2 x 1.4x versus 2x

Just wondered what people opinions thoughts are on this.

The 1.4x is always favoured over the 2x ... so rather than getting a 2x to go with my new purchase (300 f2.8 L IS) ... should I get a second 1.4 to give me close 588mm rather thana 2x to give me 600.

Obviously a 2x would give me the option to stack, but probably don't need anything longer than 600.

Has anyone stacked two 1.4s ?

fashioneyes wrote in post #10371276
The 1.4x is always favoured over the 2x ... so rather than getting a 2x to go with my new purchase (300 f2.8 L IS) ... should I get a second 1.4 to give me close 588mm rather thana 2x to give me 600.

The resulting focal length (as well as the change to the aperture settings) when adding either a single 2X extender or two 1.4X extenders to a lens is the same.

As to what the image quality differences would be - I have no experience with the 2X extender but I would assume that the image quality of both combinations would be much worse than that with a single 1.4X extender.

I did with my 70-200... And actually, I retained AF even though I was at f/8 since the camera only registered one of the TC's... AF was slow and jumpy though, but it did lock on. Quality was not that bad, mainly a loss in contrast... I sold my other TC eventually though.

I heard that 2x1.4 is better than one 2x TC a few times.. But find it hard to believe honestly!

You can't stack two Canon 1.4x's due to their design. One Canon and another brand is possible however.

Personally on a Canon super-tele I would use the Canon 2x over mixing and matching to get to a similar focal length, Canon extenders were specifically designed for these lenses.

fashioneyes wrote in post #10371276
....., but probably don't need anything longer than 600.

Good luck with that.

I have the Canon 1.4, 2x, and a Kenko 300 2x, used regularly with my 300. The 1.4x is fantastic, very little slowdown in AF, and little noticeable difference in IQ. I've never been thrilled with the 2x. AF gets noticeable slower. IQ is OK, but if you pixelpeep you'll see the loss in contrast/sharpness. I haven't tried, but gotta imagine 2x1.4 would be a bit more glass, and distance from the sensor, likely reducing contrast and sharpness.

The build quality difference between the Canon and Kenko is significant, but IQ is similar. I feel more comfortable letting the lens swing from the Canon, but if that's not important you can save a few $.

On occasion I stack my 1.4+2x, and even my two 2x's. AF starts to suck, and IQ degrades a little more, but still usable. In good light stopping down a bit helps. At 840mm, you need a lot of light and/or a tri-pod, because IS designed for 300mm only goes so far at that FL.

For 300mm f2.8 IS, I would pick canon 2x TC and stop down 1 stop. So basically you get very nice 600mm f8 lens.

I will also have 1.4x when you don't need reach of 2xTC.

I've had very good results with one 2X on the 300/2.8 lens, but I've never stacked two 1.4X teleconverters.

I've also stacked the 2X and 1.4X on the 400/2.8 lens to get a 1120 mm f/8 lens combination with fair results, though with the 7D, I am fighting against diffraction with this combination since I have to stop down to arounf f/13 or so to get the best result.

hello im curious to how this site works, could someone explain it to me?
sorry to be a bother of anyones time.

lloydvictoria4 wrote in post #10372589
hello im curious to how this site works, could someone explain it to me?
sorry to be a bother of anyones time.

It's basically a chat room for those interested in photography. There are multiple forums available discussing a plethora of topics from mindless chatter to the newest equipment to endless debates about which lens is better, the 24-70 or 24-105.. jump into a forum, read a few threads and you'll pick things up pretty quickly.

lloydvictoria4 wrote in post #10372589
hello im curious to how this site works, could someone explain it to me?
sorry to be a bother of anyones time.

It's just as gjl711 says - something of an organized chat room. If you go to the main forum page, you'll see a list of sub-forums arranged by category. Click on one that interests you, and you will see a list of 'threads' or discussions. If one interests you, click on it and you will see the various posts made by others concerning that subject. If you have a comment to add, click on the "post reply" box or enter your comment at the bottom of the page and click "post reply" as you probably did in this thread.

If you have a specific question or statement, you can start your own thread by using the "New Topic" button at the top of the page when you are viewing the list of various thread in a given topic.

Read a little and navigate around the site and, as gjl711 says, you'll get the hang of it quickly.

I don't think you can stack two 1.4x TCs due to the design, but I may be wrong.

The 300 2.8IS takes the 2x TC very well though!

Deep Pocket wrote in post #10372979
I don't think you can stack two 1.4x TCs due to the design, but I may be wrong.

Only if both are canon brand. You can mix canon and non canon though like already mentioned.

THanks to everyone for the replies.

I think I'll go as originally planned with a 2x extender.

Just shot these. All were composed and shot from distances to hold the similar proportion, for fake flower to fill the center 1/9 of frame. These are all identical crops taken from full frame using LR2

First, Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS at 200mm f/5.6...

Tom W wrote in post #10372798
It's just as gjl711 says - something of an organized chat room. If you go to the main forum page, you'll see a list of sub-forums arranged by category. Click on one that interests you, and you will see a list of 'threads' or discussions. If one interests you, click on it and you will see the various posts made by others concerning that subject. If you have a comment to add, click on the "post reply" box or enter your comment at the bottom of the page and click "post reply" as you probably did in this thread.

If you have a specific question or statement, you can start your own thread by using the "New Topic" button at the top of the page when you are viewing the list of various thread in a given topic.

Read a little and navigate around the site and, as gjl711 says, you'll get the hang of it quickly.

gjl711 wrote in post #10372632
It's basically a chat room for those interested in photography. There are multiple forums available discussing a plethora of topics from mindless chatter to the newest equipment to endless debates about which lens is better, the 24-70 or 24-105.. jump into a forum, read a few threads and you'll pick things up pretty quickly.

Completely off topic, but that is why I love this forum. Most others I have been on would have seen that post as a red flag to a bull.

10/10.