p.1 #1 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Help!! I am very confused as to whether or not the Kenko Pro 300 is as good as the Canon 1.4x teleconverter. I've heard that the Kenko is poorly built and well built; and that it offers the same, better, and worse image quality than Canon. I have also heard that there are auto-focus hunting issues with one or both brands, and that the Canon may need some of the pins to be taped down for some reason. One thing I do know is that the Kenko is less than half the price of the Canon.
Can you please help? I would use the 1.4x with my Canon 300mm f2.8L and maybe my 70-200mm f/2.8L.
p.1 #2 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
I'd be interested to know if similar information can be said about the Nikon version. I've heard mixed reviews as well on that front. I'm tempted to get a Kenko one simply because it'll work on just about any lens, while Nikon's tc's only work on select high end lenses
p.1 #3 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Here is what B&H told me today about Kenko vs. Canon:
Hello , my name is Dan W:
Thank you for contacting the B&H E-Mail Sales Department.
I only recommend the Kenko TC's when the Canon TC does not fit, such as when using a cheaper Canon lens like a 70-300. Canon's TC will not fit on the 70-300 but it will fit on your 300mm f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8.
You did not mention if you lenses are the "IS" versions but just to let you know, the Canon TC will maintain AF and IS (if you have the IS versions of those lenses). The Kenko TC might maintain AF but if you have an IS lens, you will lose the IS feature.
The Canon TC is optically superior and better built than the Kenko.
CA14XEF2 <----- Please cut and paste this into the search box on our website and click "Go"
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The Professional's Source.
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p.1 #4 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Kenko is fine. I had both 1.4x and 2.0x. I just dont like extenders, but whatever you do dont get the 2.0, its too dark and loses quality on the pixel side.
p.1 #5 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Perhaps someone who owns a Kenko Pro 300 can verify but I highly suspect that what the B&H rep said about losing IS is incorrect. I have a Tamron 1.4 convertor and it DOES NOT disable IS.
Tamron and Kenko TCs are not identical, there are 3 grades of Kenko TCs. It seems as though many of the Kenko TCs are not reporting, thus I presume do not give power for the IS as well. It seems most are concerned about AF, since non D bodies won't AF beyond f5.6.
Mike K
p.1 #7 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Dan W at B&H is either a poor guesser or misinformed. Both AF and IS work fine with a Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG 1.4x TC on EOS bodies, provided of course that the resulting max aperture is within the body's AF capability. I just fired up my 70-200/4L IS with Kenko TC on a 40D and 1DsIII, no problems at all.
p.1 #9 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Gary Ellis wrote:
Here is what B&H told me today about Kenko vs. Canon:
Hello , my name is Dan W:
Thank you for contacting the B&H E-Mail Sales Department.
I only recommend the Kenko TC's when the Canon TC does not fit, such as when using a cheaper Canon lens like a 70-300. Canon's TC will not fit on the 70-300 but it will fit on your 300mm f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8.
You did not mention if you lenses are the "IS" versions but just to let you know, the Canon TC will maintain AF and IS (if you have the IS versions of those lenses). The Kenko TC might maintain AF but if you have an IS lens, you will lose the IS feature.
The Canon TC is optically superior and better built than the Kenko.
CA14XEF2 <----- Please cut and paste this into the search box on our website and click "Go"
Our website is live with our stock and current pricing. Please add the items to your shopping cart to determine the shipping costs, shipping options and shipping duration.
Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with.
Gary you were provided incorrect information. In fact, the IS function works quite well with the Kenko 300 1.4TC. I have used it on my Canon 300 2.8 IS for years and on numerous occasions utilized the IS function with great success. It's quite disturbing to hear such nonsense coming out of "The Professional's Source"....
p.1 #10 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Gary, if there is any chance that you will get a 1D4 in future then buy the Canon 1.4 II extender now as it will still allow AF with 39 cross-type AF sensors despite the f/4 equivalent aperture, when used on your 300 and 70-200 lenses. Only certain lens/extender combinations can do this but it is a feature worth having.
Comments that I have read in the past here on FM indicate that the IQ of the Canon extender is slightly better than the others away from the centre of the image. That will matter most if you use full frame (to see the affected areas) and if you also use excellent lenses (which have better starting IQ at the edges than lesser lenses). It won't matter so much with ordinary lenses used on a cropped-sensor camera.
The mark II Canon 1.4 extender also has improved control of internal reflections to increase IQ. I don't know how well the Kenko compares in this regard.
One day you might have both a Kenko and a Canon 1.4 as they can be stacked to form an equivalent 2x extender that tricks the camera AF into thinking it has a single 1.4 and so allow the AF sensors to work as with a 1.4 fitted. This is significant with f/4 lenses because you end up with 45 usable AF sensors instead of just 1. You cannot stack two Canon 1.4s.
The Canon pro bodies - at least up to the 1D2 series - deliberately slow down their AF when they detect the presence of an extender even if the lighting and contrast is ok. The lesser bodies only slow down their AF (or hunt) if the light or contrast is too little for the AF to operate correctly. This can lead to conflicting reports of problems with AF performance when using extenders.
Canon IS will operate with any extender so long as power can get to the lens. Likewise, AF needs the connections between the lens and camera to be maintained by the extender. I think all modern and reputable extenders work properly. Things were different with cheap extenders many years ago, and may also be different in the Nikon world where additional mechanical AF linkage is required for some camera / lens combinations.
p.1 #11 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
The following extracted from a seller of Kenko products.
Please Note:
Most Canon EOS camera bodies are programmed to shut down auto focus if the calculated effective aperture for the lens and teleconverter is smaller than f/5.6, the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 converters work the same way.
For Canon cameras released after 2007 including EOS-1D Mark III / EOS-1Ds Mark III / EOS 40D, when using this converter with EOS EF50mm f1.8 lens, it does not work in auto focus mode correctly, please use it in manual focus mode.
There is a possibility of malfunction in AF mode when using with the Canon EF50mm F2.5 Compact Macro, EF100mm F2.8 Macro, EF 85mm F1.8 USM & EF 300mm F4 IS USM.
EF-S lens, exclusively mounted to EOS Digital Rebel e.g. Canon EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6, EF-S 17-85mm F4-5.6, EF-S 55-250mm, EF-S 60mm F2.8 Macro lenses are not applicable for Teleplus DGX due to the shape of the lens.
There is a possibility not to attach to less than 50mm wide angle Canon lenses.
When using the Teleplus with variable aperture zoom lens (e.g. 3.5-5.6), Auto focus may not work properly at telephoto position. When this problem occurs, it should be focused manually.
The depth priority AF and the flash AE modes cannot be used.
Try before you buy. Especially as here in Australia there is a $200+ difference in cost Canon to Kenko.
Mar 14, 2010 at 07:52 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
I don't see any point in saving a few dollars to get the Kenko. At least not when you gonna use it together with the 300/2,8 IS lens. When using the extender together with Canons super tele lenses that cost a few thousend you like to have the best extender also. Yes you pay maybe 100 extra. But that's not a big deal if you can afford those lenses
p.1 #15 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
^^ you're quite right of course. Reading between the lines... you're saying build quality, weathersealing, AND sharper edges/corners
on FF are worth the money. I agree, if one shoots a Pro body with L glass why go cheap on the TC. Well said, Bruce!
p.1 #16 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
Kenko recently updated their teleconverter electronics. You may be getting advice about the older models. All the different models and updates to models are confusing, its best to check the Kenko specification yourself, and, if you buy one, make sure it is the current model.(PRO 300 AF DGX 1.4X or 2X)
The newest model is the DGX while the old one is DG. The DGX now reports distance information, and is said to also report all exif information the same as Canon.
p.1 #17 · Is Kenko Teleconverter better than Canon?
^^ Yeah, but the optics/build are the same. The valid reasons to get the Canon remain if shootin' L's, Pro Bod's & FF.
Last I checked, OPTICS still make the IQ
you're quite right of course. Reading between the lines...
you're saying build quality, weathersealing, AND sharper edges/corners