Telephoto extender: Has anybody out there used a Canon telephoto extender? Are they really as good as Canon says they are. I am not trying to get world class photos but want to at...

megalyman

Has anybody out there used a Canon telephoto extender? Are they really as good as Canon says they are. I am not trying to get world class photos but want to at least get great photos.

LarryD Loc: Mojave Desert

Canon makes excellent teleconverters in either 1.4x, or 2.0x. They are quite commonly used on high quality medium length lenses to give more reach in both wildlife and bird photography..

The 1.4x has excellent characteristics and is almost indistinguishable from the primary lens (depending on the lens, of course), but it does degrade the image and reduce available light by stop.. they should not be used on marginal quality glass because they do degrade IQ slightly, so a marginal image, made a little bit worse, can be frustrating..

The 2.0x isn't as widely used. You almost always will see visible degradation and you lose 2 stops of light.. Some have good luck with them... exposure has to be darn near perfect though, or it shows..

You cannot get a super telephoto by simply adding an extender... you will always lose something, so be sure that the trade-off is what you can live with...

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

Also, I believe that the Canon 1.4x and 2x extenders are designed only to be used with Canon L glass. On other lenses, both Canon and 3rd party, the front element of the extender could collide with the rear element of the lens.

megalyman

Thanks guys

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

megalyman wrote:

Has anybody out there used a Canon telephoto extender? Are they really as good as Canon says they are. I am not trying to get world class photos but want to at least get great photos.

My experience with extenders and the Canon 1.4 have been negative. Image quality is reduced in just about every situation and they are cantankerous to use. You would be better served to save the money you would spend on one and purchase a longer focal length lens.

DK Loc: SD

I haven't found my 1.4 to be cantankerous. It has worked well and on some occasions I have even gotten sharp photos hand holding the camera.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Some L lenses lose the AF when used with an extender.
Just another point to ponder.

Bear

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

RocketScientist wrote:

Also, I believe that the Canon 1.4x and 2x extenders are designed only to be used with Canon L glass. On other lenses, both Canon and 3rd party, the front element of the extender could collide with the rear element of the lens.

This true from everything I have ever read on them.

I use both the 1.4 and the 2X with fairly good luck but both of mine are Tamron. Here is a shot taken using a Canon 400mm f5.6L and the 1.4 teleconverter. Taken at about 18 feet.

Click download and then you can read the Exif file.

Jim D

alann Loc: Virginia

I use a cheap Kenko 2x and am satisfied with the results:
70-200 II with extender, 400mm, f/8

jeffcutler Loc: Boston, MA USA

Jim D.,

I think you're in my boat...not literally. But I'm an 18-200 Tamron lens owner who is wondering about buying a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter.

I have a 50mm 1.8 and a 18-55 kit lens and then the 18-200.

I don't want to dump the $$ on a 70-300 ($300 to $500) but would love to have up to 400mm (or really with 1.6 sensor conversion 640mm) effective range on my big zoom.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Jeff

DK Loc: SD

jeffcutler wrote:

Jim D.,

I think you're in my boat...not literally. But I'm an 18-200 Tamron lens owner who is wondering about buying a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter.

I have a 50mm 1.8 and a 18-55 kit lens and then the 18-200.

I don't want to dump the $$ on a 70-300 ($300 to $500) but would love to have up to 400mm (or really with 1.6 sensor conversion 640mm) effective range on my big zoom.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Jeff

I have a Tamron extender. I haven't used it with my 18 - 270 Tamron, but it has worked well with other lenses. I am thinking about taking it to Alaska with my 18 - 270, so will have to try it.

jeffcutler Loc: Boston, MA USA

DK wrote:

quote=jeffcutler Jim D., br br I think you're in... (show quote)

Great. Let me know how it works out. Is it a Tamron and is it a 1.4 or a 2x. And can I ask what you paid (ballpark) for it?

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

I use a Canon 1.4 on my Canon 300 4 regularly with what I feel are excellent results.
In fact I tested that combo vs. a Canon 400 5.6 and found the images sharper using the 300 with the extender.

jeffcutler Loc: Boston, MA USA

Swamp Gator wrote:

I use a Canon 1.4 on my Canon 300 4 regularly with what I feel are excellent results.
In fact I tested that combo vs. a Canon 400 5.6 and found the images sharper using the 300 with the extender.

Any feelings or knowledge of whether the Canon telextender would work with a Tamron piece of glass...and a zoom at that instead of a prime?

I'm really thinking this might be the saving way to go to double my focal length, but $300-$500 is still enough to make me pause before jumping.

Thanks,

Jeff

DK Loc: SD

jeffcutler wrote:

quote=DK quote=jeffcutler Jim D., br br I think... (show quote)

It is a 1.4, but i bought it a long time ago, probably 10 years or so and haven't a clue what I paid for it. Will let you know how it works. Raining here today, so not a good day to try it.