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05/09/2006 09:44:39 AM · #1 |
I'm in the market for a 1.4x teleconverter to use on the 70-200 F2.8L IS. When we go to Alaska I know I won't get the 100-400L out of my wife's hands without hurting her and I don't think 200mm will be enough reach to shoot bears (at least I'd rather be farther back).
Canon, Kenko 1.5x, Kenko Pro 1.4x, Sigma, Tamron, or Tamron Pro...
Canon will only work with my 70-200 and 100-400. I think the Tamron Pro is limited use as well. The others will work with all my lens and are cheaper. Is the Canon better in image quality? Using it with other lens might be nice, and cheaper is better, but overall image quality will probably be my deciding factor.
Thanks for any input.
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05/09/2006 09:54:18 AM · #2 |
I had this discussion with jmsetzler late last year. I remember him telling me that he had the Canon 1.4x II and sold it to get the Kenko Pro 1.4x.
He said that image quality with the Kenko was just as good as with the Canon but that the Kenko could be used on other lenses rather than just his Canon 70-200.
You may want to pm him to get more details. I have the Canon 1.4x II that I used with my Canon 70-200 f/4 and Canon 300mm f/4 IS. It works quite well. |
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05/09/2006 09:57:21 AM · #3 |
| I bought the 1.4x and love the crispness. I keep getting error 99 messages, though. Haven't figured out why yet. :( |
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05/09/2006 09:59:35 AM · #4 |
I actually have the cheaper (non-pro) Tamron 1.4x. This is actually a well-rated converter, and the results seem to support that. Quite some time ago, someone over at DPReview posted a test comparing to the Canon, and the Canon is better. The difference, on 1.6-crop cams, is not huge. I haven't compiled any relevant experience with FF and this converter yet, but surely will this summer. I rather expect that it's going to be disappointing in the corners, but I could be surprised.
Keep in mind that the non-pro Tamron does not reveal its presence to the camera, so aperture and focal length will be reported incorrectly in EXIF.
With regard to your specific lenses, the two that you really want to use a converter with are the 70-200 and 100-400. With the Canon converter on the 100-400, you're going to lose AF on non-1-series bodies. With the non-pro Tamron, it will at least try to focus; at least it does with my admittedly older copy of that converter.
As a note, either converter is usable with your 100 Macro. For use with the Canon , put a 12mm extension tube between the macro lens and converter to avoid mechanical interference, and you've got >1.5x magnification!
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05/09/2006 10:01:13 AM · #5 |
You will probably find the Sigma's are limited to certain lenses too. My 2x is.
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05/09/2006 10:29:57 AM · #6 |
I have the tamron non-pro 1.4x and had the 2.0 verison. the 2.0 would certainly affect the image quality, the 1.4 seems not to, or at least not a degree i can see.
i tried the converters stacked on my 300D and a 70-210 2.8 lens - it would indeed AF just fine. you'd see the shutter speed drop as you add converterd due to the reduced light, but the aperture reading remained the same.
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05/09/2006 12:31:45 PM · #7 |
Thanks all!
Anyone own the Kenko pro or Tamron pro?
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05/09/2006 12:42:29 PM · #8 |
I own the Tamron Pro 1.4 and have used it without issues on my Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR and a Tamron 200-500 AF F5-6.3. It still autofocuses with the Tamron 200-500 but does hunt and only works well in good light. Can't comment on using it with Canon lenses.
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05/09/2006 02:16:14 PM · #9 |
I have the Kenko Pro 1.4x, but I didn't sell the Canon 1.4x to get it. I started out with the Canon 1.4x and rarely used it, so I sold it when I was cleaning house. I came up with a new need for one and bought the Kenko instead because it looked to be as good as the Canon. I use the Kenko regularly when shooting certain sports with my 70-200 lens. It works great and I can't see any image quality difference between shots made with it or the Canon 1.4x. I would actually recommend the Kenko over the Canon for the $90 savings.
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05/09/2006 02:51:22 PM · #10 |
Thanks again all!
I think I'll be going with the Kenko Pro. I did a lot of searching on my lunch and found a handful of things that just backed up what has been said here. I wish google could make a way to exclude web sites that are selling stuff when you are just looking for information... It would save me a lot of time
Good tutorial on TCs I stumbled across: //www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/tc3.html
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