p.1 #2 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
The 70-200mm f/2.8 Mark II is one of the few lenses or maybe the only non- supertele lens that performs really well with a 2X TC Mark III. I don't have any access to recent images I took in Japan using that combo at this point though without any frame and in smaller size but here are two images.
p.1 #5 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
I've just gotten done doing a side-by-side-by-side test with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II + 2x III vs. the 400 f/5.6 vs the 100-400 f/5.6 lenses.
Image quality (sharpness) with all three lenses are very similar. Two things that strike me about the 70-200+2xTC is the weight and slower autofocus speed. The slower autofocus speed is not too bad, but it's the heaviest of all three options and can get tiresome hand-holding the beast.
p.1 #11 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
Yes, it does AF. The speed of the AF is slower than without, of course, but this is nothing new. The actual speed will be somewhat dependent on the body you use. I also have images of snow cranes in flight when they were about to land and the combo lens plus TC did not have any issues keeping up with that AF condition.
Canon stresses the need to mount the TC on the lens first before mounting the combo on to your camera. MIne was on a 7D, BTW. Before I knew this, I mounted the TC in a way that was more convenient for me to do so. Sometimes like Canon suggested but sometimes I mounted the TC on the body first and attached the lens to it afterwards. Now, I always mount the TC like suggested. According to Canon, that way will ensure the optimal AF performance of the combo. I figured it won't hurt to do it that way .
p.1 #12 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
AGeoJO wrote:
Yes, it does AF. The speed of the AF is slower than without, of course, but this is nothing new. The actual speed will be somewhat dependent on the body you use. I also have images of snow cranes in flight when they were about to land and the combo lens plus TC did not have any issues keeping up with that AF condition.
Canon stresses the need to mount the TC on the lens first before mounting the combo on to your camera. MIne was on a 7D, BTW. Before I knew this, I mounted the TC in a way that was more convenient for me to do so. Sometimes like Canon suggested but sometimes I mounted the TC on the body first and attached the lens to it afterwards. Now, I always mount the TC like suggested. According to Canon, that way will ensure the optimal AF performance of the combo. I figured it won't hurt to do it that way ....Show more →
I did not know that, about mounting to the body first. I would assume that is true for all extenders. Thanks for the info.
p.1 #14 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
PCKit wrote:
I did not know that, about mounting to the body first. I would assume that is true for all extenders. Thanks for the info.
Kathy, no problem. My understanding is that would apply more to the Mark III TCs but you are right, I also believe that it should apply to all TCs. I just make a habit of doing it that way for good measures. It was published by Canon fairly recently when the Mark III TCs became available. So, if you mount the TC on the lens first, the camera will recognize the combo as a single unit. That's roughly the explanation that Canon gave.
p.1 #15 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
AGeoJO wrote:
Yes, it does AF. The speed of the AF is slower than without, of course, but this is nothing new. The actual speed will be somewhat dependent on the body you use. I also have images of snow cranes in flight when they were about to land and the combo lens plus TC did not have any issues keeping up with that AF condition.
Canon stresses the need to mount the TC on the lens first before mounting the combo on to your camera. MIne was on a 7D, BTW. Before I knew this, I mounted the TC in a way that was more convenient for me to do so. Sometimes like Canon suggested but sometimes I mounted the TC on the body first and attached the lens to it afterwards. Now, I always mount the TC like suggested. According to Canon, that way will ensure the optimal AF performance of the combo. I figured it won't hurt to do it that way ....Show more →
Thanks for clarifying, beautiful pictures!! Can't wait to see shots from your new 5D3
p.1 #17 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
The 2xtc III w/70-200 2.8 II is pretty amazing. The sharpness, contrast, and overall lens handling is really a miracle of optics for a zoom. Of course the AF slows by design, but you can still make it work by enhancing your technique just a bit. Of course the 400 5.6 is going to be faster focusing and will produce even sharper images with better overall quality. The 2xtc III + 70-200 2.8 is just a way to give people who own the lens an inexpensive way to get to 400mm and produce stellar images with a couple of workarounds.
All of these shot on the 5D2 at 400mm wide-open stressing the optics fully
The great IS is working well with the 2xtc III (1/50th)
p.1 #18 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
mark fadely wrote:
The 2xtc III + 70-200 2.8 is just a way to give people who own the lens an inexpensive way to get to 400mm and produce stellar images with a couple of workarounds.
+1
In addition, sometimes you are limited in what you can carry or feel like carrying on a certain trip. To the OP or others that consider getting TCs - If you can get away with the 1.4X TC, that combo is noticeably better; it delivers better IQ and faster AF than the 2X TC, BTW.
I know that the 100-400mm zoom is more convenient to use since you don't have to mount or dismount any TC but if you need a shorter FL range for other purposes, the 70-200mm with its f/2.8 is simply awesome and is quite a bit faster than the 100-400mm zoom, too.
p.1 #19 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
Arthur Morris has written extensively (and positively) about this combo; check the blog archives at his birdsasart.com website...
Personally, I have used it occasionally when traveling with gear limits; while I'd never have used the earlier versions of the 2x with the 70-200 (I or II), the newer lens and newer extender can be exquisite...
Jerry
p.1 #20 · 2X Extender III with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II
I have found the 70-200 f/2.8 IS MkII + 2xTC MkIII combo to have a surprisingly good IQ even wide open, probably similar to 100-400, and approaching 400 f/5.6.
However, as with any previous 2xTC extenders, not only that the lens AF drive speed takes an automatic reduction by 75%, it also means that the camera AF system receives 4 times less light than with the bare lens.
Here is one of my combo IQ test shots, and then about 100% crop. Done with handheld 1DMkIIN, f/5.6, natural light only.
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