Teleconverter

[JMC]

Does anyone here use a teleconverter? I've read that one sacrifices sharpness and was wondering if its even worth using one.

[Mgoldman]

I purchased a Canon "L" series 2X ver I a few years ago.

Used it maybe twice - never for anything other then to test it.

Want to purchase it?

I figured it was CANON. It was an "L" series. How bad could it be.

Most folks know to go with the 1.4, which I may in the future, but there's no substitute for simply purchasing a lens with the focal point you need.

I hear even Canon's newest version III is far from perfect, though that's a perfectionist's point of view (like myself).

/Mitch

[magicman_841]

Teleconverters make sense for stuff like wildlife. Do you really need 700+ mm focal lengths for trains!? If you're going to put a teleconverter on a 24-105, just get a 70-300.

[Mgoldman]

No - you're gonna put a teleconverter on the 70-200, 70-300, 300 or 200-400.

You'll loose focus speed and your aperture will be limited to 5.6, or 6.3 and up.

But mostly - you'll end up with soft images.

Who wants a blurry eagle's eye?

I'd love something in the 400 mm+ range but never found a way around the heat distortion on railroad shots.

/Mitch
(Stickler for images that are tact sharp )

[Holloran Grade]

I used a 1 to 1.4 converter on this one with my 100-400 all stretched out.

You do loose sharpness, but the train is 2 or 3 miles away at that point.

PhotoID: 418663 Photograph © EL ROCO Photography

PhotoID: 420058 Photograph © EL ROCO Photography

Here is the 400 with no converter.

PhotoID: 431873 Photograph © EL ROCO Photography

And here is the same spot with a 16-35mm.

PhotoID: 430618 Photograph © EL ROCO Photography

[PLEzero]

Originally Posted by magicman_841

Teleconverters make sense for stuff like wildlife. Do you really need 700+ mm focal lengths for trains!? If you're going to put a teleconverter on a 24-105, just get a 70-300.

It doesn't work like that. The Canon extenders can only be used with specific lenses, the smallest being the 70-200. It isn't perfect but it gets the job done, especially with the right price tag considering the options.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWor...xExtender.html

[Holloran Grade]

And the auto focus doesn't work with a converter, so it is all manual.

[kszok]

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

And the auto focus doesn't work with a converter, so it is all manual.

The auto focus doesn't work with the 100mm - 400mm lens because the f/5.6 @ 400mm becomes f/8. There is not enough light hitting the AF sensors for the auto focus to work. You lose an f-stop with the 1.4 converter. The auto focus worked when I used the 1.4 converter with my 70mm - 200mm f/2.8 lens.

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by PLEzero

It doesn't work like that. The Canon extenders can only be used with specific lenses, the smallest being the 70-200. It isn't perfect but it gets the job done, especially with the right price tag considering the options.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWor...xExtender.html

I believe the third-party teleconverters (Kenko, are there others?) are not restricted to particular lenses. I see that the Kenko 1.4x does not work with EF-S lenses on Canon.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...4_AF_1_4X.html

I haven't use one, of any brand, at least not in the last decade.

[Holloran Grade]

Originally Posted by kszok

The auto focus worked when I used the 1.4 converter with my 70mm - 200mm f/2.8 lens.

Ah - I did not know that.

Course, it was your converter that I used.

[Hatchetman]

My opinion: if you can find a real cheap one it could be useful to throw in the bag for rare occasions. I would not spend more than $50 on one.

[mersenne6]

Yup, all the time - 2x. I use mine on an f2.8 200mm zoom so with DX I get 600mm and with the full frame I get 400mm. I haven't seen much in the way of sharpness issues but you do need a cool day and a rock solid tripod mount to keep everything sharp.

[stlgevo51]

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

I used a 1 to 1.4 converter on this one with my 100-400 all stretched out.

You do loose sharpness, but the train is 2 or 3 miles away at that point.

These are pretty cool, especially the first one! As far as sharpness goes, they look sharper than some of my stuff taken with a 24-105mm (of course, my poor post-processing skills might have an effect on that comparison).

[Holloran Grade]

Originally Posted by stlgevo51

These are pretty cool, especially the first one! As far as sharpness goes, they look sharper than some of my stuff taken with a 24-105mm (of course, my poor post-processing skills might have an effect on that comparison).

Depends a lot on the body you are using.

These where on a full frame 5D MKIII which at 22.1 MB per shot RAW, provides a lot of digital information to work with.

Same lens, no converter.

PhotoID: 439657 Photograph © EL ROCO Photography

[Bryan Jones]

Originally Posted by kszok

The auto focus doesn't work with the 100mm - 400mm lens because the f/5.6 @ 400mm becomes f/8. There is not enough light hitting the AF sensors for the auto focus to work. You lose an f-stop with the 1.4 converter. The auto focus worked when I used the 1.4 converter with my 70mm - 200mm f/2.8 lens.

all Canon 1D and 1Ds series cameras as well as the 5D MK III (with the latest firmware update) will AF down to F8. All other Canon bodies max out at F5.6 though you can tape certain pins on the converter or use a third party converter, but you need excellent lighting conditions.

Bryan Jones
Brooks,KY

[Dennis A. Livesey]

Extenders are best for fast, telephoto primes. Slow lenses and zooms are less than ideal though do-able.

Canon 2x compatibility list.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWor...xExtender.html

Canon 1.4x compatibility list.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWor...xExtender.html

[milwman]

AF works with telephoto lens that are fast, 2.8 with a 2X and 4.5 with a 1.4X. 1.4X are by far sharper of the two, With 2X for the only way to get the shot. Now if you have a 80-300 F 4 to 6.3 its not worth it the AF will be dead and the F stops will be SLOW with a 2X F8-12.6 max F stops.

[jdirelan87]

I have a Nikon 2x that I use on my 70-200 f/2.8 (like it's Cannon counterpart, you can only use it on the long lenses). I don't really use it that much, and when I do its limited to pretty much bright sunny days. With that being said, I don't notice any quality drop off (at least for RP sized photos) if I use it under the right conditions... 500 @ f/8 that is.

PhotoID: 387488 Photograph © John Ireland

PhotoID: 420786 Photograph © John Ireland

PhotoID: 424100 Photograph © John Ireland

PhotoID: 396197 Photograph © John Ireland