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Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question

Started Jun 14, 2019 | Questions
SandyHill Regular Member • Posts: 197
Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question

Can any users of the 200-400mm f4 & 1DX answer the following question.

Using the 200-400mm f4 with the 1.4x engaged on a 1DX, has anyone experienced any issues when the autofocus will not activate if the lens is set at the start to around the 3-4m mark on the focus scale. Full is selected on the focus limiter.

Firmware is the latest in the lens and camera

Any clues as to what is going wrong would be very much appreciated

ANSWER:
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BlueRay2 Forum Pro • Posts: 14,816
Re: Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question

SandyHill wrote:

Can any users of the 200-400mm f4 & 1DX answer the following question.

Using the 200-400mm f4 with the 1.4x engaged on a 1DX, has anyone experienced any issues when the autofocus will not activate if the lens is set at the start to around the 3-4m mark on the focus scale. Full is selected on the focus limiter.

Firmware is the latest in the lens and camera

Any clues as to what is going wrong would be very much appreciated

as they say, when all else fails, i read the manual and if it is a crucial question, i'd call canon as i understand, not many use this lens due to price, weight and many other reasons, not as much as other canon's big white primes! good luck.

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You miss 100 percent of the shots you didn't take!!! "Wayne Gretzky"

OP SandyHill Regular Member • Posts: 197
Re: Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question

Thanks for reply, done both of those.

Myrgjorf Regular Member • Posts: 464
Re: Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question

SandyHill wrote:

Can any users of the 200-400mm f4 & 1DX answer the following question.

Using the 200-400mm f4 with the 1.4x engaged on a 1DX, has anyone experienced any issues when the autofocus will not activate if the lens is set at the start to around the 3-4m mark on the focus scale. Full is selected on the focus limiter.

Firmware is the latest in the lens and camera

Any clues as to what is going wrong would be very much appreciated

I don't have experiences with that combo but I do with a similar combo as I have been using a 200-400L f/4 + 1DX mk ii for 3 years. I haven't seen any specific problems with the focus system, neither far or close or something in between.

However, your observation may be related with a common issue I have seen with several long lenses: If the lens starts with a distance from the subject that is too far away from the subject, the subject is blurred completely and the AF system can't see the subject and get a focus on the subject. Solution: Use manual focus to make the subject visible again and the AF system will lock on the subject. Hint for the 200-400L and other big whites. Use the focus memory to remember a distance near the subject so you easily can recall the focus distance if you loose it completely.

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Oh no! He should know by now that "equivalence" is a forbidden word for APS-C but perfectly allowed for 1” Sonys, compact cameras, smartphones and maybe even for M43s.

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OP SandyHill Regular Member • Posts: 197
Re: Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question

Thanks, I'll give those tips a try..

Marquee Regular Member • Posts: 407
Re: Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question
1

Have you tried turning "lens drive when AF impossible" on? Might help. The recommendation is normally to have lens drive turned off for long focal lengths to prevent hunting: is the subject nearly in focus yet still the AF is still not activating?

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OP SandyHill Regular Member • Posts: 197
Re: Canon 200-400mm f4 + 1DX AF question

Marquee wrote:

Have you tried turning "lens drive when AF impossible" on? Might help.

Briliant, issue solved.

Thanks for the info

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