Have a quick question about the 135L...is there enough rear element clearance to mount the Canon 1.4x? I may be taking a trip where I might be limited to just two lenses and I was thinking that the 135L & the 1.4x could be a way to 'cheat' a 3rd lens in.
I have used the 135 and the Canon 1.4X converter.. found it to work very well. You shouldn't be disappointed with just the straight 135 either. It has become my weapon of choice lately.
It does take the 1.4 extender, but with a more apparent loss in IQ than other lenses. I never liked the combo. Both my 200 2.8 mk2 and 70-200 4 is take a 1.4 converter better than the 135.
My 135L works better with the 1.4x than the 200L f/2.8 does, which is contrary to the experience had by many of the other shooters on this board. The native 200 f/2.8 is sharper than the 135L with 1.4x though, as should be expected. With a 1 series camera you really don't lose too much AF speed either, with the combination.
Here are 2 images, the second one a crop of the first, shot with the 135L with Canon 1.4x II. Its stopped down some, maybe too much, but the AF is really nice on this combination.
Thankyou all for your replies. It seems (over-whelmingly) that the combo works very well and looks to be a good alternative for me when the weight & bulk of the 70-200 2.8 IS is just too much to lug around. Also, the non-attention grabbing black lens may be more desirable in certain situations too.
Omar, nice, I like the tight crop on those shots, I'd love to get down to Calder or Gulfstream this winter, and I'm shooting for the big race weekend the end of January, I think the 31st. I made the trip out to LA for the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita, as a fan without any credentials, and it was great.
I disagree that there is "a more apparent loss in IQ than other lenses" and so does Canon's MTF charts (sections of which IMPROVE with the addition of a 1.4x to a 135L).
IMHO the next step up in 200mm IQ is the 200 F2.0 (my favorite lens now with super contrast, color, IQ 4/5 stop IS and an extra stop). So unless you want to spend $5K+ the addition of a 1.4x TC to an in inventory 135L is he best deal in the Canon lens line.
