1.4x TC with Canon 100-400mm L IS USM?

[Matt_IOM]

Anyone know whether it is worth having a 1.4x TC in the kit bag when using the Canon 100-400 L IS USM? I know you lose AF, but I could live with that if it gives me extra reach whilst retaining image quality. Anyone tried this before?

Thanks,
Matt.

[tristanba]

many people find this combination a bit soft, whereas IQ with the 400mm prime and 1.4x is acceptable

[Rob T]

Soft ! I wouldnt be as polite as that. I bought a non canon x2 and the results were very poor, so I bought a canon 1.4 mk II with pretty much the same results, and the 100-400 I have produces pretty good results on its own.

However when used with my 300f4 the results are excelllent so I know the 1.4isnt duff. In my opinion if you bought one I think you would get better results using the lense on its own and cropping to the same 560 eqv. image size and therefore would feel happier with the converter safely zipped up in your kit bag.

Just my humble opinion though Matt.

Regards

Rob

[Words]

I use it very rarely and only when the light is excellent. IS falls apart on the 100-400 so I switch that off which means a solid resting point or tripod. Mostly it stays in the bag, though in the right conditions it's ok. Works well with my macro lens though, so not entirely a wasted purchase.

[GerryNick2]

I have to agree with the majority on this one Matt. I tried the 100-400mm + 1.4x MkII TC under a range of conditions and was very disappointed with the results. The TC stays at home now as I can get better results by cropping the images from the 100-400mm. I would save the money and put it to a better use.

Gerry

[DaiTheDragon]

All I can say is that nearly all my bird photographs are taken with the 100-400mm and 1.4 converter.

Dai

[Hobjob]

I'm coming to the same conclusion at Matt - but others don't agree.
Check out "john"s photo in the Gallery and his own website
(coventrybirder) - he uses the 1.4 + 100-400 pump 99% of
the time and hand held.

I presume you know it won't autofocus without taping up
some of the contacts - details easily acquired via google.

Originally Posted by Rob T

Soft ! I wouldnt be as polite as that. I bought a non canon x2 and the results were very poor, so I bought a canon 1.4 mk II with pretty much the same results, and the 100-400 I have produces pretty good results on its own.

However when used with my 300f4 the results are excelllent so I know the 1.4isnt duff. In my opinion if you bought one I think you would get better results using the lense on its own and cropping to the same 560 eqv. image size and therefore would feel happier with the converter safely zipped up in your kit bag.

Just my humble opinion though Matt.

Regards

Rob

[Rob T]

Mmm. . . OK, Im not going to argue with the quality of Dia or John's shots they are superb, but that did get me thinking (theres a first).

So why cant Words, Gerry and myself get any results with this set up well I checked and all three of us use the same camera the 40D.

I can remember taking 3 reasonable bird shots the only shots I ever kept with the 100-400 +x2 early last year so I checked them and found I used my old faithfull 300D as the camera.

The next question is (a bit obvious) what camera body's do Dai and John use ?

Id like to think they dont use 40D's.

You might have your answer yet Matt.

Regards

Rob

[Matt_IOM]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm beginning to think that this may not be the best for me.

I have only had the lens/camera for about 2 months now and I'm rather inexperienced at nature photography. I did a lot of landscape/macro photograpgy when I was younger (8ish yrs ago) but I was at school/uni and couldn't afford the right kit for birds, plus the times have moved on and all this new technology is rather new to me!!

I have been finding that sometimes the 400 just didn't quite have the reach for the smaller subjects leaving me with a very small, not very detailed subject. However today, I used the simplest of hides in the garden and waited for them to come to me. It didn't take long. The difference was amazing and I took one of my sharpest and most detailed images to date.



So I think I may save my £220 and spend it on something more worthwile. I am in need of a decent tripod so that should cover me nicely. And from today's experience, a hide may come in extremely handy!

Once again thanks for all the replies.

Best wishes,
Matt.

[DaiTheDragon]

I think John is using a 30D. I use a 1DMarkllN but have used a 30D and 50D with this lens setup.

Dai