed in
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forum: Canon Lenses

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forum: Canon Lenses

YongNuo has to be better, it has a RED RING!

Sounds as if the YongNuo 2x III isn't worth it, unless you have but one camera body and one or two lenses you plan to pair it with and don't mind putting up with the bother.

I have experienced similar exposure compensation, as well as AF, issues with a Kenko 2x using a 7D and 7D2. In both cases -2 f-stops of EC is required, only the outer AF pts work, even though the center AF pt is supposed to work at f/8 (2x TC on f/4 lens). I suspect that the non-reporting TC doesn't tell the 7D2 to make use of its f/8 capability on the center PT. Outer AF pts are functional, as they are on the 7D.

Sometimes you get what you pay for....

russbecker wrote in post #18492572
Sounds as if the YongNuo 2x III isn't worth it, unless you have but one camera body and one or two lenses you plan to pair it with and don't mind putting up with the bother.

I have experienced similar exposure compensation, as well as AF, issues with a Kenko 2x using a 7D and 7D2. In both cases -2 f-stops of EC is required, only the outer AF pts work, even though the center AF pt is supposed to work at f/8 (2x TC on f/4 lens). I suspect that the non-reporting TC doesn't tell the 7D2 to make use of its f/8 capability on the center PT. Outer AF pts are functional, as they are on the 7D.

Sometimes you get what you pay for....

Just keep in mind that the Canon one is even more restricted in its use. Fewer lenses, cannot couple with any other MKIII TC, etc. The Kenko and YN are usable with more lenses, and each other. I have my Kenko 1.4x and 2x still, and they do work with the 7D2 with no issues on EC, but they are an older model.

$170 for the YN 2x III vs twice that for the Canon, and some may not be concerned with having to set EC to -2 or -3 whenever they use the TC, if they have saved $170 by doing so.

I just got the Yongnuo 2X yesterday and had no chance to put it through its paces outside the house (and we have no cat...).

Shooting after hours, under daylight LED lighting, I'd like to add experience with my 60D and 5DIII.

a) AF. They both focus fast and accurately if there is adequate light. Slightly slower than when I don't use the extender with the EF 70-200 MkII. I had rented the Canon 1.4X and 2X (Version II, not III) for my son's graduation 2 years ago. I feel that the Yongnuo was slower than the 1.4X but faster than the 2X. I remember distinctly the Canon 2X VII hesitating before AFing (I use BBF).

Thankfully, the 5DIII seems to AF spot on (no front/back focus) either with or without the 2X, so no MFA considerations.

b) EC. The 60D overexposes by 1 1/3 stop! Given that I normally shoot it at +1/3 to +2/3 stops, we get the same 2 stop difference that TS reported with the newer cameras.

However, the 5DIII is right on the money and I don't use any EC in normal operations!

Recycling the power (camera-off, remove battery, camera on to discharge, camera off, replace battery, camera on) had no effect on the 60D.

Hopefully tomorrow is going to be a sunny day in Houston, so I can try it outdoors.

I would love to know what is causing that TC to do what it for some bodies vs others. It is very strange. The 7D2 and 5D4 both overexposed, and with certain lenses would even through a code when I would AF. The SL2 didn't have such a problem. So now we see that the 5D3 doesn't either, but the 6D does. Oh well, my TC went back and I picked up a Canon III 2x. The issue there though is that the TC only works with a subset of lenses.

It's pretty cold for an outdoor test here in Houston, so I took some shots from the upstairs bedroom. The extender is used with my EF 70-200 f2.8 MkII

POV with the EF 50 mm f1.8 (this was the last in the series, this gentleman froze his butt waiting for the bus and decided to seek shelter):

This one is the POV for 400 mm:

It is perhaps the cheapest way to convert your 70-200 2.8 II to a 140-400 f5.6 with great IQ, so the TC should find a place in some people's bags. I just wouldn't use it as my only 2x TC.