400mm f5.6 and 1.4 tc

[Roy C]

Any of you guys with the 400mm f5.6 canon prime using a tc with the lens? If so which tc do you use and what sort of results are you getting.
I have a 1.4 Canon mk2 tc that I use (pins taped for AF) with mixed results but in general I struggle to get a good shot hand held even if I have a say 1/2000 sec speed.
On another forum I have seen examples of the 100-400 + Kenko Pro 1.4tc and the results are far better than I get with the prime - All the expert views that I read say's that a prime is much better than a zoom when using a tc but I am beggining to doubt this. Maybe it is just down to the zoom having IS or could it be that the Kenko pro is better than the Canon converter.

[Maple]

Hi Roy. I have the Canon 400mm and 1.4 converter (Kenko Pro). The pins are taped and in good light and a subject with decent contrast I can get quite a fast focus (you'll find there's a certain knack to do this). As far as the quality is concerned, you would be hard pressed to know the difference and I have no hesitation in using it.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

have you tried using the combination on a tripod?

If you are using a canon body with a 1.6x convertion factor , that means you're trying to hand-hold a 900mm f8 lens I think geoff Capes would strugle with that one

neil

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

have you tried using the combination on a tripod?

If you are using a canon body with a 1.6x convertion factor , that means you're trying to hand-hold a 900mm f8 lens I think geoff Capes would strugle with that one

neil

Yes, I have used a tripod and got reasonable results but not that good. By the way the 100-400 zoom with the Kenko pro samples that I saw were all hand held with shutter speeds down to 1/250 and were better than I get using a tripod. like I say this was probably down to IS.

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by Maple

Hi Roy. I have the Canon 400mm and 1.4 converter (Kenko Pro). The pins are taped and in good light and a subject with decent contrast I can get quite a fast focus (you'll find there's a certain knack to do this). As far as the quality is concerned, you would be hard pressed to know the difference and I have no hesitation in using it.

Hi maple, I have no problem with getting reasonable fast AF with the Canon tc - like you say there is a knack to it but it is sharpness and IQ that concerns me.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

I can't see it being the lens & converter thats the problem , unless tou have a dud.The combination is used by some pros. , and they wouldn't use them if they were no good.
I think one problem with photos on forums is that they can have been sharpened a lot in computer which would make them look much better.
I still think it could be camera shake that's softening your shots. Try looking at Moose Patersons website , he has a great long tele technique.

neil

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

I can't see it being the lens & converter thats the problem , unless tou have a dud.The combination is used by some pros. , and they wouldn't use them if they were no good.
I think one problem with photos on forums is that they can have been sharpened a lot in computer which would make them look much better.
I still think it could be camera shake that's softening your shots. Try looking at Moose Patersons website , he has a great long tele technique.

neil

I think you are right when you say it is camera shake but what I cant understand is that I have taken over 40k of shots with the bare 400mm f5.6 and have no problems at all with handholding and getting sharp shots at 1/500 sec and below ( see my Gallery) by my reckoning I should be able to get sharp shots with the 1.4 tc at 1/1000.
I know there is no problem with the IQ of the tc as it work brilliantly with my 70-200 f4

[wildlifesnapper]

Thats a lot of photos , and with that amount of practice I too think you should get a good percentage of sharp shots with the TC at 1/1000 or 1/2000.
It's only a thought but have you tried taking a shot of something with the TC on and AF and then taking the same shot in manual focus.What I'm thinking is could the AF be slightly out with the TC fitted. Just an idea.

neil

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Thats a lot of photos , and with that amount of practice I too think you should get a good percentage of sharp shots with the TC at 1/1000 or 1/2000.
It's only a thought but have you tried taking a shot of something with the TC on and AF and then taking the same shot in manual focus.What I'm thinking is could the AF be slightly out with the TC fitted. Just an idea.

neil

Thats a good idea Neil, I will conduct some test -Thanks.

[nightshade]

The anti shake must work in a designed range for 400mm,surely if you add x1.4
you are taking it outside that range so it would not be as effective