DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Teleconverter for my new Canon 70-200 2.8 IS USM
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
AuthorThread
12/28/2006 12:06:07 PM · #1
i'm not looking at getting it right now (cause i'm broke) :D but, who has any experience with a teleconverter on this lens, or one like it?

how much does quality suffer?

what size should i get?

brand?

thanks so much, i really appreciate it.
12/28/2006 12:17:47 PM · #2
You should stick with a high-quality 1.4x converter if you use one at all. Even the best 2.0x converters substantially degrade image quality wide open. it's necessary to stop down 2 stops to regain sharpness with the Canon 2x II converter, for instance. That means you're shooting at f/11, so the combination will be useful only in very good light. AF with a 2.0X converter will be spotty, since the lens + converter will be f/5.6 maximum aperture. The lens will hunt a bit in low light and low contrast.
Full-frame cameras are actually a little more forgiving of the 70-200 + 2.0X II combination, with f/8 being very usable though not razor sharp.
These comments stem from my use of the Canon 2.0X II converter and Tamron 1.4x converter (the cheaper one) on Canon 10D and Canon 5D bodies.
There are several good 1.4x converters. I've heard good reports on the Kenko, and even the cheaper Tamron gets good reports (I actually have this one). The Canon is the best of the lot, but is more expensive. Some of the converters, including the Canon, have limited compatibility because of the projecting front element. They all work on the 70-200/2.8 IS (and non-IS) but may not work on some other Canon lenses. All lenses that are listed as compatible withthe Canon converters should also work with the 3rd-party converters, but double-check to be sure.
12/28/2006 12:27:18 PM · #3
I have both the Canon 1.4x and the 2x. The 2x will degrade image quality the most but not to the point where the image isn't usuable. For the 70-200 I would stick with the 1.4x As far as brands go, that's up to you but I would stick with the better ones. I hear good things about the Kenko and Tamron extenders also. Remember you also loose 1 stop of light for the 1.4x and 2 stops for the 2x. You're 2.8 will become a F4 with the 1.4x
12/28/2006 12:27:35 PM · #4
some shots with the 2X extender incomparison with the 100-400L.
12/28/2006 12:28:20 PM · #5
Originally posted by jaxsond:

some shots with the 2X extender incomparison with the 100-400L.


guess a link would be handy
12/28/2006 12:32:07 PM · #6
I have the Kenko 300DG pro or whatever and its amazingly sharp. ON the advise of a fellow DPCer I bought it, got it from Ebay for about 150 shipped new. I'd definately recommend this. Just remember that the canon 1.4 will not work with some 3rd party lens so if you have intentions of getting anything not canon keep that in mind.

MattO
12/28/2006 01:25:10 PM · #7
Another useful piece of information - the Canon 1.4x tele will allow the use of AF and IS still, whereas the Canon 2.0x and all 3rd-party teles (as far as I remember) will make the lens manual focus.
12/28/2006 01:26:00 PM · #8
The Sigma 1.4x still allows for AF on the lense.
12/28/2006 01:30:07 PM · #9
Originally posted by Manic:

Another useful piece of information - the Canon 1.4x tele will allow the use of AF and IS still, whereas the Canon 2.0x and all 3rd-party teles (as far as I remember) will make the lens manual focus.


This is true. The AF will only fuction on lenses with an aperature of 2.8 or faster if you use a 2x converter.
12/28/2006 01:50:55 PM · #10
Originally posted by kirbic:

You should stick with a high-quality 1.4x converter if you use one at all. Even the best 2.0x converters substantially degrade image quality wide open. it's necessary to stop down 2 stops to regain sharpness with the Canon 2x II converter, for instance. That means you're shooting at f/11, so the combination will be useful only in very good light. AF with a 2.0X converter will be spotty, since the lens + converter will be f/5.6 maximum aperture. The lens will hunt a bit in low light and low contrast.
Full-frame cameras are actually a little more forgiving of the 70-200 + 2.0X II combination, with f/8 being very usable though not razor sharp.
These comments stem from my use of the Canon 2.0X II converter and Tamron 1.4x converter (the cheaper one) on Canon 10D and Canon 5D bodies.
There are several good 1.4x converters. I've heard good reports on the Kenko, and even the cheaper Tamron gets good reports (I actually have this one). The Canon is the best of the lot, but is more expensive. Some of the converters, including the Canon, have limited compatibility because of the projecting front element. They all work on the 70-200/2.8 IS (and non-IS) but may not work on some other Canon lenses. All lenses that are listed as compatible withthe Canon converters should also work with the 3rd-party converters, but double-check to be sure.


I seem to have found that f/8 improves the image quality significantly over f/5.6 using the Canon TC. F/10 is quite sharp IMO. Nowhere near as good, in terms of usability, however, as f/2.8. I used a Kenko 1.4 TC and really couldn't see any loss in IQ.
12/28/2006 03:03:13 PM · #11
I've got the Kenko 1.5 converter (dunno why it's not 1.4). It worked with my 55-200 4.5-5.6, autofocus also still worked, even in low light. I've used it with my 70-200 2.8 USM as well, no problem. It only seems to mee that the size is slightly off, there's some friction when I connect it to te body or the lens.
12/28/2006 03:15:12 PM · #12
Originally posted by MattO:

I have the Kenko 300DG pro or whatever and its amazingly sharp.


I have the Kenko Pro300 2X and I love it. It works very well. Sure it's not quite as sharp as the lens by itself, but the images are still very very good. Your 70-200 lens is a great lens and would probably work well with a Kenko or Canon extender. I wouldn't recommend an extender on lesser quality lenses. The way I see it, a crappy lens run through a 2X extender is now twice as crappy. Good luck!
12/28/2006 03:19:12 PM · #13
Originally posted by Manic:

Another useful piece of information - the Canon 1.4x tele will allow the use of AF and IS still, whereas the Canon 2.0x and all 3rd-party teles (as far as I remember) will make the lens manual focus.


My kenko 1.4 still allows AF and also if I remember correctly when I rented an IS lens it still worked. ALso note would a MKI and a MKII 1.4 function the IS?

MattO
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/29/2024 10:03:15 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/29/2024 10:03:15 AM EDT.