The effective aperture of the lens is increased by one stop. Autofocusing does not operate if the effective maximum aperture is greater than f/5.6 (greater than f/8 on the EOS 1V and EOS 3).
The new version II maintains the outstanding optics of the previous version, and adds enhanced weather- resistant construction, and improved anti-reflective surfaces in the barrel
Successors to the EF1.4x this model offers valuable improvements for further enhanced image quality. This extender allows users to combine practicality and functionality with a new optical system allowing them to extend the master lens focal length by 1.4x, with minimal loss of lens performance or image quality. With a dust- and moisture-resistant construction this extender has been designed to reinforce the EOS system. Specially designed to work in conjunction with the EOS-1V and IS super telephoto L-series lenses, it makes a highly dust- and water-resistant combination. The EF1.4x II features improved anti-reflection materials inside the lens-barrel as well as improved Coating around the outer edges of the lenses to reduce flare. All of these improvements will allow professional photographers to capture higher quality images than ever before.
Great product at a great price, Wednesday, 07 January 2009
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I use this with my Canon 70-200mm F2.8 to get me some longer shots that wouldn't be possible without it. All the while keeping a nice F4.0 and autofocus intact.
In my mind this is much more useful than the 2x extender in that you still have a nice soft F4.0 instead of bumping up to F5.6 with the 2x and the 1.4 multiplier is pretty far already. I might buy a 2x someday, but if you have to make a choice I think you'll be happier with the 1.4x.
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Better than the 2X, Saturday, 15 November 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I have the 2x converter but found this to be a Bit soft and certainly slow on autofocus with both my 100-400 and 70-200f2.8 lenses. A fellow enthusiast told me to try this converter and I am so glad I took his advice. I used it with my 70-200 at the local airshow and was amazed at some of the shots I got even into the sun [you dont get an option usually at an airshow] The focussing was fast and accurate. Follow the instructions though about attaching this as regards sequence and switch the camera power off whilst adding it otherwise I have found the auto focus doesnt pick up so well if you add it with power on.
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Nice build quality!, Wednesday, 04 June 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
I just got this, but was happy to see that it is "L" build. That is, metal and matches the color/style of the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM.
No tests yet to comapre before/after. Does anyone know pf a good test pattern to download and print that has progressively smaller lines, like a "bull's eye" style pattern for testing lens sharpness? I see a lot of subjective evaluations, but would liek to see some pictures at a fixed length that actually demostrate the differences.
I'll look for something like this and update this review with pictures once I do.
Oh, and my f/2.8L is a f/4L with this thing attached.
Thanks, Canon!
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Good Toys to play with, Saturday, 31 May 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.3
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
There no words to say then GOOD It very help with the zoom lens.
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Another Good Canon Product, Sunday, 11 May 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.3
Sharpness
3.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
Got this to go with my 70-200L 2.8 IS lens which this is perfect for my shooting needs. Gives the added extension to the lens on my 5D and still maintains the image stabilizing and AF function. Canon did design this to fit only specific Canon lenses. I tried it on my Sigma 50-500 and the outerbarrel of the TC will not fit inside of the Sigma. Otherwise the TC was pretty sharp at least my copy is .
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a little heavy for its size but works just great!, Sunday, 27 April 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
It comes with a little bag to store it in the gadget bag and as I said its a little heavy for its little size, yet it doesnt become a burden to carry at all. I am using it with a 70-200 f4L IS and the size of the combined lens looks quite long on a rebel XTi and of course draws attention to it. I dont notice any quaility decrease (on the pictures) when used with this lens, but anyway, im not using any lab equipment or pixel picking to really test that. The build feels solid and it fixes well to the other lens as if it becomes a part of it, I think thats what the intention is of course. The color of this extender is exactly the same as the 70-200 f4L IS which is not white but rather grayish, they both look beautiful together !
I highly recommend it since it does make quite a difference and overall it is a professional and very well developed pice of equipment. Im actually thinking on also having the 2x later on to achieve the 640mm with my 70-200L and a small sensor such as the XTi or the 40D.
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Does exactly what it says, Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I only pair it with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras and my Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only) at this point, but it has done wonderfully. Yes, it does cost me a stop of light (just due to the math on it), but I can't really see any quality difference between with and without. I also have the ability NOT to use it when I don't need it, which means I get a better lens at the short end of the range than I would have just getting a longer lens. I'm definitely looking forward to having other lenses to pair this with.
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Does what it is supposed to, Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
The 1.4X II teleconverter is a great addition if you are using 'L' lenses. Like others have said it takes my 70-200 f2.8 to f4 but is that a big deal?...NO...yes it makes 'some' shots a little softer but is that a big deal?...NO..play with the sharpness adjustments in your camera and you will see differences in the same shot as far as softness goes. it gives that "extra reach" at a very reasonable price. Now if you are a pixel nazi then you will obviously write pages & pages of the technical junk listing the limitations of this piece of equipment but for the rest of us that love shooting and not expecting each and every shot to be an excercise in perfection...we buy it and love it..
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Work as designed, Friday, 15 February 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.0
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
3.0
Good product. I knew already (obvious) it would turn my 70-200 f/4 into a 98-280 f/5.6, but I was not sure what the effects would really be when I bought it.
The product is well constructed and have very good optics. I would definitively recommend.
The only reason I dont give 5 start is because I think Canon should improve documentation on their website, explaining better the effects of the extender (reducing speed in 1 f-stop).
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Great, cost-effective accessory...a must-have, Thursday, 27 December 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
Super product, providing a little extra reach at a fraction of the price of a 400mm L lens. My only criticism, initially, was that it produced images a little softer than those coming from a naked 70-200 4L. However, I compensated by boosting in-camera (Rebel XT) sharpening to the highest level, and the results are excellent. The 1.4x should be in every photographer's bag.
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Great Option For that Little Extra Reach, Thursday, 27 December 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I have used this with varying results with my Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8"L" USM, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8"L" IS USM, & Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6"L" IS USM. Always with a tripod and on manual focus. Its no substitute for a long prime. but it can be handy in a pinch.
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Great Accessory, Great Service from Amazon, Sunday, 16 December 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I bought this extender to use with my EF70-200L f/2.8 lens on my Rebel XT. I expected the extender to soften my images, but was very pleased to see no softening. And, on my lens, the autofocus still works just perfect.
Amazon did me right yet again with their pricing and delivery, as well. I don't hesitate to recommend Amazon to anyone looking for camera gear.
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Get 1.4 times closer, Monday, 29 October 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
This is a handy item to have in your camera bag. I use it with my 70-200 f/4L when I need a little more reach and don't want to take my 300 f/4L. Since it's made by Canon it works flawlessly with the EOS system. I've noted no discernible image degradation using the extender.
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Extra reach at minimal cost, Monday, 06 August 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I've used the Canon 1.4x tele-extender for about six months with my Rebel XTi and two lenses - a f/4.0 70-200mm (non-IS) and the f/4.0 300mm IS. Most of my shots are of kid soccer and baseball.
For these applications, the 1.4x tele-extender is a great accessory. Because of the extra reach, you can get more frame-filling shots. The loss of image sharpness is minimal and tends to be offset by the fact that you can doing less cropping. Since both lenses are f/4.0, they maintain their autofocus capabilities. If there's any slowdown in focusing speed, it's not obvious.
I took the same equipment on a two week safari in Tanazania. Without the extender I'd have had a much harder time capturing decent wildlife shots. The f/4.0 300mm + 1.4x gave me an effective f/5.6 420mm lens with image stabilization. That was about the minimum for many shots (a leopard with its kill in a tree 120 yards away, for example). Even then, I often wished for more length, but to get it you have to move up to serious telephoto lenses that are much more expensive (and much heavier).
As other reviewers have pointed out, there are many lenses - including Canon lenses - that are not compatible with Canon tele-extenders. Check the list of compatible lenses carefully before you buy. 3rd party teleconverters from Tamron and Kenko are reputedly less finicky, although image quality may not be quite as good.
Many photo equipment reviewers (e.g. Bob Atkins) claim that teleconverters work better with primes than with telephotos. That may account for the complaints about the 1.4x with the Canon 100-400mm telephoto. It works fine with my 70-200mm, but that's generally thought to be a sharper lens than the 100-400mm.
Overall, the 1.4x teleconverter is a relatively inexpensive way to extend the range of your Canon telephoto lenses without significant loss of image quality.
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Decent sharpness, poor Bokeh., Wednesday, 01 August 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
2.0
Sharpness
1.0
Build Quality
3.0
AF Speed
2.0
Value for Money
2.0
I compared this extender on my Canon EF 70-200 USM F/2.8L IS to the new Canon EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 USM IS lens. For sharpness wide open, the 70-300mm has the edge, but when stopped down to F8, the 70-200mm w/1.4 has the sharper picture. Granted I was pixel-peeping, but when you have the luxury of comparing for quality alone, not disregarding Contrast, Resolution etc., you can pixel-peep too (just don't limit yourself by that). In fact, the color of the 70-200mm lens with 1.4x was slightly better even wide open. Now here's where I have my beef, and none of the reviews I've read seem to delve into this aspect: Bokeh. When shooting wide open with the 1.4x extender, I found the quality of objects out of the Depth of field to look strange. For example, I was shooting elephants at the zoo (no bullets), and I noticed that the leaves on the trees behind the elephants looked very peculiar--something like compressed green jelly-beans. They were out of the depth of field, but they didn't look natural to me. I mounted the 70-300mm lens and took the same shot, and the leaves were nice and soft, even at f/5.6 compared to the 70-200mm w1.4x extender. So, if you ask me, I don't find the extender useful unless you have no lens to reach the subject as close or closer or you shoot at F8-F11. I certainly wouldn't buy the 2x unless I had no other choice, and weren't going to print anything larger than an 8x10 or go to the web with the pics.
For background, I was determining whether to buy the EF 70-300mm USM F/4-5.6 IS lens over a mere extender for my existing EF 70-200mm USM F/2.8L IS w/1.4x extender. I finally resolved to buying the 300mm F/4 IS Prime Tele instead of either.
