100-400 not bad at all for birding

[jgrussell]

"Not bad for birding." Forgive me for the understatement.

Fact is... I am constantly amazed by the quality of shots possible with the Canon 100-400. This shot was essentially handheld (braced against a window frame so the movement was stabilized in one direction), shot at 400mm -- and 1/60th of a second, f8, natural light.

I sure ain't gonna argue!!

http://jgrussell.smugmug.com/photos/526597610_6DNrM-O.jpg

[adrian5127]

Lovely picture, certainly looks nice and crisp. I have just bought one but have not had a chance to play with it yet.

[jgrussell]

Lovely picture, certainly looks nice and crisp. I have just bought one but have not had a chance to play with it yet.It takes a little getting used to, but only a little. You'll love it. Congrats!

[wlaramie]

Beautiful capture JGR.

[lukeap69]

you're right, not bad :)

shots like this keep we wanting this lens.

[jgrussell]

Beautiful capture JGR.Thanks, Bill. It really is a sweet lens.

[jgrussell]

you're right, not bad :) shots like this keep we wanting this lens.It's well worth it, and every so often you'll see one in the For Sale section heere. That's how I got mine, and I've been delighted with it.

[BigStig]

I think you sell your self short jgr. I bet if you and I swapped Lens I would still not get a picture that looked that good.
Great shot. amazingly crisp.
You can't buy talent. :)
Cheers SteveP

[jgrussell]

I think you sell your self short jgr. I bet if you and I swapped Lens I would still got a picture that looked that good.
Great shot. amazingly crisp.
You can't buy talent. :)Thanks so much for the kind words... I am bringing my skills up, but they're still not near where I'd like them to be.

[rgfrison]

That is a very nice shot jgr. I also am a 100-400 lover. Mine is tack sharp, I have a really hard time switching to my 70-200 2.8 IS, even when the light is all gone.

[highcountry]

Very nice, jgr! Looks like a great partnership between you and your lens.

[skygod44]

Great shot - and yes, have to agree, the 100-400 is a lovely lens for birding...
:D

[jgrussell]

That is a very nice shot jgr. I also am a 100-400 lover. Mine is tack sharp, I have a really hard time switching to my 70-200 2.8 IS, even when the light is all gone.My 70-200 is f4 so they both offer the same light options. At least they're both sharp!

[jgrussell]

Very nice, jgr! Looks like a great partnership between you and your lens.I'm very grateful to Jim Little for buying a new lens... and selling his old one!

[jgrussell]

Great shot - and yes, have to agree, the 100-400 is a lovely lens for birding...:DThe nicest thing is that it's so easy to switch from 100 to 400mm. Makes it a lot easier when a bird moves towards you!

[skygod44]

The nicest thing is that it's so easy to switch from 100 to 400mm. Makes it a lot easier when a bird moves towards you!

I know!!! That's what I keep mentioning to other POTN members wondering about a new lens around the 300mm mark.

If you'll shoot in daylight, somewhere around 300mm, and what sharp, good contrast pictures, the 100-400 gives you such flexibility.

I truly think it's one of Canon's best "all-rounders" regarding the longer end of what most people can afford in lenses.
:D

[jgrussell]

...the longer end of what most people can afford in lenses.:DIt's sure at the long end of what I can afford. Every so often I drool over the idea of a 500mm, but $5800 for a lens is a bit rich for my blood.

[skygod44]

It's sure at the long end of what I can afford. Every so often I drool over the idea of a 500mm, but $5800 for a lens is a bit rich for my blood.

I agree. Not enough spare yen for one of those, but I have a Kenko 1.4TC and can use it on my 100-400 (equates to 560mm) while forced to manual focus....but there's more....

The other week, I was in a second-hand shop drooling over a 50D (￥70,000!) and a 5DMkII (￥120,000!) and noticed a Kenko 2x TC. Well, I tried it for a laugh and blow me down, my 100-400 AF'd no problems!

Must be an old model as it was bashed around a bit, and being 2x the IQ clearly dropped - even on my 30D's screen - but it got me thinking into looking into the taping trick if it'll get my 100-400 to AF with the 1.4x TC.

Any knowledge on that one?

[jgrussell]

it got me thinking into looking into the taping trick if it'll get my 100-400 to AF with the 1.4x TC. Any knowledge on that one?None, I'm afraid, though I know there are folks here who've done it. Suggest starting a new thread so those who do use this combo will see it.

[kenyc]

Well, I've never been much impressed with mine. Never really as sharp as I'd like. I'm wondering if it might not need a trip to the factory...

[eric.brown]

Great shot...love my 100-400. Well...except the reach isn't long enough for me :)

[jgrussell]

Well, I've never been much impressed with mine. Never really as sharp as I'd like. I'm wondering if it might not need a trip to the factory...That's sure one thing to try.

[jgrussell]

Great shot...love my 100-400. Well...except the reach isn't long enough for me :)Yeah, well, the reach is as good as it gets without truly insane lens prices.

[eric.brown]

Yeah, well, the reach is as good as it gets without truly insane lens prices.

Very true.

[skygod44]

None, I'm afraid, though I know there are folks here who've done it. Suggest starting a new thread so those who do use this combo will see it.

No need to start a new one....found this one:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=640284&highlight=1.4x+TC+taping

Tried taping the pins, and WOW!

My 100-400 can AF using the centre-point or any other I choose, with the Kenko Pro 1.4x TC, in AI-servo....

It's a little slow to lock on, but it could track a guy walking past my home 75m away, and then locked onto a wall and some power-cables(!) that were in between as I panned.

I think birds on perches should be no problem.

I'll try it out properly tomorrow if I have time and add a test picture.

Hoorah! A 560mm f/6.3 AF for a lot less than $7,600 for the 600L f/4!
[Yeah, I know there's no real comparison, but hey!]
;)

[jgrussell]

I'll try it out properly tomorrow if I have time and add a test picture.Please do!!

[skygod44]

Please do!!
Here we go....

First post is a dude having a tough day in southern Japan ;)
Then 100% crop.

Details are:
Canon EOS 30D, 100-400L plus Kenko Pro 1.4x TC with taped pins, centre AF point selected.
Manual mode, ISO 160, f/5.7, 1/400s, AI-servo, lens at 638mm (equiv. FF).
Processed (at the office!) in Google Picasa3 and shrunk to POTN size in IrfanView....ie, could do better at home.

The Pictures:
I think you can see that the full picture is pretty good. The guy was about 50m away and, quite obviously, motionless.

The 100% crop, I'm not happy with. Can't see his hair anymore. I could hear the AF searching a bit, and I'm going to put this down to the colour/lack of contrast in his clothing.

The next post is a different matter....

[skygod44]

Post number 2.

Details:
Canon EOS 30D, 100-400L with Kenko Pro 1.4x TC with taped pins, centre AF point selected.
Manual mode, ISO 160, f/8, 1/250s, AI-servo, lens at 400mm (equiv.FF)
Processed again, in Picasa3 and shrunk in IrfanView.

Picture:
Here we have a train, so it's a panning shot using IS mode-2.

The train is about 250m away and going at a fair old speed.
Here, the AF seemed to lock on easily, and I'm very pleased with the full picture and the 100% crop.

Summary:
With practice, I think I could get to love the 100-400L plus Kenko 1.4x TC with taped pics. Even at full extension, I can open the aperture right up, in manual mode, to an indicated f/5.6 (no idea how that works, but I'm not complaining!).

I tried some bird shots, but they were all too twitchy (head-bobbing birds!), plus today is very hazy, so I think I'd need to practice before posting a bird shot - and choose a clearer day.

btw, I've not sharpened these pictures to any real degree - just adjusted the contrast a tiny bit, due to the haze.

Any thoughts?

[jgrussell]

I think you're actually getting f8, no matter what the camera says. But in any case the train shot is terrific.

[skygod44]

I think you're actually getting f8, no matter what the camera says. But in any case the train shot is terrific.

Yeah....I was thinking the same while I was driving home.

But I think the train shot makes a good argument for getting the 1.4x TC if someone is unable to justify funds for the 500 ~ 600mm lenses, and they're shooting in good light, subjects that are not crazily fast.

[kenyc]

Yeah....I was thinking the same while I was driving home.

But I think the train shot makes a good argument for getting the 1.4x TC if someone is unable to justify funds for the 500 ~ 600mm lenses, and they're shooting in good light, subjects that are not crazily fast.


Agreed, given those conditions, but that's always the case right? The 70-200 f4 is great in good light, but the 70-200 f2.8 is better in low light. :lol:

There's always trade-offs.

[skygod44]

Agreed, given those conditions, but that's always the case right? The 70-200 f4 is great in good light, but the 70-200 f2.8 is better in low light. :lol:

There's always trade-offs.

Sadly true.....but I think between us, JG and I have shown that for around $1,650 (including a rebate at B&H) someone can have in their possession a great 100-400L (with a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x TC on the side).

Then, with a little bit of tape and some practice, they'll have in their hands a 100mm f/4.5 ~ (a useable) 560mm f/8 AF lens.

I know it's nowhere near as gorgeous as the 500L or 600L but the price difference is enormous. As is the size and weight....
And lets not ignore that the risk of imminent divorce is reduced almost exponentially!
;)

[kenyc]

Well, yeah, it's all trade-offs, eh?


:)

camera equip? wife? lenses? wife?

[davebreal]

very nice photo JGR. I'm continually impressed by what this zoom can do in good conditions and with good technique. i just picked one up myself for traveling and longer hikes when I don't want to carry the 500mm f/4.

[jgrussell]

very nice photo JGR. I'm continually impressed by what this zoom can do in good conditions and with good technique. i just picked one up myself for traveling and longer hikes when I don't want to carry the 500mm f/4.Even if less than optimal conditions, it does okay. In good conditions, it's stellar.

[skygod44]

Well, yeah, it's all trade-offs, eh?
:) camera equip? wife? lenses? wife?
:lol::lol::lol: