28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and extender

[asysin2leads]

I have the Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens on a 350D.* So far, I love this lens.* Very versatile lens and I like the images that it takes for outdoor sports.* Indoor sports w/ limited lighting makes it a little weak, but workable.* Ok, here's my question.* I've seen conflicting reports as to whether a 1.4x 2.0x extender will work for this lens.* I've searched the site and didn't really see what I was looking for.* Before I shell out the greenbacks for the extender, will it ever work on my lens.* Thanks.

Kevin

[tfiorda]

According to the paperwork I have for mine, the answer is no. At least it isn't listed. Only my L lenses are listed. You could take your 28-135 to a store that has one and check it out though.

I think the main reason it might not work is the speed of the lens. At 5.6 you add a stop and get a f/8. Most cameras won't auto focus at that f-stop. Both my L's are f/2.8 so I get a f/4 and f5.6 respectively with a 1.4x and 2x TC.

Hope this helps.

Tony...

[Max@Home]

Hi Kevin/asysin2leads,

The Canon EF 1.4x II and EF 2.0x II Extenders will NOT work on your lens, as they will physically *not* fit: both have a small protrusion on the side where the lens connects, which would collide with the lens' most backward lenselement.

Extenders from third-party, Tamron, Tokina, Sigma etc, that do not have this protrusion will physically fit your lens.

Whether it is advisable to put a 3rd party extender on a 'consumer grade' zoomlens... I have read reports that the image quality was severely affected, but that it is OK for web/small prints, and that AutoFocus becomes extremely slow, if available at all..., but no issue if you do scenics/landscapes with manual focus...

I have had and used a decent copy of the 28-135IS for approximately four years, mainly on film (EOS33) and shortly on digital (EOS10D) before I upgraded to a 24-70F2.8L. IMHO and in *my* experience, I wouldn't bother with an extender. A few $$/€€ more would buy you a 75-300IS (the old type), that has better image quality and will focus faster than the 28-135+1.4x combi ever will.

...*my* €0.02 worth...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[tfiorda]

Well, when I finally got home and checked, they won't work.* They won't fit on my 28-135 because of the lens protrusion on the TCs. Max@Home is absolutely correct and beat me to the punch.* I couldn't remember what they looked like when I wrote the above response.

Sorry for partially misleading you.

Tony...

[asysin2leads]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'm going to have to get a new lens. That is if I can convince my wife.

[cyclohexane]

Indoor sports, use the 85mm f/1.8 USM (or 50mm f/1.8 if you're on a budget, but some samples have focusing issues). Unless you're shooting sports at a collegiate level, I doubt your lighting is good enough to get a sufficient shutter speed at f/2.8. Outdoor sports, 70-200mm f/4L (the older one without IS) is the best buy in Canon land; I've met a guy who had reasonable success using extenders (not sure which one, I assume the 1.4x) in good light. Or, you could simply forgo the extender, and wait for your kids to get close. With the 350D's APS-C size sensor, 200mm is enough for sports like soccer when the action gets closer to the sidelines.