Autofocus with Extenders on Mirrorless Cameras (Podcast 674)

This week we explore how using various combinations of lens and Extender/Teleconverter affects autofocus on the Canon EOS R down to aperture f/11.

Thank you for visiting!

Martin Bailey has been releasing weekly podcasts and blog posts since 2005! Almost all of the 760+ posts here contain a full text article with photographs and illustations, and take at least one day, sometimes three to four days to produce.

You are welcome to listen to the Podcast with the audio player and follow along with the images discussed below.

If you value what we do, please consider a Patreon contribution of $3 or more to unlock the full text of more than 760 posts and gain access to the exclusive MBP Community. There are also higher tiers with various benefits, some including one-to-one Mentorship.

Please visit our Patreon site for full details, and take your photography to a whole new level!

Become a Patron!

Existing Patrons please login to access posts and benefits. Thanks for being awesome!

Image Gallery

Extender Demo Setup — Using LED video lighting to demonstrate the EOS R autofocusing with Extenders fitted

EOS R with Lenses and Extenders — The Canon EOS R with 100-400mm and 200-400mm with Extenders.

If no images are displayed here, please refresh your browser.

Martin Bailey is a nature and wildlife photographer and educator based in Tokyo. He's a pioneering Podcaster and blogger, and an X-Rite Coloratti member.

autofocus, Canon EOS R, Extender, mirrorless, Teleconverter, video

6 Comments

Robert Kite
Posted at 05:21h, 21 April Reply

Hey Martin – how would I enable/disable the internal extender on my EOS R?
- Martin Bailey
  Posted at 09:25h, 22 April Reply
  
  Hi Robert! Sorry for the confusion. The “internal” extender that I mention is built into the 200-400mm lens, not the camera. There is no internal extender in the EOS R.
Greg Chapman
Posted at 01:34h, 13 October Reply

Thank you so much for this valuable information Martin. I am new to the photography and am trying to learn what I can before I invest in a camera (which will be the EOS R) and other gear. Your clear explanation and use of video for demonstration is outstanding and very much appreciated.
- Martin Bailey
  Posted at 07:50h, 14 October Reply
  
  You’re welcome Greg. Glad you found this useful.
  
  Regards,
  Martin.
Quazi Sanjeed
Posted at 13:37h, 05 January Reply

Hi Martin. Great review, thank you for that.

Being a Canon DSLR user, I’m one step away from getting my first MILC. Just one question remains to be addressed.

What will happen if I stack two extenders for getting maximum reach? On a f/2.8 telephoto lens, aperture will go down to 8 and 11. But will the combo AF on EOS R or R6?

Thank you in advance.
- Martin Bailey
  Posted at 20:34h, 05 January Reply
  
  Hi Quazi,
  
  Great question. The Canon mirrorless cameras can autofocus down to f/11, so yes, you’d still be able to use that combination with AF on the EOS R and R6.
  
  I hope that helps!
  
  Regards,
  Martin.