Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

[Mark500D]

Hey hi I have been shooting with my Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens and it is an awesome piece of kit. I have had it about a year now, and decide I wanted to get a longer focal length. So I was looking at 500mm, but when I saw the price, I realised that I couldn't afford it, or justify paying so much money. (Unless I am stupid and miss read what I was looking for, LOL, which I have been known to do too many times). Anyway I have known for a while that Canon produces Extenders EF 1.4x and EF 2x.

Can you guys out there advice me on the pros and cons of these please. I feel it could be a cheaper why to achieve what I want, however I don't want to waste my money. I would be using it mainly on my 70-300mm lens, which by the way, is not an L series lens so will it even work on said lens.

Thanks

Mark

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Neither extenders work on AF with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens.
Either the 300mm f/4L + x1.4 extender or a 400mm f/5.6L lens or 100-400mm are your best bets

[Bawbee]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Mark,

In addition to Stephen's message above, be aware that, if you put an extender on with a non-compatable lens, you run the risk of the glass components damaging each other. See the following for advice - Canon CPN

[Stan]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Not quite as good quality as Canon but you could think about the Sigma 150-500 at atound £700

Stan

[S_J_P]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

I concur with the previous comments Mark, beware!

The problems with extenders are manifold, they'll sap light (1stop for the 1.4x and 2stops in the case of the 2x extender), they introduce another set of elements into the light-path potentially degrading quality and contrast, you'll loose autofocus (due to the maximum aperture loosing 1 or 2stops), and they're still quite expensive.

Tests I've seen suggest that cropping-in yields as good, if not better, quality than using extenders on cheaper lenses. Where their value lies is with fast and expensive medium telephoto lenses being converted to long-teles without a significant weight penalty.

Try cropping, you may be surprised at the results!

[hhcanon]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

I concur with the previous comments Mark, beware!

The problems with extenders are manifold, they'll sap light (1stop for the 1.4x and 2stops in the case of the 2x extender), they introduce another set of elements into the light-path potentially degrading quality and contrast, you'll loose autofocus (due to the maximum aperture loosing 1 or 2stops), and they're still quite expensive.

Tests I've seen suggest that cropping-in yields as good, if not better, quality than using extenders on cheaper lenses. Where their value lies is with fast and expensive medium telephoto lenses being converted to long-teles without a significant weight penalty.

Try cropping, you may be surprised at the results!

Is there any image quality difference between the Mk11 and the Mk111 extenders. Im only asking as Im thinking of selling on my 100-400 and getting a 200 prime

[mikep]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Also, you need to check whether the Cano extender is compatible with the lens.

I started out with tat lens, but have now upgraded to the 70-300 L, and I use a Kenko DGX 300 Pro 1.4 extender. No loss of AF (although sometimes hunts, and is a little slower to focus).

I took some test shots of the moon, with the 1.4 extender, and without but with a larger crop. I was happier with the non-extender shot, so you might want to crop more, and save your money! Worth a try!

All the best, Mike.

[Mark500D]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Well thank you for all your advice. I think the bottom line here is, don't get an extender and save up for either a sigma lens 100-500mm or do with out until I can justify a canon lens. Thanks again everyone for stopping me from wasting my money.

[S_J_P]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Well thank you for all your advice. I think the bottom line here is, don't get an extender and save up for either a sigma lens 100-500mm or do with out until I can justify a canon lens. Thanks again everyone for stopping me from wasting my money.

I think that's a wise move Mark!

Do be aware that the Image Quality of the Sigma 150-500 isn't fabulous, and it's a bloomin' beast to carry around (about 2kg), there are also stories of image stabilisation and autofocus failure on the 'net. It is (significantly) cheaper than Canon's own lenses for a reason.

Having said that, I do use mine quite a lot and so long as you consider and make allowances for it's limitations then it's a bargain lens. I imported mine from OneStopDigital and think it's a bargain!

[John_Caswell]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

I used a sigma 150-500mm lens,very nice when i found the"sweet spot", 480mm@f8 ,gave me very good results,but struggled when light was bad

[Thndr_strck]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

If you are built like Arnie (or me) a Sigma 50-500 os is nice but pricier and heavier option...

[Nathaniel]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Mark, I don't think you can go much wrong in buying the Canon 1.4 extender. I regularly use one with my Canon 300mm lens and the results are excellent. They make for a seamless fit.

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Mark, I don't think you can go much wrong in buying the Canon 1.4 extender. I regularly use one with my Canon 300mm lens and the results are excellent. They make for a seamless fit.

Neither extenders work on AF with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens

[Nathaniel]

Re: Wanting to buy Extender EF 1.4x or Extender EF 2x. Need advice

Stephen is correct. I misread your post. Sorry.