Canon RF 1.4× Extender
Mirrorless Teleconverter
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Bodies Compared RF Lenses EF Lenses Flash
Canon RF 1.4× extender (7.9 oz./223g, $499). bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
July 2022 Better Pictures Canon Reviews Mirrorless RF Lenses EF Lenses Flash All Reviews
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Front. bigger. |
Rear. bigger. |
Introduction & Compatibility top
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This is a 1.4× teleconverter for Canon's EOS-R mirrorless system.
It is only compatible with some of Canon's RF mirrorless lenses; see their individual reviews to see if it's compatible.
It cannot be stacked with any other teleconverter, and it cannot be used with any of the EF to RF adapter rings. This is because the lens (or EF to RF adapter ring) needs to have enough rear clearance, both in depth and diameter, to accommodate the converter's protruding front elements.
Like all 1.4× teleconverters, it multiplies the lens' focal length by 1.4, at the expense of losing one stop of speed (multiplying the f/number by 1.4). Some examples:
The RF 100-400mm IS USM becomes a 140-560 mm f/8-11 IS USM.
The RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS becomes a 420-700mm f/8-10 L IS (oddly it only works with the 100-500 set from 300-500mm).
The RF 600mm f/11 IS becomes an 840mm f/16 IS.
The RF 800mm f/11 IS becomes a 1,120mm f/16 IS.
Canon's very serious about the optics; look at the huge curved rear element:
Canon RF 1.4× extender. bigger.
I got my 1.4× Extender at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New intro top
Canon's first full-frame mirrorless teleconverter, along with the Canon RF 2× extender.
Good intro top
Great optics, doesn't seem to lose any sharpness or AF speed.
100% U.S.A.-based high-quality technical support at (800) OK-CANON.
Bad intro top
Nothing; it's a teleconverter
Missing intro top
Nothing; it even comes with a case.
Specifications top
I got my 1.4× Extender at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name specifications top
Canon calls this the Canon EXTENDER RF1.4×:
Extender: Canon's word for a teleconverter.
RF: Works only on Canon's EOS-R Mirrorless cameras.
Canon also call this model number RF1.4× or 4113C002, or 4113C001 in Japan.
Optics specifications top
Canon RF 1.4× Extender internal optical construction.
7 elements in 4 groups.
Caps specifications top
Canon Extender Cap RF. bigger.
Special Canon Extender Cap RF front cap. It's extra deep to accommodate the optics that poke out the front of the extender.
The Canon Extender Cap RF also works as a body cap.
Standard Rear Lens Dust Cap RF (p/n 2962C001).
Case specifications top
Size specifications top
2.80" ø maximum diameter × 0.80" deep from flange to flange.
71.2 mm ø maximum diameter × 20.3 mm deep from flange to flange.
Weight specifications top
7.865 oz. (223.0 g) actual measured weight, converter only.
9.975 oz. (282.7 g) actual measured weight with both caps.
Rated 9.0 oz. (255 g).
Quality specifications top
Made in Taiwan.
Announced specifications top
09 July 2020.
Included specifications top
1.4× Extender.
Rear Lens Dust Cap RF (p/n 2962C001).
Canon's Model Numbers specifications top
RF1.4× or 4113C002 (4113C001 in Japan).
JAN code: 4549292-168044.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
$499 new, or about $400 used if you know How to Win at eBay, July 2022.
$499, August 2020.
Performance top
Mechanics Sharpness Stabilization
I got my 1.4× Extender at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
This little chunk of optics and electronics just works.
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus doesn't seem to be any slower.
Macro Performance performance top
Everything is 40% larger, multiplying macro performance by 1.4.
Minimum & Maximum Apertures performance top
Minimum & Maximum apertures are all exactly one stop smaller than they were for the lens alone.
An f/11 lens becomes f/16.
A lens that stops down to f/22 now stops down to f/32.
The camera shows the correct (smaller) apertures.
Mechanical Quality performance top
Front. bigger.
Rear. bigger.
Finish & Exterior
Light matte plastic.
Front Bumper
Rubber bumper on protruding front optics.
Identity
Dark grey paint.
Dust Gasket at Rear Mount
Yes.
Mounts
Dull chromed metal.
Markings
Paint.
Serial Number
Laser engraved in black-on-black on bottom of the lens barrel.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
None; solid as a rock.
Made in
Made in Taiwan.
Sharpness performance top
Regardless of how sharp this converter and associated lens may be, at these focal lengths it is very difficult to get images that preserve all the sharpness possessed by these optics. See my User's Guide.
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
MTF with various lenses at 10 cyc/mm (black) and 30 cyc/mm (blue). Sagittal (solid) and meridional (dashed).
Image Stabilization performance top
This converter adds no Image Stabilization of its own.
It does send the correct new focal length data to your camera, so the lens' and possibly camera's own IS systems will work properly.
Of course with 40% more magnification, you have to shoot at a half stop faster shutter speeds to get similarly sharp results to what you get without the converter.
User's Guide top
I got my 1.4× Extender at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Getting Sharp Pictures
Even though this convertor and Canon's RF lenses are super sharp, it is 40% more difficult to get sharp pictures with this converter than without it, because it adds 40% to any errors in your technique, adds 40% to any motion blur, 40% to any defocus and 40% to any heat shimmer and other atmospheric flaws. You have to know what you're doing to get ultrasharp photos with this in the real world.
Camera shake is 5.6 times as bad because we are adding 40% to any shake, and losing a stop of light meaning exposures twice as long, or ISOs twice as high, or a combination of the two.
Hand motion is helped by Image Stabilization, but hand-held we're still going to have to shoot at higher shutter speeds and ISOs than without this converter. Higher ISOs result in softer images.
I always get sharp images hand-held, but the catch is that the ISOs can get very high, even in daylight. If you need images that stand up to extreme enlargement, consider a tripod so you can use ISO 100.
If you use a tripod, use the Self Timer so you don't shake the camera, and use the electronic or electronic first-curtain shutter so the camera doesn't shake itself.
Auto ISO, the only way I ever shoot handheld, will magically shoot at faster shutter speeds, as it defaults to AUTO for minimum shutter speed, which will increase with the converter. As you become a better shot and can shoot at slower shutter speeds, then you can use slower ISOs for sharper pictures.
Heat shimmer isn't usually visible to the naked eye anyplace other than desert mirages, but through binoculars or this converter, it becomes very important. As the air changes temperature, it changes its index of refraction. Any variation of air temperature between you and the subject means the air will start to bend light, and any light bending means you're losing sharpness. This lens has so much magnification that it's common that you'll be able to see the shimmer. Heat shimmer is exactly what you may see over a fire or hot stove; with this lens, you'll see the same thing but over things that aren't anywhere near as hot. You can get heat shimmer in the winter just as well; it's caused by variations in temperature, not by heat itself. This leads to a lot of real-world sharpness reduction, and it gets worse over longer distances — which is exactly what we shoot with this lens.
When shooting anything in the Heavens, the sky is always moving. With this extender I can see the motion of celestial objects across the finder with my naked eyes! Because of this you have to use a short enough shutter speed to stop that action, or ideally need an astronomical clock drive to track the motion so you can use slower speeds at lower ISOs.
All in all, it's miraculous that I get results as good as I do, but if you don't, try not to blame the converter. Shooting with a converter in the real world can be tough; let your camera use the high ISOs it was designed to use in Auto ISO and it will save you from most of the headaches.
Recommendations top
I got my 1.4× Extender at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This is a great accessory to keep in your case if you have any of the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS, RF 600mm f/11 IS or RF 800mm f/11 IS lenses. With the super-high ISOs and magic viewing and autofocus systems of the EOS R series of cameras, this converter works miracles.
If you're only getting one converter, get the RF 2× converter instead. By itself, a 1.4x converter doesn't do that much; it doens't make that much difference in magnification. 1.4x converters were popular back in the 1900s with film, where we dearly needed every stop just so we could see through our finders, get autofocus and be able to make short enough exposures to stop action. Today with mirrorless digital, those problems are much less severe, so just go with the 2× if you're getting just one teleconverter.
I got my 1.4× Extender at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used converter. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken Rockwell
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