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Canon EF 1.4X II Extender Telephoto Accessory |  | Brand: Canon
Category: Photography
List Price: $519.97
Buy New: $298.00
as of 9/7/2010 07:48 CDT details
You Save: $221.97 (43%)
New (25) Used (7) from $229.95
Seller: Mel Pierce Camera
Rating:  58 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 4.4 x 3.8 x 3.7
MPN: 6845A004
Model: 6845A004
UPC: 013803002423
EAN: 0013803002423
ASIN: B00009R6WL
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 1.4x telephoto extender for multiplying focal length of Canon 135mm or longer lenses | | • | Fits all 135mm or longer fixed focal length lenses and some 70-200mm telephoto lenses | | • | Preserves autofocus on any EOS camera when combined with f/4 or faster lens | | • | Weather-resistant construction and improved anti-reflective surfaces in the barrel | | • | Measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 1.1 inches long; weighs 7.8 ounces |
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Product Description
Extender EF 1.4 x II
Amazon.com Product Description
Multiply the focal length of your 135mm or longer lens by 1.4x without sacrificing image quality with the Canon EF 1.4x II extender. Optically superb, the lens fits all Canon 135mm fixed focal length lenses (except the 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus lens), along with the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/4.0L, 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM, and 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS zoom lenses. In addition, the extender doesn't sacrifice your autofocus on any EOS camera as long as it's combined with a lens having an f/4 or faster maximum aperture (the extender reduces the effective aperture by one f-stop). Best of all, this version maintains the outstanding optics of the earlier incarnation, but adds a weather-resistant construction and improved anti-reflective surfaces in the barrel. The EF 1.4x II extender, which measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 1.1 inches long, weighs 7.8 ounces.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 58
 A great way to extend the reach of compatible lenses September 28, 2005
erugifog (Seattle, WA USA)
395 out of 400 found this review helpful
The 1.4X II teleconverter is a modest update to Canon's earlier 1.4X TC. The mark II allows this extender to be stacked with another of Canon's extenders (either another 1.4X II or the 2X II) without having to separate the two with an extension tube (although the loss of sharpness from stacking extenders may not be acceptable to you). Otherwise, the quality of the newer 1.4X II is supposed to be very similar to the older model, which I've never owned.
The 1.4X II is a great way to extend the reach of compatible lenses. Note that not every Canon lens is compatible with this extender. The following is from Canon's Web site: "This tele extender can be used with fixed focal length lenses 135mm and longer (except the 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus lens), and the EF 70-200 f/2.8L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS, 70-200 f/4.0L, and 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS zoom lenses."
I use it frequently with my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, which turns it into a 98-280mm zoom. The extra reach it adds is not tremendous, but it's very welcome when I just need a little more than what the lens alone can give me.
I've found no appreciable loss in sharpness from using the 1.4X. Of course, any extender is going to reduce sharpness to some degree, but with normal examination, I can't distinguish photos taken with the 70-200mm that use the 1.4X from those that don't. The fact that the 70-200mm f/2.8L is a very sharp lens to begin with helps in this department.
Using the 1.4X decreases your lens' widest aperture 'capability' by one stop. With some lenses, that can be more significant than it appears on the surface; when using a non-pro Canon body (such as my 20D) the lens must have a minimum wide-open aperture 'capability' of f/5.6 for autofocus to work. The lens doesn't have to be set at f/5.6, it just has to be 'capable' of at least f/5.6 after adjusting for the one stop loss from the 1.4X. That means with some camera/lens combinations, adding the 1.4X will force you to focus all of your shots manually. (Note: There is a known 'fix' for this that restores autofocus. I've never needed to try it, but it involves taping over some connector pins on the 1.4X to fool the camera body. Proceed with caution if you try this, and do a Google search to learn how to do it right before attempting it.)
The 1.4X also reduces focus speed very slightly. I've only used it on my 70-200mm IS, which has Canon's USM and is a fast-focusing lens to begin with, but the decrease in speed is so slight I really don't notice it. And it does not affect IS (Image Stabilization) at all.
The 1.4X is built to the quality of Canon's L-series lenses, which means that it is weather sealed and will keep a Canon pro body and L-series lens weather sealed when used with them.
If you're considering this extender, you're probably also considering Canon's 2X II teleconverter. I do not own the 2X but did a lot of research on it before ultimately deciding to go with the 1.4X. The 2X decreases your aperture by two stops, and is reported to have a noticable decrease in sharpness--more than some photographers are willing to live with. On the other hand, I've never read a review that complained about the loss of sharpness from the 1.4X.
If you've already invested a lot of money in telephoto lenses, the 1.4X II is a relatively inexpensive way to get even more reach (and value) out of your investment while adding only a modest amount of bulk to your camera bag. Highly recommended.
The 1.4x is far superior to the 2.0x April 12, 2007
William D. Colburn (Socorro, NM USA)
87 out of 89 found this review helpful
I have both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters from Canon. Neither, despite what people say, produces an image that just as sharp as the original lens. But images through the 2x are noticably bad from even a casual inspection while images through the 1.4x hold up very well. Carefully controlled test shots are the easiest way to really see the problems in this converter. But for the most part the 1.4x won't be a liability in sharpness.
The 1.4x loses one stop of light. So while this does work on a 100mm-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens, I wouldn't reccommend it. Save this for the 200mm f/2.8 L, and the 300mm f/2.8 IS L, and any bigger primes you have.
Extra reach at minimal cost August 7, 2007
7D Guy (Orinda, CA United States)
27 out of 27 found this review helpful
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.
Canon EF 1.4X II Extender (Teleconverter) April 11, 2007
John D. Hillmer (Waukesha, WI USA)
28 out of 29 found this review helpful
I'm using my new Canon EF 1.4X II teleconverter with my Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens - and so far, so good. (I've only had it for a few weeks). The 100-400mm will not auto-focus with the 1.4x attached to it. Yes, there are ways to tape 3 pins on the lens or teleconverter to override the unit so that it will try to auto-focus, but I've decided NOT to do that. Canon blocked that for a purpose. I've read that you can over-tax (burn out, though I don't know if that's the actual issue) the USM motor since it will hunt back and forth a lot in low light situations if you tape the pins.. so again, I just decided the 100-400mm was too expensive to try that option. Overall, the quality of the lens combination is still really clear (I'm using it with a Canon 30D). I am getting used to manually focusing this combination, but it really helps to use a monopod or a tripod when shotting with this set at full zoom.
Super Accessory September 15, 2005
Ralph E. Nordstrom (Southern California)
60 out of 68 found this review helpful
I was able to use the Canon EF 1.4X II Extender for some nature photography recently in Wyoming. I shot elk in low light conditions so I was shooting pretty much wide open. The extender did not compromise the inherent sharpness of the lens at all. You could see the hairs on the animals heads. It's fantastic.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 58
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