Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter) Northern Hawk Owl
Northern Hawk-Owl (Surnia ulula, Chouette épervière) Low, Quebec. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 300mm F2.8 IS, 1.4X Extender III, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 500, F5.6 1/2500s Manual. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.
Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter)
As usual, B & H Photo in the USA has had stock of the new Canon 1.4X and 2X Extender III (Teleconverters) for well over two months, and there is no sign of any arriving in Canada anytime soon. I did manage to get my hands on a 1.4X III a little over a week ago through Canon Canada (who always seem last to get new products from Canon headquarters), and am still waiting for my 2X to arrive in Canada (without an expected delivery date).
The two new EF extenders are direct replacements of the current extenders offered by Canon as essential accessories for professionals. These new extenders have been designed to provide faster autofocusing and improved autofocus precision with compatible EF lenses. Each extender includes an anomalous dispersion lens element for reduced chromatic aberration and enhanced optical image quality. Each extender also features a newly developed microcomputer that increases AF precision when the extenders are used with a IS Series II EF super-telephoto lens. Both extenders are equipped with rubber gaskets and seals to enhance weather resistance. A new fluorine anti-smear coating is applied to the front and rear elements of both extenders. -CANON PRESS RELEASE
After only a few uses, I find the new coatings increase contrast, and therefore increase the acquisition speed and accuracy of the 1D Mark IV's auto-focus system. I also see a significant reduction in chromatic aberration (especially when stacked with a 2X). My initial testing is limited to the 70-200 F2.8 IS II, 300mm F2.8 IS and 500mm F4 IS and so far, it's looking like they are well worth the upgrade.
Here's something a little off-topic and different from a recent Owl Prowl. The ice that was lining the shore one morning was simply too good to pass-up. It ain't all just Owls - smile.
Shoreline Ice from Amherst Island (Stella) in Lake Ontario near Millhaven, Ontario. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 24-70mm F2.8L, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 200, F11 1/100s Manual. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 7:23AM | Christopher Dodds | Email Article Permalink tagged Canon 1.4X EF Extender III, Canon 2X EF Extender III, Chouette épervière, Northern Hawk Owl, Surnia ulula, Teleconverter, review in Equipment, Review
Reader Comments (16)
I love this one, Chris.
Hey Lana,
Thank you!
Very Best,
Chris
Hi Chris,
Lovely review and nice pics there. Just curious as to was the performance as good on the non IS II lenses as on the IS II lens? Would this TC have significant improvement over the 1.4X II on a Canon 600mm F4 IS (not the IS II)?
Regards,
Angad
Christopher, landscape with a 500mm lense? Very interesting! Great shot as usual.!
Raymond,
Thanks for noticing my error. I have corrected the lens used to the 24-70mm. Try as I might, some errors do get past me - smile.
Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Very best,
Chris
Hello Angald,
Indeed, the new coatings and optics are worth the upgrade - even with older lenses like your 600mm F4 IS.
Very best,
Chris
That owl is an amazing picture!
Thanks, Sue.
It is an amazing Owl...
Best,
Chris
Hi Chris,
I notice you mentioned stacking TCs and implied you stacked a 1.4 (III?) and a 2.0 (III?). I've read others said they couldn’t stack the new III's together. Did you manage to find away of doing this?
Great images by the way.
Regards
Joe Caffery
Hi Joe,
Good observation. At the time of this writing, I only had the new 1.4X III and stacked it with the old 2X II (the 1.4X has to be next to the camera). Adding a 12mm II extension tube between the extenders is the only way I've found to stack the new version III's.
Very best,
Chris
WOW I love your nature photographs...I love black and white photography, and was looking into nature photo site, you site caught my eye as I used to keep birds of prey and I had a breeding pair of great horned owls... long time ago now..
Just brilliant love ya work!!
Nice shots! Thanks for the quick review. I was wonder if the new extenders are worth the money.
Hello, my question,
I have the Canon ef 70-200mm f2.8 is usm mk2.
i wish to extend with the 1.4 extender,
would the new mk3 extender give an advantage over the older mk2?
Thank you Geoff.
Hi Geoff,
In a word; yes. I have noticed slightly faster auto-focus acquisition times and the new coatings with higher contrast seem to improve low contrast AF performance on moving birds against dark backgrounds.
Chris
Hi Chris,
The owl pic is truly amazing... loved d expression tht u've captured in it's eyes.
Just had one question here. I use the canon 100-400IS lens on a 5D mark II. I just bought myself a 1.4xII from a friend who hadn't been using it much. Now i know that unless I cheat I cant really use Autofocussing on my lens. Any work arounds for this?? And how much do u think the 1.4x will effect the picture quality of 100-400.
Jatin
Hi Jatin,
With the rear lens cap removed from the extender and the lens's contacts oriented to the top, simply place a piece of clear tape over the three contacts on the left side. Auto-focus will work, but be warned that it will be very slow.
Hope this helps,
Chris