Extender advice required

[ade123]

Hi.
I am looking to purchase an tele converter but the current canon ones are at the moment out of my budget as I'm also purchasing
A new macro lens.
I am aiming to use the tele converter on my canon 70-200 l lens ( not the is version). Could someone give any advice on an alternative
Converter please.
Regards Adrian

[Longshot]

Re: Extender advice required

Look around for a MK!! 1.4 version which many say is just as good as the MK111 and I use on a 70-200 IS F/4. Price around £200ish when I last looked on Ebay.

[Woolley]

Re: Extender advice required

I've got the Sigma version which I'm happy with. Marginally less sharp than the Canon, but you really have to enlarge it to notice.

[colin C]

Re: Extender advice required

If you go for a MKII 1.4x, you should not notice any difference in quality over the bare lens. Also, you will still retain autofocus on your 5D MKII.

[ade123]

Re: Extender advice required

Many thanks for the advice
Adrian

[colin C]

Re: Extender advice required

many say is just as good as the MK111

Many say that a Ford Escort is as good as a Ford Focus ................ and they would be equally wrong.

There is a difference, but in the normal course of events, using a 1.4x at normal screen magnification, the differences won't stand out. Marginally sharper, marginally better colour and contrast and marginally quicker to focus, owing to included electronics and comminications protocols. With the 2x, that is a different kettle of fish and the MKIII is quite an improvement especially with sharpness. The original extenders were introduced in 1988, MKII in 2001 and MKIII in 2010 and quite a lot of design and manufacturing improvements have been incorporated during those years.

I was very happy with the performance of my MKII 1.4x, not quite so with my 2x and saw no reason the change while I still had my MKI telephoto's. With the very latest generation of big telephoto's and zooms, the advantages of the MKIII extenders are greater, as they were specifically designed to compliment the latest generation and that was my spur to change.

My advice:

• MKI extenders are good value for money and will often get you out of trouble.

• MKII extenders are solid performers, easily beating third party competition. The 1.4x is the one to go for first.

• MKIII extenders are the best available .............. at a price. :)