Canon 400 5.6 and manual focus

[Methodical]

I have the 50d and the Canon 400mm 5.6 and tried it with the 1.4 tc and the tape trick but the autofocus was jittery; works sometimes and somtimes not. So since the tape trick is not consistent I need to get better and faster at manual focusing.

Is there a setting in the 50d that will allow me to use the auto focus alert flash thingy (not sure of the name) in the viewfinder with manual focus? In other words I wanted to know when manually focusing how can I get the little focus alert thing to flash that way I know I am in focus while using the 1.4 with the 400 5.6. I hope this is clear.

Thanks

[Hawkman]

I have the 50d and the Canon 400mm 5.6 and tried it with the 1.4 tc and the tape trick but the autofocus was jittery; works sometimes and somtimes not. So since the tape trick is not consistent I need to get better and faster at manual focusing for bird photography with the 1.4 tc.

Is there a setting in the 50d that will allow me to use the auto focus alert flash thingy (not sure of the name) in the viewfinder with manual focus? In other words I wanted to know when manually focusing how can I get the little focus alert thing to flash that way I know I am in focus while using the 1.4 with the 400 5.6. I hope this is clear.

Thanks

I don't know about the 50D, but with the 1D in manual focus mode, the focus locked circle in the viewfinder lights up when you have achieved focus according to the AF sensor. Can't recollect if you can make the beeper beep.

Gene

[BradM]

I think for that to work with any of the xxD bodies even though you are manually focusing the camera AF system must be set to one-shot, and not AI Servo or whatever the other mode is called.

[Hawkman]

I think for that to work with any of the xxD bodies even though you are manually focusing the camera AF system must be set to one-shot, and not AI Servo or whatever the other mode is called.

Absolutely!

[Methodical]

I will try again in better light.

Thanks for the response

[dliveleyphotography]

Flip the switch on the lens to MF, hold shutter half way down and use focus ring, the AF points will now work as focus confirmation points.

[JimTx]

One tip that I received was to set all focus points on when using the taped TC ... focus lock was fast and reliable. Won't help when a bird is in the trees and the AF focus on the limbs but if bird is in the open .. works well.

[In2Photos]

When starting a thread please only start one with the same topic. It is too difficult to track the discussion across multiple threads.

[Methodical]

When starting a thread please only start one with the same topic. It is too difficult to track the discussion across multiple threads.

I didn't know how to delete the other one. I thought it would be better in this forum since I am referring to birds. How do I delete it?

Thanks