100 - 400IS with 1:4 converter

[roypotter]

Has anyone used a 1:4 canon converter with the 100-400IS lens & a 10D ?
Does the lens still auto focus ?
How great is the light & image quality loss ?
Any advice / guidance appreciated as I'm considering adding the converter to the armoury but am unsure of the capabilities regarding lower light levels or faster shutter speeds.

Roy :h?:

[CJW]

Hello Roy and welcome to Bird Forum from all the Moderators and Admin. Staff
A mate of mine (peteh) is a member on here and I know he has used that combo on his 10D. With any luck, he'll be on sometime today to help you with your query.

[roypotter]

Thanks for that Chris.
Will look out for him


roy

[CJW]

In the meantime, have a look at his photos on the Gallery:

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=826

[Steve G]

Hi Roy,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the 10D will not autofocus with apertures smaller than f5.6. The 100-400 lens has has a 4.5-5.6 smallest aperture & will lose a further 1 stop of light with a 1.4 convertor >effectively becoming f8 when extended to 400mm & fitted with the convertor so it will not autofocus. The image stabilisation, etc will work however & there is next to no drop in image quality.
Regards,
Steve

[peteh]

Hello Roy,

I have the 1.4TC autofocusing on the 100-400L IS by just doing the "sellotape trick".
Its no big deal just a matter of putting ordinary sellotape over 3 pins, its really easy and it doesnt damage the camera or lens.
The autofocus does hunt for a second or two in the not perfect light conditions but it still works which is the most important thing. Ive used the 1.4TC with autofocus on to take photos of birds in flight so its certainly not slow in picking things up.
Its definately worth have a TC in your armoury, theres always times when birds are further away than you want.
I would say though, if your wanting really sharp shots with the TC then the camera definately needs to be on a tripod.

Hope that helps
Pete.

[roypotter]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the info, it sounds like a 1:4TC is a good addition & will be perfectly usable in most conditions.I've heard of the taping trick but could you explain which pins to tape & are they on the lens or converter ?
I'm of to trawl the net for a S/H 1:4 now ! :t:

Roy

[peteh]

I followed the advice on this link.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/TipsPage/

Tip 1 it is.

Regards
Pete.

[christineredgate]

Roy,thankyou for asking the question and Pete,thankyou for the link.I had seen this info earlier,but did not want to look a com plete idiot by asking what sort of tape,or where one put it,but have copied the image.

[Charlie M]

Hi,
I p/exed an old style 1.4x T/C for a new version 2x and to be honest really wish I hadn't. There was virtually no image loss with the 1.4x (used with the Canon 300D and 100-400IS), but can I get a sharp shot with the 2x - not so far, and I doubt I will. Everything just softens up and doesn't look "real". If my pride doesn't get in the way, I guess I'm going to have to swallow the cash loss and try to p/ex the "new" for "old" again...(I should have come to BF for advice first!)

[peteh]

Im sure getting a sharp shot with a 2x TC can be done. Just that you would have to work extra hard on stopping the vibrations. Like using a tripod, remote, probably mirror lock up etc etc.
Ive seen in Steve Young's books he sometimes stacks TCs! and still gets sharp shots.

[LzyPhotographer]

You can get sharp images with the 2x TC... *IF* you're in really bright light and use a tripod and don't breathe!

[Charlie M]

To not breathing, using a tripod and a remote release, only using it in bright light (all of which I've tried) I would add - only photograph when there is no air pollution, no haze, no high contrast, no movement of anything (including the earth's spin), your circadian rhythm is just right to release your inner "Steve Young", and the world is your best friend between the shutter opening and the shutter closing: like I said, not impossible, just that I doubt I'll ever get the perfect alignment of mental state and the planets that I need...:))

[Andy Bright]

Talking of stacking tc's ....I've tried that on a few very desperate occasions in the last couple of months (1.4x, 2x, 500mm). Good light & stop down to f8+ & crank the iso up to get a sensible shutter-speed if needed & expect to do much in-computer & a prayer to whatever god you can think of.

Don't expect miracles...but it may save your bacon in those once in a lifetime opportunities where you just can't get close ....wallcreeper 100 yards away across mine field. Though I may just gamble on not stepping on any mines ;)

[Paulyoly]

I've seen plenty of sharp images with a 2x converter, but not on a canon 100-400L IS. Mostly using the canon 500 f4L.