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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Roy C" data-source="post: 1368720" data-attributes="member: 18798">Of course it is slow Kevin, trying to AF at f8 on a camera that is designed to AF at f5.6 max will always be a compromise. Even on the 30D it was very slow to AF at times. The point is there is certainly no programming to stop you doing it.I guess my technique for using the lens with a taped tc does help me a lot. For a start I use the AF-ON button exclusively for focusing, this means that you have manual focusing at your finger tips at all times, even in AI servo mode. Couple this with the fact that I always use a tripod when using the lens with a taped tc. Then if the AF is struggling a bit it is easy to roughly manual focus and then let the AF take over. The worst situations are when there is a bird in heavy branches/foliage, in these cases I usually end up manually focusing, but again this is a lot easier when on a tripod.I have found that hand holding the lens and trying to manually focus is very difficult, especially if you are also using the AF-ON button to focus. Most of my shooting is done in an open estuary where there is often a fair contrast between the bird and the surroundings so AF works pretty good. The one thing that does peeve me at times when using a taped tc is when some fast flyer's appear - I almost always end up missing them :C whereas with the bare 400 f5.6 hand held there are few better lenses for flyers.This bird photography lark is not easy but I guess that is the beauty of it, it is great when you actually nail one :t:Have a good new year Kevin.</blockquote>

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