I am planning to get a teleconver for one of my two lenses. This would be used for wildlife and birding and should be around the 400mm range.

I currently own two lenses. The EF100-300L f/5.6 and the EF70-200L f/4. I am planning to invest on just one teleconverter as both can't take the same teleconvers as the 100-300L requires a third party converter. Which do you think would be a better choice a 3rd party x1.4 TC (can be used with both lenses) or a x2 Canon TC (can only be used with the 70-200 f/4.) The 3rd party TC I am thinking of getting is the Kenko 300 Pro 1.4.

I saw in an earlier post that an invidual was using a Canon x2 converter with 70-200f/4 and getting good results. I have had confirmed reports you can't go wrong with a x1.4 converter with the f/4. A friend of mine with the 70-200 f/2.8 version used his with a x2 converter and he said the results were poor. Can anybody comment on this?

Which lens do you think is a better choice I should go with the teleconverter? the 70-200 f/4 with x2 or the 100-300L f/5.6 with a x1.4? Has anybody had any experience using TCs on both for both these lenes?

Any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you & Best regards,

Nawin Singapore

-- Nawin Singh (nawin@singapore.net), May 24, 2002

Answers

I use my 70-200/2.8L with both the Canon extenders, the old 1.4x and the new 2x II. Honestly, I think there must be some sample to sample variation in the Canon extenders. I have heard both complaints and praise on their use. I get excellent results from mine, both with the 1.4x and 2x. The only problem is that the autofocus is slow when using the 2x.

You will face one big obstacle with either of these lenses and the use of extenders: slow lens speed. Unless you have the EOS 3 or EOS 1V, you will not have autofocus at f/8. Even if you do, the viewfinder will be somewhat dark and a 400mm f/8 lens is slow. Even so, if you are intent on going this route, I would recommend the Canon extender on the 70-200 lens over a third party extender on the 100-300 lens to get the best results. You do know you can use a third party extender on the 70-200 lens as well as the 100-300? If you want to save a little money and see if the combination is acceptable in practical use, you may want go with a third party extender to use on BOTH lenses. If you don't like the results, you haven't spent the higher price for the Canon extender.

-- Lee (Leemarthakiri@sport.rr.com), May 24, 2002.

I use the EF 100-300/5.6L with a Kenko 2x converter and it works very well. And the surpraise is that my EOS 3 focuses with the converter on the lens even in low light conditions. I recommend it!

Peio Ezkurra - Basque Country.

-- Peio Ezkurra (peio_e@hotmail.com), May 24, 2002.

I have used the Kenko 1.4x and 2x pro versions, and they both work very well. They do maintain af pretty well on an EOS 3 or 1V, but not as well on others. I don't have them anymore...switched to Canons. The Canon extenders are definately much better than Kenko's with image quality and af speed, particularly the 2x, but the Kenko will do a good job for the price.

Also, depending on what you shoot, you could still use a Canon extender on the 100-300L if you put a 12mm extension tube between the lens and extender. Of course, you lose infinity focus, but depending on what you shoot, that might be a worthy sacrifice.

All the best,

Dan

-- Dan Shallenberger (dshallenberger@cinci.rr.com), May 25, 2002.