Canon 2x III TC - First quick test on 600mm f4

[micloi]

200% crop and Full frame
Canon 600mm @ 1200mm f9 on an 1DIV

 

[seriousrikk]

Um, that's quite good...

Have you got a shot with the Mk II for comparison?

 

[micloi]

Do not have the MKII but I have a Kenko 2x DGX that I tested against the MKII and found it sharper so I will test the MKIII against the DGX when the weather permits it and I have some free time for a more comprehensive test.

I am very happy though with these first shots and I find it perfectly usable at f9, barely improving at f10 and f11.

 

[seriousrikk]

I would be happy with those too.

One day, that sort of reach will be mine too!

 

[coldpenguin]

Did you manual focus (I am guessing you didn't have to, as the lens should have been f8, stopped to f9)
If you didn't manual focus, are you happy that the focus wasn't in the centre? (which Is where I would assume you would aim for, for a test shot)

(Damned good though. Wish I could afford one (and the lens (and the camera )))

 

[micloi]

I auto-focused but moved a bit while I was taking the shot (heavy kit!) thus the focal point being a bit on the right of the center.

 

[User Name]

I auto-focused but moved a bit while I was taking the shot (heavy kit!)

You mean you didn't use a tripod? :shrug:

 

[micloi]

As I said, it was just a quick shot as soon as I got the TC.

The shutter speed was 1/3200" and I had IS on so believe me, there was no camera shake!

Have a look at my other thread when I got s sharp-ish shot at 1/13" at 1200mm and you will see that 1/3200" is more than adequate

 

[Roy C]

According to Canon to get the best out of these new converters you will need one of the new super telephoto lenses which will have a special chip to communicate with the new converters. What most of us are waiting for is just how good these new tc's are with the current crop of lenses when compared with a MkII tc.
It is good to know that the converters have started to ship - should not be long before we get some direct comparison reviews.

 

[micloi]

The chip will improve the AF accuracy on the new telephotos but will not make a difference to the image quality.

That can be affected by the extra 2 elements, fluorite coating etc. and should improve image quality on any high quality lens.

 

[coldpenguin]

I auto-focused but moved a bit while I was taking the shot (heavy kit!) thus the focal point being a bit on the right of the center.

I guess we can forgive you for missing the focus

 

[Roy C]

The chip will improve the AF accuracy on the new telephotos but will not make a difference to the image quality.

Art Morris has just posted some info on these new converters which was taken from a statement by Canon's Chuck Westfall. This is the quote on IQ.

Image Quality

There are two significant improvements related to image quality when using the new Series III Extenders with the new IS II super-telephoto lenses: Anomalous dispersion glass elements are used in both new extenders to effectively reduce chromatic aberration to the greatest possible extent. This results in higher resolution and contrast, especially when the new extenders are used with IS II super-telephoto lenses.

Each Series III Extender features a newly developed microcomputer that increases AF precision when the extenders are used with an IS II super-telephoto lens. AF precision remains the same as the Series II Extenders when the Series III Extenders are used with earlier extender-compatible EF lenses.

As a result of these improvements, users of the new IS II super-telephoto lenses can expect significantly improved image quality when using Series III Extenders.


From reading this it is unclear as to the benefits when using with existing lenses although it looks like chromatic aberration could well be reduced which is good as I often suffer from this when using a 2x with my 300/2.8, especially for Birds in flight.

 

[micloi]

especially when the new extenders are used with IS II super-telephoto lenses.

Note the especially This does not exclude improvements when the extenders are used with series 1 lenses they just emphasise their new series of lenses as any good company would do as part of marketing.

Better glass in the extenders should improve quality on any good lens and from some tests I started doing this seems to be the case. Will start a thread when I have competed the series of tests on high contrast subjects and in greater distances than MFD.

 

[Roy C]

Note the especially This does not exclude improvements when the extenders are used with series 1 lenses they just emphasise their new series of lenses as any good company would do as part of marketing.

Better glass in the extenders should improve quality on any good lens and from some tests I started doing this seems to be the case. Will start a thread when I have competed the series of tests on high contrast subjects and in greater distances than MFD.

I hope you are right as I could well be in the market for a new 2x to go with my 300/2.8 but I will wait until the price settles down before buying.

 

[George]

I wonder if they will count the newish 70-200 L IS mk2 as one of the new generation of lenses, doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere on the extenders info....and of course they are USD 499 at the moment there, this should give an indication of final pricing here.