oldbimmercoupe

any zoom is a compromise by definition - the bucks are high for a reason. adding a teleconverter is just more glass trying to work together. you may find a sweet spot so try all kinds of aperture settings until you see some real sharpness at 100% mag. best of luck with your quest!
j

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Depends upon exactly what teleconverter and exactly what lens you'd be using it upon.

Quality Canon 1.4X II and III TCs works well on many primes 135mm and longer. Following were done with a 1.4X II on a Canon EF 300/4L IS USM, for an effective 420mm f/5.6 combination..

On full frame, 21MP Canon 5D Mark II (uncropped & cropped versions of same image):


On APS-C crop sensor, 18MP Canon 7D:


On APS-C crop sensor, 15MP Canon 50D:


With a few exceptions, teleconverters do not work as well on zoom lenses. In fact, the Canon teleconverters have a protruding front element that makes it impossible to use them with most Canon zooms, as well as many third party lenses that don't have large enough diameter rear barrel or have rear optical elements that might interfere. The only Canon zooms that the Canon TCs can be used upon are the 70-200s and the 100-400m.

A lot less expensive than the Canon TCs, the $120 Kenko 1.4X "MC-4" is also quite sharp in the center, but less so at the edges and corners of the image. But, using it on a crop sensor camera that only utilizes the center of the lens anyway, should be fine. The $150 Kenko 1.4X "Pro 300" has better edge-to-edge sharpness, so might be preferable for use on a full frame camera.

Also, 2X teleconverters are available too... but there's significantly greater loss of image quality. I use a Canon 2X, but only on very high quality prime 300mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4 lenses. Never on any zooms.

You mention some EF-S lenses and none of the above TCs can be used with them. Only Kenko "HD" 1.4X and 2X TCs can be used with EF-S lenses. Those cost more... about $160, if memory serves. However, to be perfectly honest, I can't think of any EF-S lens that I'd use with any TC, even if it fit. There just aren't many that it makes much sense to use with a TC, other than a couple tele-zooms. And those would very likely see too much loss of image quality, even with the best 1.4X.

Also, your cameras will not be able to autofocus many teleconverter/lens combos. A 300mm f/4 + 1.4X... yes. Also a 70-200/4 + 1.4X or 70-200/2.8+ 2X would focus. However, if your lens is already f/5.6, when you add a 1.4X it becomes an effective f/8... or, with a 2X it becomes an effective f/11. Neither will be able to AF on either of your cameras (only 80D, 7DII, recent 5D=series and 1D-series models can AF an f/8 combo). Also, your viewfinder will dim down, making it harder to manual focus.

You might be better served just saving up and getting a 150-600mm instead. Especially the latest Tamron "G2" and the Sigma "Sport", seem pretty darned good.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Can't find the manfroto stabilizer for tripod?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I do not think there is one !

Here is one for a monopod - works great I have one ....http://www.ebay.com/itm/391693621399?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

If you go with the Canon TC you should check if your lens is compatible. They have a forward element that sticks out a ways, and some lenses will not mount on them.

G8keypr

If you look you can find a Tamron 150-600 the first version for under $750, is it as good as the G2? nope it's not, but it still takes a darn good picture,

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Is an adapter to put a tamron 150-600 on a Olympia 4/3 camera?

sholland98 Loc: Benbrook, Texas

150-600 - You'll never regret. Mine in on my 500 99% of the time. I shoot mostly wildlife and BIF.