5D MKIII w 70-200 2.8II using a 1.4x vs 2x extender

[Razor2012]

Hi, picked up a 70-200 2.8II with my 5DIII and was wondering what your thoughts were using a 1.4x vs 2x extender?  Thanks!

[untitled10]

Really depends on what you use it for, weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of both for what you do.

[pwp]

You have bought yourself a brilliant combination there. Why don't you wait and see how often you need more reach? There is always the walking zoom to get in closer when 200mm isn't quite enough. For nice balance in the hand spend a few hundred dollars on the vertical battery grip when they eventually start shipping.

The 70-200 is so good optically you shouldn't see a great deal of IQ degradation when using the x1.4 extender, though you do lose a stop, giving you 280mm at f/4. The 2x extender robs another stop and further, slight degradation. So you're down to 400mm at f/5.6. And with either extender you'll also collect a drop in AF performance. Extenders are a compromise. Valid reasons for using extenders are financial plus the fact that they take up very little room in the bag.

Read up here on the extenders:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-2x-II-Teleconverter-Review.aspx
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-1.4x-III-Review.aspx

Personally I'm not a great fan of extenders but others will sing their praises. When I get my FF 1DX I'll probably get a 400 f/2.8 as my 300 f/2.8 will lose the reach I currently have with the x1.3 APS-H 1D Mk4. A x1.4 extender on the 300 will give me 420mm but at f/4 and with reduced AF horsepower.

Paul Wright

[Razor2012]

You have bought yourself a brilliant combination there. Why don't you wait and see how often you need more reach? There is always the walking zoom to get in closer when 200mm isn't quite enough. For nice balance in the hand spend a few hundred dollars on the vertical battery grip when they eventually start shipping.

The 70-200 is so good optically you shouldn't see a great deal of IQ degradation when using the x1.4 extender, though you do lose a stop, giving you 280mm at f/4. The 2x extender robs another stop and further, slight degradation. So you're down to 400mm at f/5.6. And with either extender you'll also collect a drop in AF performance. Extenders are a compromise. Valid reasons for using extenders are financial plus the fact that they take up very little room in the bag.

Read up here on the extenders:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-2x-II-Teleconverter-Review.aspx
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-1.4x-III-Review.aspx

Personally I'm not a great fan of extenders but others will sing their praises. When I get my FF 1DX I'll probably get a 400 f/2.8 as my 300 f/2.8 will lose the reach I currently have with the x1.3 APS-H 1D Mk4. A x1.4 extender on the 300 will give me 420mm but at f/4 and with reduced AF horsepower.

Paul Wright

Thanks Paul, just was wondering how some of you with field use felt about them.  I definately want to get the grip also.  When I picked up my camera & lens, the reps were there too.  The tables were full of cams and glass.  You couldn't miss the new 400 2.8, it wasn't heavy at all, almost light.  For 12 grand I told him when I win the lottery, lol.

[Random Orbits]

You have bought yourself a brilliant combination there. Why don't you wait and see how often you need more reach? There is always the walking zoom to get in closer when 200mm isn't quite enough. For nice balance in the hand spend a few hundred dollars on the vertical battery grip when they eventually start shipping.

The 70-200 is so good optically you shouldn't see a great deal of IQ degradation when using the x1.4 extender, though you do lose a stop, giving you 280mm at f/4. The 2x extender robs another stop and further, slight degradation. So you're down to 400mm at f/5.6. And with either extender you'll also collect a drop in AF performance. Extenders are a compromise. Valid reasons for using extenders are financial plus the fact that they take up very little room in the bag.

Read up here on the extenders:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-2x-II-Teleconverter-Review.aspx
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-1.4x-III-Review.aspx

Personally I'm not a great fan of extenders but others will sing their praises. When I get my FF 1DX I'll probably get a 400 f/2.8 as my 300 f/2.8 will lose the reach I currently have with the x1.3 APS-H 1D Mk4. A x1.4 extender on the 300 will give me 420mm but at f/4 and with reduced AF horsepower.

Paul Wright

+1.  Got the 1.4x III when I moved full-frame to compensate for losing the 1.6x crop factor.  IQ takes a very slight hit, but AF speed was affected more than I expected.  I use it 1.4x III primary at places like the zoo or for outdoor sports.  Still cheaper and lighter than getting another longer lens.

[Razor2012]

You have bought yourself a brilliant combination there. Why don't you wait and see how often you need more reach? There is always the walking zoom to get in closer when 200mm isn't quite enough. For nice balance in the hand spend a few hundred dollars on the vertical battery grip when they eventually start shipping.

The 70-200 is so good optically you shouldn't see a great deal of IQ degradation when using the x1.4 extender, though you do lose a stop, giving you 280mm at f/4. The 2x extender robs another stop and further, slight degradation. So you're down to 400mm at f/5.6. And with either extender you'll also collect a drop in AF performance. Extenders are a compromise. Valid reasons for using extenders are financial plus the fact that they take up very little room in the bag.

Read up here on the extenders:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-2x-II-Teleconverter-Review.aspx
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Extender-EF-1.4x-III-Review.aspx

Personally I'm not a great fan of extenders but others will sing their praises. When I get my FF 1DX I'll probably get a 400 f/2.8 as my 300 f/2.8 will lose the reach I currently have with the x1.3 APS-H 1D Mk4. A x1.4 extender on the 300 will give me 420mm but at f/4 and with reduced AF horsepower.

Paul Wright

+1.  Got the 1.4x III when I moved full-frame to compensate for losing the 1.6x crop factor.  IQ takes a very slight hit, but AF speed was affected more than I expected.  I use it 1.4x III primary at places like the zoo or for outdoor sports.  Still cheaper and lighter than getting another longer lens.

The price of the 400mm 5.6 is about $1300, so saving about $800.  The 400 will be sharper though.

[Dylan777]

Hi, picked up a 70-200 2.8II with my 5DIII and was wondering what your thoughts were using a 1.4x vs 2x extender?  Thanks!

+1...I'm in the same boat.

I was thinking, instead of getting extender(s). It's better to get decent crop body like 7D.

Pro:
1. stay the same at 2.8
2. Reach: 70-200 = 112 - 320
3. AF stays the same

Cons:
1. not FF sensor
2. noise, in low light

anybody???

[Random Orbits]

+1...I'm in the same boat.

I was thinking, instead of getting extender(s). It's better to get decent crop body like 7D.

Pro:
1. stay the same at 2.8
2. Reach: 70-200 = 112 - 320
3. AF stays the same

Cons:
1. not FF sensor
2. noise, in low light

anybody???

Yes, but sometimes you just need to have a crop body with an extender.   

[Aaron78]

I own the same 70-200 lens as well as the 1.4 and 2x III extenders, and used them on my 7D and now sold 5DII. The 1.4 gives very sharp images at F/4 and even sharper images at F/5.6. The 2x gives very usable images as long as the subject you are focusing on occupies a good amount of the frame. The 2x really surprised me on the amount of detail in the image when you zoomed in to your subject on the 5DII, way better fine detail than you would see on the 7D. To me, if you buy them at the right time, you can get both for $900, and i feel each has a place and time where they will be useful. I would honestly recommend both, but the 1.4's strong point is slightly better IQ, and the 2's strong point is basically the noticeably longer reach with good IQ.

[RuneL]

Hi, picked up a 70-200 2.8II with my 5DIII and was wondering what your thoughts were using a 1.4x vs 2x extender?  Thanks!

I've used the 2x on the same lens with a 1D IV and the results were quite honestly appalling, the pictures were unusable both due to loss in IQ and because AF became so sluggish that nothing remotely in motion could lock/track. The 1.4 I've used and that worked ok on a 1D II, I think. But the 2X is terrible. I returned it the next day and proceeded to rent a  400 2.8 when I needed it  

So, my advice don't get the 4X.

[Razor2012]

Hi, picked up a 70-200 2.8II with my 5DIII and was wondering what your thoughts were using a 1.4x vs 2x extender?  Thanks!

I've used the 2x on the same lens with a 1D IV and the results were quite honestly appalling, the pictures were unusable both due to loss in IQ and because AF became so sluggish that nothing remotely in motion could lock/track. The 1.4 I've used and that worked ok on a 1D II, I think. But the 2X is terrible. I returned it the next day and proceeded to rent a  400 2.8 when I needed it  

So, my advice don't get the 4X.

I've had my doubts about the 2x right from the beginning, so if I get any extender it will be the 1.4III.

[Hesham]

Hi, picked up a 70-200 2.8II with my 5DIII and was wondering what your thoughts were using a 1.4x vs 2x extender?  Thanks!

I have 5DM3 and just purchased the 70-200 F2.8L IS II and 2X III. I am still testing the combination but I can tell you for sure that the AF is still blasingly fast. Gave it a try outside and have no AF issues at all. I had the sigma 150-500 and took pictures on 5DM3 and I am trying to compare with the canon combination. Ill post if I managed to do so ASAP.

[briansquibb]

Half the price to have a 70-300L rather than a 70-200 f/2.8 + 1.4III

[Radiating]

Hi, picked up a 70-200 2.8II with my 5DIII and was wondering what your thoughts were using a 1.4x vs 2x extender?  Thanks!

cropping with the 1.4x Mk III extender shows almost no diffeence compared to using the 2x extender (there is a very slight benefit though).

Considering you get faster AF and higher quality on the wide end I preffer the 1.4x mk III

[bkorcel]

Both work great with the 70-200 II.  The 70-200 with 2XIII is sharper than the 100-400 L and focuses faster.  There is a slight softness with the 2XIII but it's minimal and unless you are shooting birds, you wont see it.  I use it for sports events and it's great.  With the 1.4x you cant see any difference at all in sharpness.

BUT understand to get the most out of the combo you need to shoot AT f/8 with the 2X extender.  More or less softens it up a bit.

I also recommend you go get the Focal AMFA software from Reiken.  The focus point is in fact different with and without and between extenders. (shouldnt be but most are).  the 5DIII will allow you to register MFA settings for each lens extender combination... AND wide vs. Tele.

So in a nutshell, you wont be happy unless you have BOTH extenders so dont bother chosing.  Just get them both.