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.

The camera will not AF with a classic "reporting" TC.  You can use a non-reporting TC, or tape the 3 extra TC contacts on the lens side of the TC, or you can get a tricky TC like a Kenko DGX Pro 300 1.4x (must have the X; "DG" won't AF without taping), which not only allows all of your AF points to operate at f/8, like the non-reporting or taped options, but will also give the correct EXIF information to the camera for both f-ratio and focal length.  In fact, the DGX will even give correct EXIF if it is the second TC behind a reporting TC (two TCs stacked!).

The AF points on the 5D2 are probably going to be a little on the slow side at f/8, though, especially in dim light.

I bought my DGX after I gave someone my 5D2, though, so I never used them together, but it worked great with my 6D and 7D, but basically crashed any of the newer cameras from 7D2 and on which had OFFICIAL f/8 AF in at least the center.  My DGX was an early one, though, so some of the latter ones may work with some newer bodies.