Field Testing the Canon 2x Extender in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge 

I wish I could agree with you! I use Canon Extender 2x III with my EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and the results are great both on my 7D and 5DII. Yes, AF is little slower however, I can manage with that as most of the birds I shoot aren't constantly jumping like a sparrow.

I agree that those images are for the bin, but I'm not sure I agree that all the problems are down to the extender. I use the 2x extender (a Mark 3 version, so it's slightly improved on yours, especially for chromatic aberration) on a 5DIV with a 600mm f4L prime and I'm happy with the results most of the time. To be honest, I think the 2x extenders only really give acceptable wildlife results on fast, big primes. I've tried it on my 70-200mm f2.8L (like yours) and results weren't that good, although not as bad as yours. With my 600mm f4L, I don't put the 2x on unless I really have to because it does degrade my images more than the 1.4x - but I can get very nice images out of it. Another thing I noticed in your images is that some of the problems seem to suggest heat haze. You were shooting over water in a warm environment so I'd expect to get haze if you're quite far from your subject under those circumstances. I don't think haze is the only problem - and the extender on that lens isn't optimal. But that doesn't mean the 2x extender can't give decent results - I shot this with the 2x on my 600mm f4L and if you look at the large version of the file you can see it's pretty sharp... flic.kr/p/2mJ8ZQw

Haze can be corrected by raising the sharpness, but strong chromatic aberrations are difficult, so it is advisable to buy a 2X amplifier of the third version, which is only slightly sharper, but almost without chromatic aberrations. When shooting, you need to remove the diaphragm by two stops and undercrank the zoom by Objective 70-200mm approximately 30mm, that is, in the range from 100 to 170mm to reduce chromatism. You need to shoot from a tripod, release the shutter through a cable (with a short shutter speed if we are shooting animals) and in bright sunny weather so as not to raise the ISO too much, since the noise eats up the details. Set autofocus forcibly to the center point. But all the same, autofocus can overshoot, so manual focusing on the screen. the camera must be full-matrix when using a tripod, turn off the stabilizer. It seems to me not entirely correct to compare the detail of a small bird in the corner of the screen and the image of an animal's muzzle shot in full screen. But even such a picture as yours can be restored. There would be a desire. I took your photo from the screen and restored what you were in a hurry to reject. i74.servimg.com/u/f74/18/19/33/55/scr08_11.jpg

If you put it on a 400mm 2.8 its gonna be a hole different story.the problem is not the extender bud your lensquality.the 70/200mm 2.8 IS first version was a bad 70/200mm version and Canon replaced it aftter a lot of photographers complained aboud it..The extender doubles the lensfault and here lies the trick.Use a lens with no lensfault like the 300/400/500/600mm ters from Canon.If you a have a lens with bad image quality put in first some aperture,AV,aboud 2 stops to take away the optical faults from the lens than with the extender on you will have a good sharp contrastery picture.

I have a 2x iii and when I put it on my 70-200 2.8 IS ii and my 300 2.8 IS and it's razor sharp. The gear you have is older version stuff. Plus have you calibrated the 2x with the lens and camera? Unless you have done micro adjustments then your jumping the gun by this review.

One use a tripod with a gimble. Two use a 2x III. three many lens don't work well with a extender. you have to find out which ones work best. I have used my 2x III on my 100-400mm-5.6 using my leg and window to shoot out of the car and got very sharp images. If the world class bird shooter use them they have to be good quality. Mono pods suck.

Sorry to hear you had issues with your 2x. I have the same two components and originally thought the same thing. Garbage. But then I realized... the extender mirrors the strengths and weaknesses of the lens (plus a little added CA). Once I realized that, I was able to work the extender into my workflow. The 70-200L IS is a great all around lens, but it falls short wide open. Once I started stopping it down to F8 (or at a minimum F6.3) the combo worked very well. Not as good as my 400 prime, but well enough that I was reasonably satisfied and able to get some feather detail. Also note my two extenders (II and III) both require substantial micro adjusting on the focus. For anyone using a 2x extender, it also takes a little more than just stopping it down a little. It also takes some getting used-to. Less so with the smaller lenses, but more so with the 400mm+ club. Also, just know there is going to be a little deg that is inherent.

get the version II lens. Trust me. Just get it. Then get the 2x version III. Both of those together will get you sharper images then the images you think are sharp now.

Thanks for the honesty and proof. Saved me some $$$. How about the 1.4 extender? Same issues?

Good enough for Technical surveillance

You defo need to do the same vlog using the f/2.8 is ll, you will get far better results now with the Canon Canon 2x EF Extender III, obviously was not out when you made this vlog.

Howdy from FL... That is a cool monopod....I need to buy one...which one would you recommend...?

Hi Brendan I dont use the 2x but I do use the mk3 1.4 on my 70-200 2.8 mk2 with a 5dmk3 and it is brilliant and just to add , I was advised to attach the converter to the len and then the body , I can not see an advantage myself . Roy

dude im sorry to say this but how do you wanna get sharp images with an extender if you can't even do it without one? you should be taking photos at sun angle, boost you iso to get a shutter speed way over 1250 and it will work out fine. turning off IS can help sometimes, when using teleconverter.

Being Scottish I'll trade you some beautiful Whiskies, plus some from the distillery just down the road from me (It goes into Johnny Walker). You know where to find me!

Hi Brendan. Tx for the post. I use a 60 D. If I use 2x extender III with 70-200 mk3 or 100-400mm do you think it would give good results? Or should I upgrade to full frame? Tx

Man, I'm sorry I missed this! I would have taken it off of your hands if nothing more than to do some tests and experiments with it! lol. Love your videos, thanks for all of the info!

Hello Brendan! Is it the same problem with the smaller extenders like 1.4 crop? P. S. I love your videos! Thank you

I'll gladly that the 2x extender off your hands Brendan!

i'd love to have it too!

Did you calibrate the extender? As it’s a lens itself it will need micro adjustments

Feel so bad，as I just booked the 2x iii，but I have 70-200 2.8 ii... hope it works

ehy Brendadn, just subscribed, dunno how could i have possibly missed this channel, like it a lot, cheers

Hey, have you ever tried the Olympus e-m1mk2? I've compared the 7D and olympus and I tend to lean on more to the olympus system for wildlife. It has more reach and autofocus is fast!

i guess i'm 3rd in the list after 0007dunny and Neville Koh ... if those two don't follow through let me know : )

Wow I know this is an old video, but I was thinking about getting the Canon Extender, have seen a couple of video's after this and now I'm 2nd guessing whether it's worth while getting... Would your decisions on this have diswayed you from going to get the vIII of the canon extender?

I’ll take it

Did you tune your camera for your extender?

Hehe. Not easy to trust a ´pro` when you expose your censor for dust when putting on the extender....

have you thought of trying the new versions? ive heard with primes the older tele's work alot better.

Can extenders be used on APS c ?

Hat happened he gave it away ? Was it Mark II or iii ?

70-200 is ii with 2x ii extender does'nt take sharp images? can any body tell me

Okay I'll throw in a bag of potatoes 🥔😋🤪.

It's out of your bag already isn't? Would love to give it a try and help you to forget the weigth you carried for 3 years! :)

I'll trade you a potato 🥔 for that extension!

It looks like this image was taken by a potato 🥔 😂🤣😂😂☺️😂🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

I like the part where this is all speculation

"looks like it was taken by a potato" LOL

I'll take it in exchange for a whiskey : )

Carai....fotos muito desfocadas....caracas

Hey Brendan, what's your PayPal? I'll certainly take it off your hands to use for some stuff. I'll give you $30, American, and shipping. hahaha

Only $20 for a bottle of whiskey? What are you drinking :-). If you ever get to Durham NC look me up I will introduce you to some fine scotch!

Hhhmmm Old gear irrelevant review