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caryniam · Apr 24, 2009, 1:18 AM

I'm looking to buy an extender (probably a 2x) mainly for my Canon 200mm L f/2.8 lens. I was looking at the EF extenders and came upon the FD ones for fixed length lenses. They are a lot cheaper than the EF extenders. Is that just b/c Canon doesn't make them any more? Is the quality as good as the EF. I'm just trying to figure out the difference and whether to spend the more money on the EF extender. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Caryn

JimC · Apr 24, 2009, 7:38 AM

FD is a totally different lens mount (used by Canon's manual focus camera models). You'll need a TC (teleconverter) designed for EF mount (used by Canon EOS Autofocus cameras).

For best quality and compatibility, I'd use a Canon brand TC with your 200mm f/2.8L. Keep in mind that optics used in a TC play an important role on the image quality you can expect, and you'll want to make sure a TC is passing the correct information from the lens' CPU for better compatibility (corrected aperture/focal length information, etc.). You'll get some amount of image degradation using most TCs, and you can usually expect better results from a 1.4x versus a 2x.

Also, keep the conditions you want to use one in mind, as you'll lose one stop of light with a 1.4x TC (making your 200mm f/2.8 behave like a 280mm f/4), and two stops of light with a 2X TC (making your 200mm f/2.8 behave like a 400mm f/5.6).

Canon makes a 1.4x and 2x TC that should work with your 200mm f/2.8L (but, make sure you look at lens compatiblity charts to see if they will work with any other lenses you may have)

Here's are some Canon TCs. B&H carries both Canon USA and Import (i.e., gray market) versions of them.

List of Canon Teleconverters at B&H

If you click on the features tab for a TC, you'll see a link to Compatibility charts.

JohnG · Apr 24, 2009, 7:40 AM

Caryn,

FD is a different lens mount entirely. They don't work on DSLRs which use EF lens mount. That's why they're so much cheaper. Get the EF mount. Be advised though, while the 200mm 2.8 does as well as any lens with a 2x it still isn't great. I'm not a big fan of 2x extenders.

John

NHL · Apr 24, 2009, 10:19 AM

I'm not a big fan of 2x either - Wish some one would do a 1.7x in Canon mount as a compromise between a 1.4x and 2x for IQ

caryniam · Apr 24, 2009, 11:25 AM

Thanks everyone! I suppose I was being a little lazy b/c I couldn't find quick answers, but this is very helpful and much appreciated!!

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Apr 24, 2009, 1:18 AM	#1
caryniam Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6	I'm looking to buy an extender (probably a 2x) mainly for my Canon 200mm L f/2.8 lens. I was looking at the EF extenders and came upon the FD ones for fixed length lenses. They are a lot cheaper than the EF extenders. Is that just b/c Canon doesn't make them any more? Is the quality as good as the EF. I'm just trying to figure out the difference and whether to spend the more money on the EF extender. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks. Caryn

Apr 24, 2009, 7:38 AM	#2
JimC Administrator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Savannah, GA (USA) Posts: 22,378	FD is a totally different lens mount (used by Canon's manual focus camera models). You'll need a TC (teleconverter) designed for EF mount (used by Canon EOS Autofocus cameras). For best quality and compatibility, I'd use a Canon brand TC with your 200mm f/2.8L. Keep in mind that optics used in a TC play an important role on the image quality you can expect, and you'll want to make sure a TC is passing the correct information from the lens' CPU for better compatibility (corrected aperture/focal length information, etc.). You'll get some amount of image degradation using most TCs, and you can usually expect better results from a 1.4x versus a 2x. Also, keep the conditions you want to use one in mind, as you'll lose one stop of light with a 1.4x TC (making your 200mm f/2.8 behave like a 280mm f/4), and two stops of light with a 2X TC (making your 200mm f/2.8 behave like a 400mm f/5.6). Canon makes a 1.4x and 2x TC that should work with your 200mm f/2.8L (but, make sure you look at lens compatiblity charts to see if they will work with any other lenses you may have) Here's are some Canon TCs. B&H carries both Canon USA and Import (i.e., gray market) versions of them. List of Canon Teleconverters at B&H If you click on the features tab for a TC, you'll see a link to Compatibility charts.

Apr 24, 2009, 7:40 AM	#3
JohnG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,529	Caryn, FD is a different lens mount entirely. They don't work on DSLRs which use EF lens mount. That's why they're so much cheaper. Get the EF mount. Be advised though, while the 200mm 2.8 does as well as any lens with a 2x it still isn't great. I'm not a big fan of 2x extenders. John

Apr 24, 2009, 10:19 AM	#4
NHL Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: 39.18776, -77.311353333333 Posts: 11,599	I'm not a big fan of 2x either - Wish some one would do a 1.7x in Canon mount as a compromise between a 1.4x and 2x for IQ

Apr 24, 2009, 11:25 AM	#5
caryniam Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6	Thanks everyone! I suppose I was being a little lazy b/c I couldn't find quick answers, but this is very helpful and much appreciated!!