Canon Extender EF 2x III - disappointed

FlyTVR

FlyTVR

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I bought the Canon 2x III. Bolted it to a 70-200 F2.8L (Mk2) (a cracking lens).

Took it to Silverstone and Fairford. Used two 5Diis and a 7D. I am so disappointed. I simply cannot get sharp images out of it. Tried IS off, IS mode 1, mode 2, on a monopod, off a monopod, etc etc

In the end I took it off and just shot with the lens on it's own.

I'm sending it back. Of course this is just my experience and possibly I have a duff one - or I put it on wrong :(

Thoughts?

Cheers.

Dav
 
FlyTVR said:
I bought the Canon 2x III. Bolted it to a 70-200 F2.8L (Mk2) (a cracking lens).

Took it to Silverstone and Fairford. Used two 5Diis and a 7D. I am so disappointed. I simply cannot get sharp images out of it. Tried IS off, IS mode 1, mode 2, on a monopod, off a monopod, etc etc

In the end I took it off and just shot with the lens on it's own.

I'm sending it back. Of course this is just my experience and possibly I have a duff one - or I put it on wrong :(

Thoughts?

Cheers.

Dav
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Taking it as red that you know what you're doing and based on the fact that I've used this set up I'd say it was a duff example. I thought it was great- pretty much akin to my Nikon set up that I had. In fact I thought it so good I was envious that Canon also had the new 1.4 TC whereas Nikon was pumping out yet more crap lenses that no one asked for and still looks no closer to modernising the 1.4 or the 1.7 for that matter:lol:
 
I'll dig up some shots tomorrow.

I have to fess up to not having tried manual focus and micro adjustment. I've only had to do this with Sigma lenses to be honest. Alll my L glass has been fine.

Cheers.

Dav
 
Although it's not a combination I use, I did take a few test shots when I got the 70-200 MkII and was quite surprised by the results. I will say though that I can't see any obvious improvement with the MkIII converter except for the corners of a FF image.
Here are the tests....1D4 and the lens wide open at the long end and hand held but braced on a door frame with the target about 35m away. The usual PP applied to the RAW images and then converted to JPG's, uncropped but reduced to 800px and a final sharpen.

Bob

200mm f/2.8
10120_4090466564e2759fd82758.jpg


400mm f/5.6
10120_3120199434e275a00df9ea.jpg


800mm f/11 (stacked 2x T/C's)
10120_14255534734e275a047d4c4.jpg
 
vulcan2912 said:
Hi Bob

That 800mm shot looks sharper than the 400mm shot.

It's difficult to tell at 800px but I assume you mean surprised in a good way?

Cheers
Gary
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There's a couple of factors that may have influenced the final images. The 400mm and 800mm shots were at 1/40th and 1/50th without a tripod and this too slow for a valid comparison. The three shots weren't taken at the same time either....the 800mm shot was in the evening and the Iso up at 1600 which lead to a different noise reduction/sharpening requirement.
All that said though, it's not unusual for a subject shot with a longer focal length to appear sharper simply because the smaller details are more obvious to the eye
The shots were posted really to show what final sharpness was achievable and yes, I was surprised in a good way....more so due to my dislike of zooms. Either way, in the right circumstances, it's not the worst setup to use if a super telephoto isn't sitting on the shelf.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
There's a couple of factors that may have influenced the final images. The 400mm and 800mm shots were at 1/40th and 1/50th without a tripod and this too slow for a valid comparison. The three shots weren't taken at the same time either....the 800mm shot was in the evening and the Iso up at 1600 which lead to a different noise reduction/sharpening requirement.
Bob
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Wow, you shot an 800mm lens at 1/50th handheld with stacked TCs and got a sharp image ... I'm impressed!

I imagine the keeper rate is quite low due to camera shake at these settings, did you have to take many shots to get this, or is the IS just that good?
 
Xenon54 said:
Wow, you shot an 800mm lens at 1/50th handheld with stacked TCs and got a sharp image ... I'm impressed!

I imagine the keeper rate is quite low due to camera shake at these settings, did you have to take many shots to get this, or is the IS just that good?
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There were four shots (the 400mm shot was repeated due to slight under exposure). I did state in the post that I used the door frame to steady the body/lens against and I suspect that the IS was off as the 200mm shot was fast enough to make it worthless.

Bob
 
FlyTVR said:
I bought the Canon 2x III. Bolted it to a 70-200 F2.8L (Mk2) (a cracking lens).

Took it to Silverstone and Fairford. Used two 5Diis and a 7D. I am so disappointed. I simply cannot get sharp images out of it. Tried IS off, IS mode 1, mode 2, on a monopod, off a monopod, etc etc

In the end I took it off and just shot with the lens on it's own.

I'm sending it back. Of course this is just my experience and possibly I have a duff one - or I put it on wrong :(

Thoughts?

Cheers.

Dav
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I take it you have set your cameras up with the macro adjustment first?
 
Chaz Photos said:
I take it you have set your cameras up with the macro adjustment first?
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No Chaz - I didn't. I would have thought it would have mated with one of 3 different bodies.

I've made the decision, I'm sending it back and I'm going to save my pennies for other kit.

Dav
 
FlyTVR said:
No Chaz - I didn't. I would have thought it would have mated with one of 3 different bodies.

I've made the decision, I'm sending it back and I'm going to save my pennies for other kit.

Dav
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Well I think it would be one thing to test and set on all camera lens set ups also the only real test is to do a tripod set up and see what your getting.
The cameras remember each lens with each body so once done that it each body will be set for what ever lens it has at any time.
 
I got one the other day and tried it for the first time properly yesterday on the 300mm f/2.8IS, I already have the 1.4x mk2 and its fantastic no problems using it but the 2x mk3 is a little disapointing. I was taking shots of moving targets and on a 500D so not the greatest AI servo focusing but never had an issue with the 1.4x.

I am going to give it another go today and do some testing on the tripod and see if it is just the conditions yesterday or the 2xmk3 thats at fault.
 
Little John said:
I got one the other day and tried it for the first time properly yesterday on the 300mm f/2.8IS, I already have the 1.4x mk2 and its fantastic no problems using it but the 2x mk3 is a little disapointing. I was taking shots of moving targets and on a 500D so not the greatest AI servo focusing but never had an issue with the 1.4x.

I am going to give it another go today and do some testing on the tripod and see if it is just the conditions yesterday or the 2xmk3 thats at fault.
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Cool - be interesting to see how you get on. I hope it works out!

Mine's going back tomorrow. After which, the cash will go towards a 24-70 2.8L (to replace my wedding workhorse the Sigma 24-70 f2.8). I think for the rare ocassions I need 400mm+ I'll rent something.

Cheers.

Dav
 
Little John said:
I got one the other day and tried it for the first time properly yesterday on the 300mm f/2.8IS, I already have the 1.4x mk2 and its fantastic no problems using it but the 2x mk3 is a little disapointing. I was taking shots of moving targets and on a 500D so not the greatest AI servo focusing but never had an issue with the 1.4x.

I am going to give it another go today and do some testing on the tripod and see if it is just the conditions yesterday or the 2xmk3 thats at fault.
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If you was OK with the 1.4 I am guessing you was still got your AF but with a x2 I don't know what lens you got but unless its a 2.8 then I think you will not have AF working.
 
I had a quick play but not yet looked at the images on the PC, light levels weren't as good today so I ended up dropping back to the 1.4x ended up using it a f/4 iso 800 and shutter down at 1/640 which is just about quick enough but the cricket pitch today was huge and could have done with the extra length.
 
Well I finally had a look at the shots, I took a few of non moving targets and they are a lot better than the moving stuff not as good as the 1.4mk2 but acceptable. I think I will need to start prefocusing and timing my shots rather than AI servo when using the 2x not idea but it will work. The 500D focusing isn't too great anyway but I hope to change that in the next 6 months anyway.
 
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