400mm f/5.6 with Canon 1.4x iii extender: any good?

[andy792]

Can someone share the experience of the 400mm f/5.6 with 1.4x iii on the 5D2?

I know that AF for 1.4x ii works only on the 1 series bodies. What about 1.4x iii? Does AF work on the 5D2?

Thanks

 

[Gary S]

No, the AF requirements are the same with version III. It's the camera though, not the converter. At this time only 1D series bodies will AF with reporting converters on f5.6 lenses.

Surprisingly, Canon's new 1DX will not focus with those combinations either.

There are choices though. You can put tape over three pins on the conveter and the camera will not know it's attached. That way it will still AF.

You can buy a cheaper, non-reporting converter, and the camera will still AF.

Both choices usually require good lighting and contrasty subjects to AF reliably. It will work, just not as good as the bare lens. The best results will be in good lighting.

The image quality does take a hit. Not terribly, but not everyone is happy with it. Some say it's acceptable to them, some don't. It's a personal choice.

I've used both choices along with using that combo on my 1D cameras. The imgage quality is generally "good enough" for most photo usage. In my opinion the AF inconsistency when using a non reporting converter is a bigger issue. It almost requires good lighting and/or contrast.

 

[haliapsychologika]

I am using 400 5.6 + kenko dgx pro 1.4 extender on a 7D.AF works with outer focus points but it sure slows down.IQ is quite acceptable and when used in good light and contrasty subjects it's very good provided you nail the focus. For non moving subjects I prefer to use live view,focus is always accurate.

 

[rebel99]

i tried this combo with my newly acquired 1dmk4 last april and result was very good, no degradation of IQ and the photos i took were sharp and contrasty as bare 400 f5.6 unfortunately, i can't post the result online for you to view because i am oversees right now and don't have those shots with me happy zooming.

cheerz.

Can someone share the experience of the 400mm f/5.6 with 1.4x iii on the 5D2?

I know that AF for 1.4x ii works only on the 1 series bodies. What about 1.4x iii? Does AF work on the 5D2?

Thanks

 

[M Mason]

There are choices though. You can put tape over three pins on the conveter and the camera will not know it's attached. That way it will still AF.

I have never had a reason to tape the pins, but a question does come to mind: Does the cameras aperture still work properly? Would adding a taped or non-reporting 1.4x teleconverter be similar to adding a one stop ND filter? i.e. the camera sees less light at the meter and adjusts the exposure variables accordingly? Inquiring minds.....

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Gary S]

The camera does not close the aperture on the lens but you're right, there is about a 1-stop light loss from the converter. Metering does still work normally. I've never had an issue there. Often to achieve more sharpness, you can manually stop down the lens one stop. Or 2/3. Again, good lighting is going to be key.

I have never had a reason to tape the pins, but a question does come to mind: Does the cameras aperture still work properly? Would adding a taped or non-reporting 1.4x teleconverter be similar to adding a one stop ND filter? i.e. the camera sees less light at the meter and adjusts the exposure variables accordingly? Inquiring minds.....

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Gary S]

So the center point does not focus? I've heard good things about that kenko dgx pro and I may pick one up to try it for a while.

Thanks

I am using 400 5.6 + kenko dgx pro 1.4 extender on a 7D.AF works with outer focus points but it sure slows down.IQ is quite acceptable and when used in good light and contrasty subjects it's very good provided you nail the focus. For non moving subjects I prefer to use live view,focus is always accurate.

 

[KevinRA]

Only had experience with the kenko pro and the canon version 2 extender with this lens - and on the 20D and 50D.

Taping the kenko pro worked reasonably - worth it on the low density pixel 20D but not on the 50D - the latter showed up the IQ loss a bit more and was therefore not worth the hassle.

The canon 1.4 II did not like having its pins taped - made the lens oscillate like crazy!

Dont know about the 1.4 III.

Might be worth it on the 5D for occasional use in good light - suggest the kenko pro.

 

[Matt105483]

the tape will allow some kind of very slow but completely unusable autofocus (tried with 500,5.6+7D+1.4xIII)

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Nothing to see here ...

 

[andy792]

Thank you everyone for the inputs. It looks as adding the 1.4x extender is not a very good option for me, because fast AF is the key requirements for my sports shooting (mostly surfing).

I have been shooting surfers with the 7D +400mm f/5.6 for about a year and was more or less happy with the results ... before I tried 5D2. Yesterday, I tested my new 5D2 shooting parasurfers from the distance of about 150-200m. To be honest, I was surprised that the IQ was much better than the 7D. I was prepared also to digest potential troubles with AF on AI servo, but it was not the case either. I had about 260 pictures and only 15-20 were out of focus.

Even with the effective range of 640mm on the 7D, the IQ of 150% crop of 5D at 400mm is much better. So I am trying to find a feasible solution how to increase the reach to 500-600mm yet keep the same IQ. It seems the only option would be to get a monster 500mm or 600mm or wait for the coming 200-400mm with embedded 1.4x assuming it will be reasonable priced (which I doubt).

 

[Gary S]

Here's a few shots for reference if they're useful to anyone. First is a bare 400 f5.6 prime on a 7D. Second photo is a non-reporting Tamron 1.4x on the 400 f5.6 prime. Camera was a 20D if I remember right. Small photo but it's all I have. You'll have to take my word for it when I say it's generally "good enough" for most photo usage by hobbyists. Depends on the person, and in some cases the subject.

 

[andy792]

Here's a few shots for reference if they're useful to anyone. First is a bare 400 f5.6 prime on a 7D. Second photo is a non-reporting Tamron 1.4x on the 400 f5.6 prime. Camera was a 20D if I remember right. Small photo but it's all I have. You'll have to take my word for it when I say it's generally "good enough" for most photo usage by hobbyists. Depends on the person, and in some cases the subject.

Nice pictures, Gary. I have a similar IQ on the 7D. However, comparing 100% crops with the 5D2, I can see the IQ of the latter is much better. Period.

What about AF and AI servo with Tamron 1.4 on the 400mm?

 

[Gary S]

I've thought about buying the 5DII for a couple of different reasons. Can you post the comparison crops you're referring to? Curious to see them. I should go rent one for a few days, haven't done that yet.

Servo with the 1.4x again requires good lighting and contrast. I've used it at some of the Surfing events in the past. The thing I remember is when shooting with the sun behind me (morning on the west coast) it would perform reasonably well. Once the sun got overhead or slightly backlit for the subject it would become erratic and I'd see more misfocused shots. That may have just been an issue with my 20D's, had two of them back in those days.

In later years I picked up a couple 1D Mark III's and the 300 f2.8 with a Canon 2x converter. That combo produced some pretty nice photos but I still think the bare 400 f5.6 looked better. And of course faster AF. I still have all that gear and during the last Surfing contest I just took the 7D and 400 f5.6. Got some nice shots.

 

[andy792]

I've thought about buying the 5DII for a couple of different reasons. Can you post the comparison crops you're referring to? Curious to see them. I should go rent one for a few days, haven't done that yet.

Servo with the 1.4x again requires good lighting and contrast. I've used it at some of the Surfing events in the past. The thing I remember is when shooting with the sun behind me (morning on the west coast) it would perform reasonably well. Once the sun got overhead or slightly backlit for the subject it would become erratic and I'd see more misfocused shots. That may have just been an issue with my 20D's, had two of them back in those days.

In later years I picked up a couple 1D Mark III's and the 300 f2.8 with a Canon 2x converter. That combo produced some pretty nice photos but I still think the bare 400 f5.6 looked better. And of course faster AF. I still have all that gear and during the last Surfing contest I just took the 7D and 400 f5.6. Got some nice shots.

Gary, I will post 100% crops next week. Cannot do it now, because my monthly dpreview uploading quota is over. Perhaps I will take both the 7D and 5D2 to the beach this weekend to compare under the same lightning conditions.