use of telextenders for zoom lenses: There appear to be two types of tele-extenders. One type screws on to the end of a telephoto lens the other fits between the body and the lens. The...

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

There appear to be two types of tele-extenders. One type screws on to the end of a telephoto lens the other fits between the body and the lens. The latter is made by Canon for their lenses, the other type made by a variety of other makers like Tru Digital, Soligar et al. Naturally the latter types are far less expensive than those made by Canon (I presume Nikon is in a similar situation). I have used the 2x made by Tru Digital but have not been happy with the results. It would appear to me that some of you folks out there have had all kind of experiences that you could share. I believe that the Canon type would be more efficient but I would like to get a little more info before investing about $450 for a 2X from Canon. I am assuming that the 2x would be more useful (about $100 more) than the 1.5x. I would appreciate any guidance.
Thanks.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

usually the screw on types are of lower quality, but all the auto functions work. the between the lens and camera ones do verry well. canon makes a good teleconverter,so do some of the off brands.the better the lens the better the results.if you can try before you buyin the store, so much the better, if you deal with one of the better on line stores they have a good return policy. it's for you to decide if you want to spend between $100. and $500. on a converter or big bucks on a monster tele. as a side note i am useing a 2x converter on my pentax 645 d 40mp , with soms very good results. i and others have posted samples on this site. go to search and type in teleconverters.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

bcheary wrote:

There appear to be two types of tele-extenders. On... (show quote)

The ones that screw on the end of the lens are usually not very good and in my opinion a waste of money. Next, not all telephotos lenses work with all extenders. The Nikon and Canon web sites will tell you which extenders are meant to work with which lenses. As to the 2x vs. the 1.5x I would get the 1.5x. Just about everything I have read about extenders suggest that the 1.5 will usually give better results when used with a telephoto lens. 2X are best used with fixed focal length prime lenses. From what you say I assume you have a Canon. Check out their web site Canonusa.com and see which work best with the lens that you have or will be purchasing.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Thanks for the info.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

If you are going to use a teleconverter make sure the lens you use it on is a fixed aperture of at least f/4 f/2.8 would be better. With smaller apertures you lose autofocus. If you want to get good quility you will need to get the High priced ones that are made by the lens maker perferable one that is made to match the lens you are using. If you use them on prim leses they are not too bad. Their is just not a cheap way to get good long lenses. - Dave

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Thanks Dave.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Forget about the screw on filter extenders. Gimicky and junk for the most part.

Canon has the 2X and the 1.4 not a 1.5.
What lens are you planning to use an extender on?
If you have a 70-200 2.8 you could successfully use the 2X.
If you have a 300 f4 I would recommend going with the 1.4.
If you have a 100-400 I would probably pass on using an extender.

Feel free to have a look at my photo blog when you get a minute. Virtually all photos were taken using a Canon 1.4 III attached to a 300 4 on a 7D body.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

I have the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, You are correct about the 1.4, my bad.Going to Panama and Costa Rica first week of March. Can't afford a 500mm or larger long lens (by Canon) and I hear that the cheap ones are not worth buying! Looking at the tele extender so I can get some decent wildlife pictures.

ShutterGrub Loc: SoCal

Also, the Canon ones come in 2 flavors: 1.4 and 2.0 I got the 1.4 because my long lens is a 70-200 f4, and I didn't want to give up 2 stops of light. The 1.4 is only 1 stop while the 2.0 is 2. Meaning the maximum opening on my f4 lens with the 1.4 teleconverter is 5.6. If I had bought the 2.0, it would have been f8, and that can get rough on the ol' exposure triangle and DoF.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.

darren_searle Loc: Brisbane Australia

I'm have the Sigma 2x I use on my canon 600d with a sigma 50-150mm f2.8 works faultless with almost no noticable loss of quality...

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

bcheary wrote:

I have the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, You are correct about the 1.4, my bad.Going to Panama and Costa Rica first week of March. Can't afford a 500mm or larger long lens (by Canon) and I hear that the cheap ones are not worth buying! Looking at the tele extender so I can get some decent wildlife pictures.

First, 2X TC's are made by a few different companies. If the TC by Canon is too expensive look at Tamron, they make a decent one. To be honest though you will probably not be happy with the quality of your photos using any 2X extender. The quality of the photo using a 1.4X is not too bad but using any extender is going to degrade your quality.

If you feel you must have a 500mm reach look at the Sigma 150-500mm lens. It is not going to be as good as a Canon 500mm prime but is much more affordable and is a pretty decent lens. Do a search here on that lens and you will see a lot of good photos, many taken my MT Shooter. You will be much happier with this lens, and the photos from it, than the photos a TC will provide you.

Jim D

johnbegood17 Loc: Redhill,Surrey,England

I would recommend you first get a decent lens, because if your results are not good before you put the extender on then putting the extender on will only magnify the problem,
I use a 1.4 canon extender on a canon 400mm f/2.8, the results are amazing
I used cheaper lens and the quality is not good

johnbegood17 Loc: Redhill,Surrey,England

I would recommend you first get a decent lens, because if your results are not good before you put the extender on then putting the extender on will only magnify the problem,
I use a 1.4 canon extender on a canon 400mm f/2.8, the results are amazing
I used cheaper lens and the quality is not good

johnbegood17 Loc: Redhill,Surrey,England

I would recommend you first get a decent lens, because if your results are not good before you put the extender on then putting the extender on will only magnify the problem,
I use a 1.4 canon extender on a canon 400mm f/2.8, the results are amazing
I used cheaper lens and the quality is not good