1.6 extender for XL2
 

Has anyone used the 1.6 extender on their XL2? Can you tell me any pros and cons? I bought the EF lens adapter as I have several thousand dollars worth of Canon lenses then found out you don't get auto focus, no auto zoom, and sometimes no metering. The 1.6 would give me up to 32 times zoom. But are there any drawbacks? What kind of lowlight limit would there be?

Hi Alan,

I have one of them things. Sorry, but I can't compare it to the EF adapter + EF lenses. I like the extender because it's light and compact and therefore great for traveling. It's similar in construction to the EF adapter, so either way you're shooting through extra glass. If you're into autofocus and the off-lens zoom or don't like carrying around your EF lenses maybe it'll work for you. Buy from B&H or Adorama and you can return it if it doesn't (right?).

I haven't done a test on the light issue but I guess you probably lose an f-stop, as I imagine you do with the EF adapter.

You might also want to check out the Century Optics 1.6x tele. It's a lot bigger and heavier but it's simpler to get on and off and you don't expose the CCD in the process.

The image is noticeably softer with both the Canon and C.O. adapters installed, in case you were curious. I'd like to see that configuration tested against an equivalent EF tele setup at various zooms and f-stops. I'm sure the latter produces a higher-quality image, but I'd like to know by how much.

Happy Trails,
Alan

For Alan Daoud, if you search the XL2 forum for the term "extender," it should return about eight or nine discussion threads that we already have about that item. Hope this helps,

Thanks. I'm still learning my way around this site. Shooting for the first time with my XL2 tomorrow. A high school football game. Haven't had time to read the whole manual yet, so will probably shoot in auto mode. Will try 60i, 24p and 30p to see what works best. Would like to see how slow-mo and freeze frame look in all three.

Alan,
I have used the 1.6 ext since I got the XL2 in november 2004, mostly in wildlife filming. If you like take a look of this sample:

http://www.video-film.no/snutter/moon.wmv

This shoot demonstrate the 20 x lense at the telephotoend with/without the 1.6 extender. As you can see of the sample the 1.6 ext. gives you a nice and sharp picture.
In this sample the XL2 was set to F11 and the shutter was 1/120.

- Per Johan

when using the 1.6x canon extender do you get vignetting when not zoomed all the way in like the CP adapter?

Absolutely no vignetting with the Canon 1.6x Extender.

what is the cp adapter?

Century Precision Optics makes a 1.6x tele adapter that goes on the end of your lens.