Focus With 20D/100-400 w/1.4 TC . . .

[RJSorensen]

I have decided that I can not see. That I can not focus . . . I seem to struggle with varying degrees of success and failure. I have come to ask those whom use or have in the past used this combination. Or have the wisdom and or experience to lend me a hand here.

Background: The 20D does not support auto focus with the 1.4 TC added to the 100-400 Canon zoom. So until I get a "1" series body I am going to have to focus the way we used to. I am fine with that . . . but without a split screen and or some other method of 'seeing' what is in and what is out of focus, this is tough for me. With an effective length of 896mm the depth of field (DOF) is at times is so shallow for me that I get half a Sand Hill crane in focus and half out. And at the time I am fat and happy thinking I got the shot. Nope. With my dark overcast days, I have to run f/8-11 at best and the shutter speed is just too slow, I move the ISO up to 800 as needed but it looks to me like I just can not focus.

I wear specks, can't see a hoot down the road but can read if I hold it close enough to me . . .

Anyone know how to work around this . . . or how to focus?

[alan sh]

I would suggest that you remove the 1.4tc and practice doing manual vs auto that way. Then add the 1.4tc and see if its easier after the practice.

Its like golf- you always start with the easy clubs (9 iron) and work up to a 3 iron.....

[psk4363]

RJ,

I have the same combo and have the identical problem. There is no easy way around this other than as Alan says, remove the TC and practice focussing manually with the AF function checking your accuracy.

The other way is to do what I did and buy a second-hand 1D. OK you lose 0.3x factor but you retain IS and autofocussing with the central AF mark. You can pick up a mint 1D fairly cheaply nowadays with the advent of the MkII.

Barry

[Scottes]

Make sure that your diopter is set correctly. This could easily be throwing you off.

Cheat-practive. Mount the rig - without the TC - on a tripod and autofocus on something. Insert the TC. The focus will not change. Take a picture to see how good it looks (it may not be your focusing, but the loss of clarity due to the TC). De-focus, and then try to get it back to that focus point again.

MF with the TC in bright light - it's certainly much easier than low-light.

Be happy that you don't have a 10D. The 100-400 + TC on a 10D was almost impossible to MF, yet I find it fairly easy with the 20D.

[mr.photoguy]

If you wear glasses, I know how you feal.
I had a terrible timg shooting with glasses.
I have contacts now, so I can press my eyeball up to my viewfinder, and actually see what's in focus..

Also if you are useing a shallow DOF press the DOF button, to see what will be in focus from what won't be in focus. IF you hold the button, and change the Aperature Value, you can see the area in focus changing.

hope this helps..
B