EF400mm/5.6 with teleconverter, need HELP

[John Ling]

Is there anyone to has experience with this lens attached with a converter? I put on a EF1.4xII (taped 3 pins), got AF on but lens hunting A LOT. Anyone here uses other converter can improve these issues ?

Thanks.

[David Stephens]

My experience was the same as yours. The resulting AF was too slow for birds in flight or anything moving much at all. In really good light, with a slow subject, it was ok. I gave up on it after only a couple of outings. This lens is fantastic as a fast focusing 400mm, but pushing it further just doesn't work well.

[John Ling]

Thanks. It is said that the lens with other converter will be faster in AF, have you tried that?

My experience was the same as yours. The resulting AF was too slow for birds in flight or anything moving much at all. In really good light, with a slow subject, it was ok. I gave up on it after only a couple of outings. This lens is fantastic as a fast focusing 400mm, but pushing it further just doesn't work well.

[David Stephens]

I've never heard that or tried another converter. Mine's the EF 1.4x TC.

[Flavio Rose]

I tried a third party (nonreporting) 1.4x tc on my 400 f/5.6 on an XTi. I gave up on it. Not only would it focus very slowly, even with manual prefocus, but optical quality was poor -- this may have been due to the use of a cheap third party tc. In addition I felt it would often not try to focus at all, taking my manual prefocus as being good enough.

Nonetheless, I feel tempted to try an untaped Canon 1.4x with the 7D in live view mode on a tripod only.

There was a thread on this subject before in which Christopher Cooke said he got good results with his 1.4x + 400 f/5.6 on a 1D3 (if memory serves me). You don't say what body you used.

[John Chardine]

John- A 1.4 converter will cause only half the light to impinge on the auto-focus sensor thus making it slower to function. If I were you I would be more interested in image quality because focusing can be done manually (or automatically on the 1D bodies). I have the Canon combo and have been extremely pleased with the results optically. Bottom line- you put a great quality tc on a great quality lens and you get great results. BTW the AF speed isn't bad on the 1DmkIV.

[David Stephens]

...

Nonetheless, I feel tempted to try an untaped Canon 1.4x with the 7D in live view mode on a tripod only.

There was a thread on this subject before in which Christopher Cooke said he got good results with his 1.4x + 400 f/5.6 on a 1D3 (if memory serves me). You don't say what body you used.

I was using my 7D/400mm f/5.6L/1.4x TC (taped) on a tripod and it wasn't useful at all, except for posing birds. It was useless for birds in flight.

The pro bodies evidently give you useful AF functionality with the 1.4x TC. Before you buy the pro body you have to then consider the EF 500mm f/4L IS, which works great with the 1.4x TC. That's what I did.

[John Ling]

Thanks a lot everyone. I have got the message.

[John Ling]

400mm/f5.6 is described as poor guy"s lens for bird. I am one of the poor poor guys. hahaha.

I was using my 7D/400mm f/5.6L/1.4x TC (taped) on a tripod and it wasn't useful at all, except for posing birds. It was useless for birds in flight.

The pro bodies evidently give you useful AF functionality with the 1.4x TC. Before you buy the pro body you have to then consider the EF 500mm f/4L IS, which works great with the 1.4x TC. That's what I did.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

I also have taped pins on my canon 1.4x to use it with the 400 f5.6L. Its so frustrating that I dont try it anymore. On my 40D, AF works a little better with the outer focus points than the central one....but not quick enough. To get better IQ, you have to stop down to f/9. Doing hand-held work is very difficult. Better to use it on tripod and then do manual focussing.

[Roy Churchill]

Using a taped converter with the 400/5.6 worked fairly well with the 30D. But from the 40D onwards it was not nearly as good (I tried both Canon and Kenko pro tc's with the same results). As indicated by Kaustubh it works better if you use one of the outer focus points but still not ideal. When I had the 400/5.6 I used it with a tc on a tripod as manual focussing is a lot easier.

[Christopher C.M. Cooke]

I agree with Roy, the ONLY non pro body that was of any use with a taped 1.4X TC was my 30D bodies and it was not great but the secret is to "Pre Focus" the lens to the approx. distance you anticipate the subject will be at and stay away from diving Peregrines or Welcome Swallows.

On my 1DMKIII it works just fine (no taping needed) but as previously stated it always pays to pre focus the lens.

I would not waste my time on any non pro bodies unless you can lay your hands on a good 30D (I have 2 as backups and I ain't selling) :}

[Julie Brown]

I have followed these discussions with interest since I joined BPN. As do many of us, I lust for the 500 f4L IS, but the price is prohibitive. I bought the 400 f5.6L for its light weight and fast AF. The advice given to me many times is to improve your skill and practice getting closer, and doing that has improved my bird photography. So here is the solution that works for me-RENT A LENS! I am renting the 300 f2.8L IS for the Labor Day weekend. It is not that heavy and performs well with the 2X extender! :D

[Christopher C.M. Cooke]

Well said Julie, being finally retired I have the long whites but my preference is still to get on my motorcycles with my 400 f/5.6, 300 f/4, 135 f/2 1.4 X and mono-pod and head of into the wilds chasing birds with the light stuff.

My advice for folk who can't afford to own the Big Whites (or are simply more intelligent than myself) is to rent them occasionally and learn the good and bad points of using these fine but demanding optics, if you like them plan your outings to suit rent the lens and have fun in the knowledge that you use what you pay the rent for and not have it sitting in storage for the miserable wet months of Winter (as we are suffering now.)

I am reduced to shooting from our passageway to the birds out in the back garden.

[Julie Brown]

Chris, the photo you posted above shows that the 500 requires a heavier setup than the smaller lenses. I like being able to put the 300 on a monopod and walk around all day with it. As you also pointed out-big expensive lenses might not be used all of the time, so why pay all that money if it is going to sit at home? Another point regarding John's original question: I tried stacking TCs on my 300 f4L IS, but had to shoot off a tripod with manual focus. Tough to do with moving subjects, and the IQ suffers.:(

[Gene C. Callison]

I would give careful consideration to adding a 1.4 of any brand to a 400 5.6 for optical degrading reasons. Just yesterday, wanting to travel light I got reaquainted with my 400 5.6 after a long stretch of using the 300 2.8L is or 500 F4L is. My 300 2.8 with Canon 1.4 EF is noticably sharper than the bare 400 5.6. Unless there are no other alternatives I would avoid using a TC with that lens. Even though you can get the camera to focus with taped pins, focus will not be very accurate IMO.

Gene

[Roger Clark]

Chris, the photo you posted above shows that the 500 requires a heavier setup than the smaller lenses. I like being able to put the 300 on a monopod and walk around all day with it. As you also pointed out-big expensive lenses might not be used all of the time, so why pay all that money if it is going to sit at home?

While this may be an individual thing, I can say that I take my 500 f/4 out more often than my 300 f/2.8 or 300 f/4. But it does depend on the outing. If I'm going for a casual hike, then I'll take the 300 f/2.8 (28 pound pack with two bodies, other lenses no tripod, sunblock etc). If I take the 500, it is for a dedicated photo outing and I take a tripod (probably more than 40 pounds of gear). If I want to travel light, then it is 1 body and the 300 f/4. If I had to start over, I would get the 500 before a 300 f2.8. But I'm glad I've got mine as the prices on the new lenses have increased a huge amount.

Roger

[Christopher C.M. Cooke]

My 300 2.8 with Canon 1.4 EF is noticably sharper than the bare 400 5.6

That entirely depends on where you are, how you got there, how you get back, how well you try to blend in to your surrounds, how well you can pan your unit, how many cameras you want with you and most importantly how well you know your subject in relation to your equipment.

Your equipment is only as good as the ability of the person using it.

Food for thought? :)

[Julie Brown]

If I'm going for a casual hike, then I'll take the 300 f/2.8 (28 pound pack with two bodies, other lenses no tripod, sunblock etc). If I take the 500, it is for a dedicated photo outing and I take a tripod (probably more than 40 pounds of gear)

As Roger noted, it is an individual choice. I used to carry about 40 lbs when backcountry camping, but now my knees don't allow that. When I have the 300 f2.8 on a monopod, I also like to carry another body with my 300 f4 for its closer minimum focus (1.5m), as well as my 400 f5.6 for BIF. In fact, this is what I will be carrying with me tomorrow for a half-day bird photography hike around a local reservoir. In addition I will need sunscreen, water, and snacks. A 28lb pack feels a lot better than 40 pounds of gear!:D

[Christopher C.M. Cooke]

A 28lb pack feels a lot better than 40 pounds of gear!:D

I suspect that I have arrived at the age when I am considering advertising for a group of Porters and a comfortable Camel for my future excursions into the wilds, now I wonder if Gitzo make a suitable camera mount for a "Hump" that will take the 500mm.

Now off to find some Khaki clothing and a Solar Topee

After all one must look the part. :)

[Julie Brown]

Chris, what is a topee?:confused:

[Christopher C.M. Cooke]

Julie, the photo of the "Pith Helmet" is called a "Solar Topee" and was used by our colonial masters to protect their highly inbred British brains from the hot sun so often found in their Colonies.

Love them or hate them the English (and my Father was one) did things "their way" and like it or not, they were the best colonial masters that this world had, (I personally do not believe in colonialism) but compared to The Spanish, Portuguese, Belgians, French, Dutch, German, Japanese, Russian and let us not forget American they were the most organized and honest of a bad lot.

So as I drift of into my dotage, accompanied by my Arthritis, Diabetes, Essential Hypertension and Pending Dementia :) I will go to my maker dressed like my British forbears and like them, dignified and drunk.:D

[Ian Cassell]

I use my 7D and 400/5.6 with my Sigma EX 1.4X and/or my Sigma EX 2X. Optically, the combination is fine (better with the 1.4 than the 2), but the AF is no good with either one when I taped the pins. I gave up with that and use MF (very frustrating with BIF!)