CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

This post continues the discussion of Canon L-series lenses used with Canon Series III extenders, showing examples from the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS II USM and the EF 2x III Extender creating an equivalent 600mm focal length combination.

Pond cousins by Paul Sager, on Flickr


The EF 300mm f/2.8 lens refers to a family of 300mm telephoto prime lenses made by Canon going back to manual focus versions first released in 1974. The lens is commonly used by sports and wildlife photographers, but is short enough for use in extreme close-up portraits. Because of its rather high native magnification, the EF 300L can also be used for macro type photography.

Blue Dasher


All EF lenses have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or wider, so all EOS cameras will autofocus with any EF autofocus lens. The f/8 auto focusing ability is only needed when using a lens and extender combination that reduces the maximum aperture of the lens to f/8 or smaller. The Series III extenders are designed to provide faster auto focusing and improved autofocus precision with compatible EF lenses. Both the 1.4x and 2x extenders feature a new microcomputer to increase AF precision when used with Series II EF super-telephoto lenses.

Canada geese


In the early days of autofocus photography, the AF drive motor was placed in the camera body and the camera drove the lens mechanically. With the introduction of the EF lens mount in 1987, the fully electronic connectors allowed the autofocus motor to be moved from the camera body to the lens itself, giving the possibility that each AF motor could be tailored to suit the lens it was fitted into, thereby providing faster autofocus. The result was the EF 300mm f/2.8L USM lens launched at the start of the EOS system in 1987. The lens featured a ring-type Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) motor that was both fast and near silent.

Wood duck


Like the AF motors from other manufacturers, Canon's USM motors convert an electromagnetic force into a rotational force to drive the lens-focusing group. Ultrasonic motor (USM) lenses appeared with the introduction of the original EF 300mm f/2.8L USM lens in 1987. Canon was the first camera maker to successfully commercialize the USM technology. EF lenses equipped with USM drives have fast, silent and precise auto focus operations. Ultrasonic motors are used by all the major lens manufactures.

Pond cousins


The blue-gray tanager is a medium-sized South American songbird of the tanager family, Thraupidae. Its range is from Mexico south to northeast Bolivia and northern Brazil, through all of the Amazon Basin.

Blue-gray Tanager


Like most paper wasps, the red paper wasp (Polistes carolina) constructs nests by chewing plant and wood fibers with saliva to create a paper-like material. When dried, their nests form an upside-down umbrella or dome shape with exposed honeycomb-like cells, opening at the bottom. P. carolina prefers to nest in protected spaces, such as naturally occurring locations in vegetation or the cavities of trees.

Red Wasp by Paul Sager, on Flickr


EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages, just click the URL links that are the image titles.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

I've been using the Nikon 2x TC with the Nikon 500mm pf on my Z9 and don't find any reduction in either AF speed or IQ. The Z lenses are likely to be even better - I have one on order.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

As usual you have presented information that can be valuable to folks on the UHH. Extenders are the "red-headed step children of photography." They have been misrepresented by ancient claims and you offer the opposite, up to date and correct information. Reduction of image quality is the worst offensive claim against them, and you have shown that to be untrue. Extenders are tools of the trade and when used within their design limitations are very effective tools. Thank you for the efforts you have given us. The value of the information given far exceeds the cost to obtain it! Great way to start a new week.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Great news. The pro bodies with their onboard battery pack are really the configuration best for driving all the processors and motors in the extended lens configurations.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you David! You've probably seen over the years I detest the old wives' tales and similar urban myths of photography that still get trafficked regularly on the internet. Although this post focuses on the newest releases from Canon (well 'newest' from the last of their DSLR equipment), I've also been using the 1.4x manual focus version from the 80s with primes from that era too, with similar results. All that said, you (the human photographer) still have to do the work as you leverage the burst and AI Servo benefits of digital cameras. We spent another "spring" weekend here in Chicago stuck in the low 30s, so the birds and bugs are still waiting for these long extended lenses.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Wonderfully taken series which is a testament to the quality of the gear and your talent. The red paper wasps have a quite aggressive attitude so give them distance.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Thanks for sharing that. I have always been quite satisfied with either the Canon or Sony extenders that have “lived” on my longer lenses. Too bad about the plastic bottle.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you sippy! These were shot at a great distance.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Nalu! The pond is the middle of a large urban park. The trash is relatively minimal in the area, and maybe a heavy storm the night before blew things around.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Wow!!

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

Those are nice shot!!!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Bruce, 13! Glad you enjoyed.

JimmyTB

Thank you for these posts Paul. They are a great encouragement to me seeing what is possible. I recently purchased a used 100-400L II and a 1.4x III and a 2x III from a fellow HedgeHog, all in excellent condition. With my current camera, a T5i I lose AF even with the 1.4 so my practice this spring is concentrating on manual focus.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Excellent equipment and talent are a great combination. You work miracles with camera equipment Paul!