Is the Canon 2x TC worth it for the 500 f4L?

[Mark Perry]

My wife recently purchased the Canon 500 f4 L with the 1.4X TC. The combo is known to work well... but what about the 2X? I read varying views.... is it worth the purchase? IQ? Auto Focus?

Pros / Cons.. what's the experience of the BPN members?

Mark

[Lana Hays]

Mark
What camera does she use? The 1D series will autofocus with the 2X but cameras such as the 40D will not. That said.......my 2X TC is on my 1DMkIIN/500mm most of the time and just about everything on my website was photographed with the 2X TC.

[Jamie Strickland]

Mark you will need to use MF as mentioned unless you have a 1D, I have not had much luck using the viewfinder because its so small on the 40D and hard to tell if its in focus or not so I use liveview if I can and I find that to work much better

Obviously your going to lose 2 stops of light as well so I rarely use it because of that, the 1D MKII I have is not the greatest in regards to noise. This is the main reason I am looking forward to the 1D Mark IV so then there will be better lower noise levels so I can use higher ISO and get good results.

[Mark Perry]

Mark
What camera does she use? The 1D series will autofocus with the 2X but cameras such as the 40D will not. That said.......my 2X TC is on my 1DMkIIN/500mm most of the time and just about everything on my website was photographed with the 2X TC.

Lana, I use the Canon 50D. I do recall now that the AF wouldnt work but more concerned about IQ.

[Mark Perry]

Mark you will need to use MF as mentioned unless you have a 1D, I have not had much luck using the viewfinder because its so small on the 40D and hard to tell if its in focus or not so I use liveview if I can and I find that to work much better

Obviously your going to lose 2 stops of light as well so I rarely use it because of that, the 1D MKII I have is not the greatest in regards to noise. This is the main reason I am looking forward to the 1D Mark IV so then there will be better lower noise levels so I can use higher ISO and get good results.

Good points. I am eager to see what Canon introduces body wise as well.

[Lana Hays]

Mark
I can't comment on the IQ with the 40D/50D but I've been pleased with the 2X on my 1DMkIIN. I try to shoot at f/11 when using that setup and I think that makes a big difference as does light and other shooting conditions. I, too am eagerly awaiting the MkIV as I skipped the MkIII.

[LouBuonomo]

I use the 2x alot, and stack converters very often. On the 1D series you keep AF it may hunt depending on light.

Chas told me when I first got the gear as a rule of thumb - F8 with the 1.4, F11 with the 2x and F16 stacked as min F-Stops will produce excellent results.

The image I had in the NB exhibit was a cropped stacked shot at F16 and they blew it up to huge for display.

Lou

[Doug Brown]

With good technique, the 2x with the 500 yields very good results. It helps to have a pro body that can still AF.

[Roger Clark]

Hi Mark,
I use a 500 f/4 and 2x TC and get great results. At that magnification, any vibration can hurt image quality, so you need good technique, even with IS. I use 1D Mark II so still get autofocus. I also use it on a 5D Mark II and use live vies (which is really delayed view) to focus.

Here is an image with link to the full resolution 500 + 2x TC full moon hand held:
http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.astrophoto-1/web/moon.rnclark.handheld.c10.25.2007.jz3f6583f-8s-800.html

The 5DII is tougher with the small pixels, but I have been extremely impressed with the sharpness with a 500 + 2x:
http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.astrophoto-1/web/moon.occults.venus.c04.23.2009.img_4244.b-800.html

And finally, here is a brown snake eagle, landing almost directly toward the camera with 500 +2x, and autofocus tracking was spot on:
http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.bird/web/eagle.c01.18.2007.JZ3F7355b-700.html

I also use stacked 1.4 and 2x and get good results on the 500 and 1DII (it still auto focuses), but the image is showing a touch of softness, but can still make 16x24 inch prints that others want.

Roger

[Jim Neiger]

I would say yes with a pro body and no with a prosumer body.

[Mark Perry]

I would say yes with a pro body and no with a prosumer body.

Thanks for all the replies.

I guess I need to wait and see what Canon comes up with in regards to new pro bodies soon.

[Ed Cordes]

I would say that since you are using a non pro body and you will lose AF it is not a good choice. I use the 2X with my 500 F4 but on a pro body and like it a lot. The crop factor of the 50D makes up for the 0.7 X difference so the 2X is less advantageous on your camera body.

[Alfred Forns]

The AF will slow but still be usable btw not long ago I posted an image in the birds gallery, it was a snail kite inflight stacking converters .... looked mighty fine !!!

You will get good results with the 50D providing your techniques are good but with the already 1.6X as Ed mentioned don't see much point !!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

The 2x is fantastic if you use the right techniques and you have some good light. It never failed me yet. :)