Has anyone any knowledge of the Canon 1.4x vs the 1.4x II converters on the EOS 3 ?. I note on previous threads that with the 1.4 Canon recommends onlt the central focus sensor and not the "extras" when used with the 70 - 210 2.8 L presumably because of the focusing accuracy of the outer sensors in this combination. I am being offered a Version one 1.4 because the user must upgrade to Mk II to get compatibility with his "3". I use a Canon EOS 100 and 5 with 300IS F4.0 L

-- Greg Heron (gph@octa4.net.au), November 01, 2001

Answers

"I am being offered a Version one 1.4 because the user must upgrade to Mk II to get compatibility with his 3."

This is of course nonsense. That user is most likely tricked into "upgrading" by one of those scam dealers. The mark I and mark II 1.4x TC's are optically identical and there are no compatibility issue. The mark II differ in having better sealing (only applicable if you have an EOS 1V and one of the new IS super telephoto lenses.

I use my 1.4x TC regularly with my EOS 3 and 70-200/2.8L without any problems. All 45 focusing point work just fine. If you can get the older 1.4x at a good price buy it before the seller discover his unnecessary "upgrade".

-- Nico Smit (nioc@anp.co.za), November 01, 2001.

Yeah, the optical performance of the MkI and Mk II 1.4 are the same. If the person thought they "must upgrade" to get a working 1.4 with the EOS 3 they were snookered all right, but maybe in saying "must upgrade" they were aware they were upgrading just to get weather sealing compatibly effective with that of the 3. Deciding to upgrade to the Mk II and selling the old Mk I to cut the net cost of the upgrade is not an unreasonable decision.

-- Rod (rod.nygaard@boeing.com), November 01, 2001.

As said above, the 1.4X mk1 is compatible with all EOS cameras. I use mine with an EOS 5, 300 F4L IS and 70-200 F4L. I have used my converter on a borrowed EOS 3. The same converter (before it was mine) was used on an EOS 1V (oddly enough, they "upgraded" to a mk II, but the EOS 1V can actually use the seal...). It all works (ie mk I with all cameras, mk II with all cameras), but the EOS 1V and EOS 1D can benefit from the mk II, as can the Great White Lenses.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), November 01, 2001.