Teleconverter Extenders on Canon EOS 40D

[Kajuah]

I have heard that canon lenses that are not L series are not compatible for use with teleconverter extenders (1.4x/2x). Is this true? I would like to buy lenses that are able to increase their range by the use of extenders.

Do other lens manufacturers have extenders that would be able to fit their line of lenses + the EOS 40D? (Sigma ? Tokina?)

I have a similar question for the usage of extension tubes - can any set work on an EOS 40D or do they have to be of a particular brand/mount?

[Loupey]

Teleconverters: The Canon teleconverters can only be used with "L" lenses 135mm and above because those lenses are manufactured with the rear lens element recessed away from the mount. The front elements of the teleconverters actually get placed inside the main lens. Don't know about other manufacturer's TC's. And I wouldn't try putting a Canon TC on a non-Canon lens.

Extension tubes: These are hollow so any brand tube will work with any lens. Just make sure you get "automatic" tubes - i.e. electronic connectors to enable seamless communication between the lens and body - analogous to extender cables for your computer.

[mjs1973]

Not all TC's are created equal. I have a cheap (Quantaray) TC that will work on any Canon EF lens because of the way it's designed. Unlike the Canon TC's mine does not extend into the rear of the lens. Of course the image quality isn't as good as the Canon TC's.

If you look on the B&H website, they have a chart that lists all of the lenses that the Canon TC's are compatible with. I'm sure you can find the same chart on the Canon site too..

[freygr]

I have never been happy with Teleconverters. One you lose lens speed, Dim viewfinder, If you have a dim viewfinder the Auto focus will suck, and the optical quality may be degraded.

[Skyman]

I use a Tamron 2X converter quite happily with my L series and non L series lenses (except efs lenses as the rear element protrudes out to far) you may find that you will loose autofocus and you will loose the equivalent of 2 f stops with a 2X converter and 1 f stop with a 1.4

[Kajuah]

Jesus that's not good news at all.. I would like to try out this tech and am reading as much as I can about it but as it looks too good to be true (lack of AF, blurriness, decreased quality from increase of focal length, etc.) maybe I will have to give it a miss.

Here I was thinking that it was a magical extending device for all lenses what a dream world i live in, eh?

Is canon just the irritable bad grape when it comes to TCs or are all camera companies (pentax/sony/olympus/nikon/) similar to that as well?

[AKAJohnDoe]

Canon is definitely not a "irritable bad grape" LOL.

There is no magic solution, regardless of manufacturer.

I do have, and use, 1.4x and 2x extenders. And yes, a 300/2.8 with a 2x is like a 600/5.6.

I also have the 12mm extension tube for Canon EOS. For many lenses this enables the tele-extender to be mounted; however, the extension tube, by virtue of optical physics, reduces the infinity focus capability of the lens. Since I use the extension tube (and 25mm extension tubes as well) in conjunction with tele-extenders on a 90/2.8 TS lens for macro work, the loss of infinity focus does not trouble me.

[SmartWombat]

My 300mm f/2.8 with a 2x is pretty poor, compared to what I would expect from a 600mm f/5.6.
I've just bought a 1.4x (not the mkII but the original) to try with the 300mm this weekend.

[Kajuah]

Can't wait to hear more of your results, Wombat

[SmartWombat]

Here's the 300mm plus 2x converter II, at 600mm this is just not sharp enough.
Well, not for me anyhow !
The cars are barely acceptable at 8x12" , the herons are useless.

[Loupey]

SmartWombat - the focus is just off on the heron shot (it is between the two birds).

I love my 2x TC - I use it all the time (just yesterday in fact) with my 300mm even though I have a 500mm prime. It has its place and when used properly, the IQ can be surprisingly high.

[AKAJohnDoe]

I also use my 1.4x and 2x regularly. Used properly, results are very good. I never was able to get good results with a 300/2.8 without also using a good tripod.

[Kajuah]

How far away were you when taking those shots, wombat?

[SmartWombat]

Infinity?
I suppose 200-300 yards.
From first checks scanning in Lightroom, the 1.4 is better.