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.
Technical Details
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
Customer feedback:
1. 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.
2. 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.











