Which extender?

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Nigel
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Hi, I have a Canon 70-200L f4 (non-IS). Just been to the Bournemouth Airshow (RIP Eggman) to use it for the first time.

Great lens but I would love to have got closer in so now considering a 2x extender.

I was wondering if this was the way to go, how much sharpness would I lose and are there any other drawbacks?

If this is the way to go which one would I need as I understand some versions don't support AF?

Not looking to spend a fortune just having bought the 70-200.....

Cheers
Nige
 
I've got the Kenko x2 and it's okay (on the same lens you have), but be warned, it's a little soft. You'd probably be better served spending the extra on the Canon version. I'm told the Kenko 1.4s are good though, although I've not got any experience at all with them.
 
I have a Kenko NC-7 x2 which is the pro-sumer version. It's nice and sharp but can get soft in the corners at wider apertures.

Not sure you would retain AF on the f/4 lens though (they are ideally used with f2.8 lenses) though I might be corrected on that...

The canon x2 TCs are no better than the NC-7 or DGX Kenko TCs really. Some complain of poor results with the new Canon x2 mk3.
 
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Bluesmachine said:
I've got the Kenko x2 and it's okay (on the same lens you have), but be warned, it's a little soft. You'd probably be better served spending the extra on the Canon version. I'm told the Kenko 1.4s are good though, although I've not got any experience at all with them.
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Bluesmachine, does your Kenko allow AF with your 70-200?
 
I have both the kenko 1.4 and canon 2 x if your near Poole come on round and given them a try mate.
 
Al, that's really generous mate - although, judging by your list of kit I'll end up buying more than an extender!! :naughty:

I'm based in Ferndown but travel around Wareham and Swanage areas regularly.

PM me some details and I'd love to pop over.

Nige
 
Unless your on a 1D, your going to lose Auto focus with a 2x extender on an f4 lens
 
I would (and did) go for the Canon 1.4x extender first, it works beautifully with the 70-200/4L lenses and you don't lose autofocus. The 2x extender is a different story, and I very rarely use mine as images can be quite soft and contrast suffers. You can salvage some of it in processing but don't expect the same quality as with the 1.4x.

Now I have the 70-200/2.8L IS II which works better with the 2x extender but I still rarely use it.
 
whiteflyer said:
Unless your on a 1D, your going to lose Auto focus with a 2x extender on an f4 lens
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Bummer! Was hoping you weren't going to say that 'cos I certainly can't afford an f2.8 at the mo :bang:

Is there a way round that - did here something about 'fooling' an extender somehow...........he says, more in hope than expectation!
 
vaizki said:
I would (and did) go for the Canon 1.4x extender first, it works beautifully with the 70-200/4L lenses and you don't lose autofocus. The 2x extender is a different story, and I very rarely use mine as images can be quite soft and contrast suffers. You can salvage some of it in processing but don't expect the same quality as with the 1.4x.

Now I have the 70-200/2.8L IS II which works better with the 2x extender but I still rarely use it.
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Now that's what I wanted to hear - thanks :thumbs:

Looks like a 1.4 - do they do Mk1 and Mk11 versions as with the 2x?
 
They do Mk I, II and III now. The II is worth it, the III apparently isn't unless you get one of the new supertele lenses which you can't actually get yet :)

You can fool the camera AF to work with the non-canon extenders, but AF will be terribly slow usually.
 
I have a Kenko 1.4pro extender which works great with my 300 f4 prime lens, giving me great sharp wildlife shots.
 
A famous wildlife photographer is alledged to have said that the only thing worth doing with a Canon 2x extender is hitting it with a hammer.

I've used that lens with a Canon 1.4 extender and it provides great results and you still have autofocus !!
 
As above. The x 1.4 works very well indeed on a 70-200mm f4.0, and it's an excellent combination. You'll retain AF on any Canon body. The x 2 isn't so great, in my experience - borrowed, not owned - and you won't have AF on an XXD or XXXD body because you lose two stops. This makes it an f8, and these bodies can only AF to f5.6. The 1D series retain the AF to f8 though.

Some people report success with taping the pins to fool the camera. I've never tried it, but everything I've read sounds dodgy - inconsistent and poor AF, if it does work. Others may have different opinions?
 
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