What to buy or Not To Buy

[Elaine]

I have just recently bought a new Canon EFS 18-200mm which is doing everything and more than I expected.
Now, I am wanting to update the camera body to a Canon EOS 550D 18 MP. Then I was toying with the thought that I should also get a larger telephoto lens for real wildlife shots or a Canon Extender 2x111.
My question is, as money is short,
do I just take advantage of the capabilities of the 18MP and crop the shot in post production on photoshop.
Elaine

I don't know what camera you currently have, but the high MP doesn't necessarily improve image quality. At one time I had an XSI (12 MP) and a T1i (15 MP) and couldn't tell the difference in quality. So cropped, the image will probably look the same on both cameras. You won't really see an improvement until you step up to the 5D Mark II.

I'd get the glass. I'm looking at the same extender, but not sure I want to fork out $500 for it right now.

[Russellcharles]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

I don't know what camera you currently have, but the high MP doesn't necessarily improve image quality. At one time I had an XSI (12 MP) and a T1i (15 MP) and couldn't tell the difference in quality. So cropped, the image will probably look the same on both cameras. You won't really see an improvement until you step up to the 5D Mark II.

I'd get the glass. I'm looking at the same extender, but not sure I want to fork out $500 for it right now.

Hi, first day as a member and the owner of a Canon 550D plus the kit 18 - 55 mm IS lens. My research so far has shown a lot of the Canon extenders can only be used on their L type lens so be careful what one you choose. However, some third part entenders will apparently work with non L lenses. Would either of you recommend the Canon 55-250 mm IS lens as I am searching for an affordable 2nd lens. Thank you.

[Doug Pardee]

Does Canon, or anyone for that matter, even make a 2x teleconverter that works with EF-S lenses?

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Does Canon, or anyone for that matter, even make a 2x teleconverter that works with EF-S lenses?

Hadn't thought of that. A couple months after I bought my XSi (first DSLR), I was hooked and knew one day I'd go full frame so I always bought EF lenses (with the exception of the 55-250mm IS.

The 55-250mm IS is a great lens. If you look at my speed photography on my Flickr site, almost all of that was taken with that lens.

[Elaine]

Thanks for that, it got me thinking and doing a lot more research on the Canon website.
Very Interesting!!!!
They have a number of extenders and was interested to learn that I might only need the EF 2x11 lens after all. The fancy dancy 2x111 IS only made for L series lens which I do not have.
Stay tuned!!!!
Elaine

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Does Canon, or anyone for that matter, even make a 2x teleconverter that works with EF-S lenses?

Similar to DX, the answer is sorta but not really. The Canon ones aren't, AFAIK, designed to work with EF-S lenses. The same is true with Nikon TCs and DX lenses. But off-brand ones should work. That being said, most are designed for the EF mount and may bump into the same issue that EF-S lenses have on full-frame bodies.

[gturner]

unless you have an outstanding lens and body combo, you will be more than unhappy with a TC of any description. The autofocus will hunt (slowly) and your images will be soft - that I can promise.

but what to buy?
Second hand Canon 70-300 is DO
new 70-300 is normal one

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by gturner

unless you have an outstanding lens and body combo, you will be more than unhappy with a TC of any description. The autofocus will hunt (slowly) and your images will be soft - that I can promise.

but what to buy?
Second hand Canon 70-300 is DO
new 70-300 is normal one

This depends greatly on the TC and lens combo. While Canon's TCs arent the greatest, but there are good ones out there *cough* NIKON *cough*

While it will always be best to get a proper focal length lens (a 400mm lens will almost always be better than a 200mm lens with a 2.0 TC on it), but it need not be as bad as you say.

For instance, a 70-200 f2.8 with a 2.0 TC becomes a 140-400 f/5.6. There's no reason for it to hunt any more than a 400mm f/5.6 or a 100-400 f/5.6.

[TerryL]

I had a 2X and took it back and got the 1.4X , I thought I lost to much with the full 2X and now I don't use the 1.4X that much since I shoot with the 5D mark II , I can just crop it with the 21 mp