DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender

Started Jan 30, 2022 | Discussions
Rick Kempf Forum Member • Posts: 66
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender
2

Hummingbird shot is a JPEG with no special processing so it probably looks like crap at 100% - but my friends on Facebook thought it looked fine.

here is a raw shot with the 400, simple processing on my iPad photo app - Really liking the close focusing on the 400

OP Catama Regular Member • Posts: 270
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender

Thank you for your posts. You have convinced me.

 Catama's gear list:Catama's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS M5 Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM +8 more
Rick Kempf Forum Member • Posts: 66
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender
2

Another 100-400 plus 1.4 extender

The Light Stalker
The Light Stalker Contributing Member • Posts: 960
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender
4

Just a picture of a goose, rf 100-400 + 1.4 extender on R5.  Slightly cropped for composition's sake.

Goose

-- hide signature --

The Light Stalker

 The Light Stalker's gear list:The Light Stalker's gear list
Hasselblad X2D 100c Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max +1 more
Seb P
Seb P New Member • Posts: 21
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender

Hello,

I have already an R10 and the RF 100 400mm (160-640mm eq. with the APS-C crop factor). I'm very satisfied with this combo. But for BIF i'd like a longer focal lenght ...

What do you advise ? (budget: <1500€)

  • (RF 100-400mm f5.6-8) + 1.4 extender (pros: price, zoom range, size&wight, USM / cons: optical quality because extender? 896mm eq.)
  • RF 600mm f11 (pros: optical quality?, 960mm eq / cons: price, fixed aperture and focal lenght, STM)
  • RF 800mm f11 ???
  • other idea ?

Thanks a lot for your responses.

 Seb P's gear list:Seb P's gear list
Canon PowerShot S120 Canon EOS R10 Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Ember88 Regular Member • Posts: 120
Great for random hikes/adventures!
5

Catama wrote:

Anyone have any experience with this combo? My wife shoots with this lens on her R5 l because it appeals to her weight-wise. I shoot with the EF 100-400 mm and the 1.4x III extender on my R5 with excellent results. I’m concerned because her lens is not an L lens and before I plunk down $500 I’d like to know if it will work without significant resolution degradation. Thanks!

I have the 1.4x and RF 100-400. I’ve used them together here and there. In short, if I’m managing my expectations, it slightly exceeds my expectations (if that makes sense).

I find the RF 100-400 with the 1.4x a handy set up and very lightweight. If I’m remembering correctly, with the 1.4x on the 100-400, the focus points are more limited to the center of the sensor (similar to the 600/800 f11 lenses).

Personally, I find this set up more convenient than the 600/800 f11 prime lenses. Personally, I do not like the ergonomics of the f11 prime and the way they extend. I also find the size (when extended), the f11 prime, and lack of weather-sealing limiting for wildlife. With that said, I know a lot of people like them. However, with the RF 100-400, the 1.4x works throughout the zoom range, which is honestly very nice and convenient! (I wish that the RF 100-500 could do this with the extenders on). It’s not weather-sealed, but I also am not limited to f11 at closer focal ranges.

I’ve debated selling the RF 100-400 simply because my RF 100-500 covers the same range and then some, is “relatively” lightweight, and is weather-sealed. However, the 100-400 is so light and way easier to travel with! (Also, the RF 100-500 cannot retract further in than 300mm with the extenders on…which can be bothersome at times).

The RF 100-400 is also nice to just throw in my bag on a trip/hike. With that said, I wouldn’t trust it in inclement weather as much as I trust my RF 100-500. If I want the best image quality and have specific shots in mind, I will take the RF 100-500. If I want to make sure I have the 400mm (or 560mm focal range with the extender), but don’t have any shots in mind or know what I’ll see, I’ll take the RF 100-400 without much weight added to my travel/hiking kit. Again, I personally, wouldn’t take (or purchase) the RF 600/800 f11 primes.

It’s not an L series lens and I can tell the difference when using my RF 100-500 in a few areas. However, if I’m being mindful of the light and don’t need shallower DOF (at any given focal range/distance to subject), the RF 100-400 with 1.4x is still sharp enough. If you expose correctly and focus on the composition of the image, I don’t believe 90% of viewers would be able to tell that you didn’t use an L series lens.

Happy shooting!

 Ember88's gear list:Ember88's gear list
Canon EOS R5 Canon Extender EF 1.4x II Canon Extender EF 2x II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +3 more
Llop Forum Member • Posts: 50
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender
1

Seb P wrote:

Hello,

I have already an R10 and the RF 100 400mm (160-640mm eq. with the APS-C crop factor). I'm very satisfied with this combo. But for BIF i'd like a longer focal lenght ...

What do you advise ? (budget: <1500€)

  • (RF 100-400mm f5.6-8) + 1.4 extender (pros: price, zoom range, size&wight, USM / cons: optical quality because extender? 896mm eq.)
  • RF 600mm f11 (pros: optical quality?, 960mm eq / cons: price, fixed aperture and focal lenght, STM)
  • RF 800mm f11 ???
  • other idea ?

Thanks a lot for your responses.

There was a thread a few weeks ago discussing the R7 + RF 100-400 with and without 1.4 extender. In my case I tested this combination and found that IMHO, on the R7 the extender is not worth it as the pictures with the extender had less detail at 560mm F11 vs 400mm F8 without the extender and cropping to the same field of view. It might be due to the higher pixel density of the R7 and diffraction, but I ended up returning the extender.

Regarding the other lens options I have no first hand experience, but if the budget is 1500, crazy thought, maybe upgrading to an R7 with more pixel density?

The Light Stalker
The Light Stalker Contributing Member • Posts: 960
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender
1

Since you already have the RF 100-400, based on your budget and having too much focal length is unusual with birds I'd opt for the 800mm.  I find the 800 invaluable when shooting birds, YMMV.

-- hide signature --

The Light Stalker

 The Light Stalker's gear list:The Light Stalker's gear list
Hasselblad X2D 100c Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max +1 more
spec68 Contributing Member • Posts: 533
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender

Works great w/ the R5. I wouldn’t recommend the combo w/ the R7 though. I have the RF 100-500 too. No comparison there but plenty sharp and it’s not focal near-distance handicapped like the RF 100-500. I always grab it when I’m feeling lazy. Get a JCC branded hood on Amazon for $12 or so.

Seb P
Seb P New Member • Posts: 21
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender

Llop wrote:

Seb P wrote:

Hello,

I have already an R10 and the RF 100 400mm (160-640mm eq. with the APS-C crop factor). I'm very satisfied with this combo. But for BIF i'd like a longer focal lenght ...

What do you advise ? (budget: <1500€)

  • (RF 100-400mm f5.6-8) + 1.4 extender (pros: price, zoom range, size&wight, USM / cons: optical quality because extender? 896mm eq.)
  • RF 600mm f11 (pros: optical quality?, 960mm eq / cons: price, fixed aperture and focal lenght, STM)
  • RF 800mm f11 ???
  • other idea ?

Thanks a lot for your responses.

There was a thread a few weeks ago discussing the R7 + RF 100-400 with and without 1.4 extender. In my case I tested this combination and found that IMHO, on the R7 the extender is not worth it as the pictures with the extender had less detail at 560mm F11 vs 400mm F8 without the extender and cropping to the same field of view. It might be due to the higher pixel density of the R7 and diffraction, but I ended up returning the extender.

Regarding the other lens options I have no first hand experience, but if the budget is 1500, crazy thought, maybe upgrading to an R7 with more pixel density?

Thanks a lot for your answer.

My idea was to spend less money on the camera and more on the lenses... maybe i should have bet more on R7 ;-(

 Seb P's gear list:Seb P's gear list
Canon PowerShot S120 Canon EOS R10 Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Seb P
Seb P New Member • Posts: 21
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender
2

The Light Stalker wrote:

Since you already have the RF 100-400, based on your budget and having too much focal length is unusual with birds I'd opt for the 800mm. I find the 800 invaluable when shooting birds, YMMV.

Thanks for your advise.

You use the RF800mm f11 with a crop or full frame sensor ?

I'm afraid that 800mm (eq 1280mm with my APS-C) is almost unusable in "real life" (framing, shaking, etc.). What do you think ?

 Seb P's gear list:Seb P's gear list
Canon PowerShot S120 Canon EOS R10 Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
The Light Stalker
The Light Stalker Contributing Member • Posts: 960
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender
2

Seb P wrote:

The Light Stalker wrote:

Since you already have the RF 100-400, based on your budget and having too much focal length is unusual with birds I'd opt for the 800mm. I find the 800 invaluable when shooting birds, YMMV.

Thanks for your advise.

You use the RF800mm f11 with a crop or full frame sensor ?

I'm afraid that 800mm (eq 1280mm with my APS-C) is almost unusable in "real life" (framing, shaking, etc.). What do you think ?

Still a perfect match imho...

-- hide signature --

The Light Stalker

 The Light Stalker's gear list:The Light Stalker's gear list
Hasselblad X2D 100c Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max +1 more
Seb P
Seb P New Member • Posts: 21
Re: Rf 100-400mm f5.6-8 + 1.4 extender

The Light Stalker wrote:

Seb P wrote:

The Light Stalker wrote:

Since you already have the RF 100-400, based on your budget and having too much focal length is unusual with birds I'd opt for the 800mm. I find the 800 invaluable when shooting birds, YMMV.

Thanks for your advise.

You use the RF800mm f11 with a crop or full frame sensor ?

I'm afraid that 800mm (eq 1280mm with my APS-C) is almost unusable in "real life" (framing, shaking, etc.). What do you think ?

Still a perfect match imho...

Do you have any nice shots made with this configuration ?

 Seb P's gear list:Seb P's gear list
Canon PowerShot S120 Canon EOS R10 Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads