Canon 5d mk ii + 400mm f5.6 L+ TC. ??

Russell Davies wrote:

Hi Members Just looking for some help here please.

Ive been using a 5d mkii for many years along with the Canon 70-300mm L.

I am selling my lens and getting the Canon 400mm f5.6 L. I'm getting more into wildlife photography.

My question is .. is it possible to use my camera with a TC along with the Canon 400mm f5.6.

I'm hoping it is but if its not would I be better off changing my camera ?. Not made of money so thinking of 7d mki.

Any advice please would be helpful for me to decide which way to go.

Warm regards to all.

Russ

It is well worth looking for an aps-c camera instead of a TC.

Max aperture will drop to f/8 with a 1,4x TC and even f/11 with a 2,0x. Most DSLR will focus up to f/8, but center point only in many cases. Beyond f/8 the only way to AF is in live view mode. AF will be slow(er) and less reliable when using a TC. Using the bare lens is an advantage in that regard.

The 400mm f/5,6 L is sharp lens straight wide open (though stopping down a tiny bit does improve sharpness). You can add a good 1,4x TC without much penalty, but a 2,0x TC will definitely decrease IQ. Again, using the bare lens has it's advantage.

Also remember that the 400 f/5,6 L has no IS to compensate for the slower aperture.

I can't look into your wallet, but I'd look for an aps-c camera to add to your 5D II. It will provide you both 400mm and 640mm (FF equivalent FOV) options. Not necessarily a 7D. There are several more recent xxD camera's with an improved 24Mpix sensor and same or better AF that are worth looking at.

Regards, Sandor.