400 F5.6 + 1.4TV and tape...continued.

[IanD]

Decided to try some longer shots with the 400 F5.6 + 1.4TC and the old tape trick.
http://www.pbase.com/image/28461912.jpg
This little feller was 35-40 feet away and swimmimg towards me. Got AF lock right away.
http://www.pbase.com/image/28461921.jpg
This couple was on the other side of the duck pond, probably 100feet away. A little AF hunting this time.
http://www.pbase.com/image/28461914.jpg
Figured it was time for a pigeon post :lol:
This one was 100+ feet away. AF lock no problem.
I truly believe that the secret to shooting long lenses and TC's is to take the TC off and try to get closer, unless you are using a body that will AF with F5.6 and smaller lenses eg: MK II :lol: There can be a lot of AF hunting.
Also remember that a 400 with the 1.6 crop factore of a 10D is a 640mm! That my friends is a long lens in anyones book. Arthur Morris uses a Canon 600 prime as his standard bird lens with his film bodies! You can now say that yours is longer than Arthurs :lol: :lol:
IMHO the 400 + 1.4 does have a place. Set up on a tripod and manual focused, the results are excellent, if the person behind the lens does their job. I still have a lot to learn about this combo and the best teacher is shoot, shoot,shoot.

[PacAce]

So, Ian, in a nutshell, are you saying to do away with the tape and just focus the lens manually and use a tripod when using the 400 f/4.5 with the 1.4x? I was thinking along that line myself wth my 100-400 and the 1.4x combo. I even got me a Manfrotto 3421 gimbal type head (man, that sucker is a lot bigger than I thought it would be but it's definitely heavy duty stuff!) to make the tripod work a lot easier compared to using a conventional ball head.

Thanks for your test shots and analysis.

[Scottes]

Yes, I agree with Ian.

My choices:

1) No TC - get closer.
2a) If you can't get closer, then 1.4 and manual focus.
2b) But if it's closer than ~25 feet I'll put on a 20mm tube and get a good magnification (18% if I remember my old test).
2c) If it's closert han about 15 feet then I'll get out the 36mm tube and get 27% magnification.
3) If I have no other choice, I'll lure Arthur Morris into a trap and steal his 600mm f/4. :wink:

I haven't tried this yet, but the 1.4 doesn't change minimum focus distance, so I wonder if it ever changes focusing. That is, I wonder if you can AF with the 100-400, insert the 1.4 and not have to re-focus?

[IanD]

Leo,
You got it. I'm sticking ( no pun intended ) the tape back in the desk drawer and going manual focus when necessary with the 400 prime and the 100-400. I'm going to follow Scotts example and get a set of extension tubes as well.

Scott,
I like #4. Arthur has a 800 as well. I wonder if he can run fast :?: :?:
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Scottes]

I like #4. Arthur has a 800 as well. I wonder if he can run fast

Do you know the "good cop/bad cop" game? :twisted:

[IanD]

I like #4. Arthur has a 800 as well. I wonder if he can run fast

Do you know the "good cop/bad cop" game? :twisted:
Man, that is really scarey. I was thinkin the same thing :twisted: :wink:

[Scottes]

Man, that is really scarey. I was thinkin the same thing

Oh, oh. My wife just said that we aren't allowed to play together.
:(

[IanD]

Man, that is really scarey. I was thinkin the same thing

Oh, oh. My wife just said that we aren't allowed to play together.
:(
Hey Mrs. Scottes, we was just joshin :lol: :lol: :lol:
I wanna be the bad cop

[Scottes]

Yeah, honey, we wuz kiddin!

I have NO IDEA how to be a good cop...

[IanD]

Yeah, honey, we wuz kiddin!

I have NO IDEA how to be a good cop...
Geez...OK ...I'll be the good cop....

[dn7elson]

I'm sticking ( no pun intended ) the tape back in the desk drawer and going manual focus when necessary with the 400 prime and the 100-400.

Just for interest sake, did you try the 400 f5.6 w/1.4x to see if it would autofocus? It wouldn't seem to given the other notations, but the Canon chart shows it as an effective f8.0 _with_ AF and no footnote as in the case of the 100-400 f4.5-5.6.

[IanD]

I'm sticking ( no pun intended ) the tape back in the desk drawer and going manual focus when necessary with the 400 prime and the 100-400.

Just for interest sake, did you try the 400 f5.6 w/1.4x to see if it would autofocus? It wouldn't seem to given the other notations, but the Canon chart shows it as an effective f8.0 _with_ AF and no footnote as in the case of the 100-400 f4.5-5.6.
Nope, no AF with the 400/1.4 combo on the 10D. It will ork with the MK II however but that is not a reason for me to order one just yet :lol:

[dn7elson]

Nope, no AF with the 400/1.4 combo on the 10D.

I found it odd that the Canon chart would show the circle indicating AF possible with the 400 f5.6L and the 1.4X II along with the effective f8, but hey, who am I to argue with them :shock: