Canon 100-400mm IS Lens plus 1x4 MK11 teleconverter

[Wildbear]

Hi Guys,

Heard a few bad things about adding a teleconverter, but what are your thoughts?

Would it be no good right through to full telephoto capacity, or would it be okay say up to 5-600mm?

Help?

Mike

[colincurry]

Hallo Mike

There are threads on WAB on this topic.

Look at 'John''s pictures. He uses this combo quite a lot and finds it succesful.

I too have this combo. You need to tape three of the contacts on the TC to retain the auto focus. This is also covered in the various threads or you can google it.

When taped, the AF works quite well in good light and against a clear background. You can also use the MF on a tripod but may have to switch off the IS - there are two schools of thought on this.

I do most of my snapping on the hoof on circular walks and I do not always take the TC with me. I have found it useful when in a hide.

Others much more experienced and expert than I will no doubt be able to give you a more complete picture.

If I had the chance to do it again, I probably would rely on 400mm range and CS3 rather than invest in a TC, and save the money towards another lens. Having said that, perhaps one day I will invest in a prime lens and would then use the TC more often.

This will be a very personal choice and it will depend on what type of photography you wish to do and the circumstances in which you wish to do so.

Hope this helps a little.

Regards

Colin

[Wildbear]

CS3, what is one of them?

[colincurry]

Adobe Photoshop program

[Badllarma]

Hi Wildbear I've done a few test and 1.4 is ok x2 is VERY soft hope that helps

[Jim Ford]

With image stabilisation built into the lens, surely the addition of a converter between the lens and camera body will affect the functioning?

Jim

[Badllarma]

IS makes no difference x 2 is VERY SOFT full stop. x1.4 is ok but still not as good as just the lens itself, IS on a tripod is a Big no no BTW

[John]

I have the 1.4 connected virtually the whole of the time I take photos. There are many times I am also using MF instead of Autofocus and still find it an excellent piece of equipment.

In low light the 100-400 does tend to hunt with the 1.4 on but unless the subject is continually on the move this isn't usually too much of a problem.

I certainly wouldn't recommend using a 2x as the results are far too soft, plus the lens would tend to hunt a fair bit more.

John

[GerryNick2]

I used a Canon 40D + 100-400mm + Canon 1.4tc in a hide at the WWT earlier this year. The camera was tripod mounted and manual focus used. In short the images were very disapointing, very soft and even at 200 ISO very grainy.
The images taken without the tc and later cropped were a lot better.

If you are desperate for the extra focal length, on a tight budget and prepared to accept softer images then a 1.4tc may be the answer. For me the converter is unlikely to come out of the bag again, another waste of money trying to find a cheap solution.

Gerry

[JeffH]

I too have this combination and have used it with varying degrees of success, though I do regard the TC as giving fairly good value for money.

I can't really add much more to what's already been said and I think Colin's comment sums it up -

Originally Posted by colincurry

.....This will be a very personal choice and it will depend on what type of photography you wish to do and the circumstances in which you wish to do so....Colin

I know that John has had some excellent results with his set-up, though Gerry is clearly much less impressed

So, you pays your money (or not) and takes your choice!

Jeff