topic Extender 1.4 to use with 70D and EF 70-200 f/4 IS. Any compatibility problems? in EF & RF Lenses

Extender 1.4 to use with 70D and EF 70-200 f/4 IS. Any compatibility problems?

Albro — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 01:22:43 GMT

I am planning to get the Extender 1.4 to use with my EOS 70D and the EF 70-200mm f/4 IS. Are there any compatibility problems with this combination?

Re: Extender 1.4 to use with 70D and EF 70-200 f/4 IS. Any compatibility problems?

JonKline — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 10:12:59 GMT

Assuming you get the Canon 1.4x and the Canon 70-200 lens, they will work perfectly together.

Consider spending the extra for the f/2.8, since you know you'll be using the extender. Losing a stop means your lens will start at f/5.6, which makes it very difficult to use indoors.

Re: Extender 1.4 to use with 70D and EF 70-200 f/4 IS. Any compatibility problems?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:01:37 GMT

"... they will work perfectly together."

Perfectly may be a stretch but, yes, they will work as well as the combo can. Anytime you add something like a tele exrender you have to give up something. In photography you give to get. There is no free lunch. Fortunately you are starting out with a pretty good lens and can afford to lose an f-stop and some IQ.

Re: Extender 1.4 to use with 70D and EF 70-200 f/4 IS. Any compatibility problems?

RobertTheFat — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:34:44 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"... they will work perfectly together."

Perfectly may be a stretch but, yes, they will work as well as the combo can. Anytime you add something like a tele exrender you have to give up something. In photography you give to get. There is no free lunch. Fortunately you are starting out with a pretty good lens and can afford to lose an f-stop and some IQ.

Let me pose a slightly different question. Suppose you already have (as many of us do) a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II. Suppose you add the 1.4 tele-extender. The combination would result, I believe, in a 98-280mm f/4, a potentially useful lens that doesn't appear in Canon's lineup. So given the cost of the TE and the image quality of the combination, is buying the TE a smart move?

Note that buying the TE does not compromise the 70-200 in any way, since it's still as good as it ever was without the TE. The combination, for the price of the TE, stands or falls on its own.

Re: Extender 1.4 to use with 70D and EF 70-200 f/4 IS. Any compatibility problems?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:40:22 GMT

Bob
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Yes sir, you have a point and hard to not like. Very hard! One reason I have several tele extenders. But, there is always a "but" isn't there? If you don't have to use one all the better. With the exception of the ten thousand dollar EF 200-400mm that has a purposely designed extender, all lenses will degrade with their use. And even that specificly, purpose designed combo has better IQ with out the extender. Does it not?