Focusing 100-400 + 1.4X

[rainstr]

I would appreciate if you share your expertise on focusing the 100-400L with the 1.4X TC in manual mode (my camera is 350D, so there auto focus with the TC). I've tried several times without any success. The 100-400L is quite sharp by itself, although it is sensitive, but autofocus works fine. With the 1.4X, focusing gets even more sensitive. However, there is no autofocus to help! How do you make your focus? Is it only your sharp eye and fine hand? Any technical tips? My subjects are wildlife and birds.

[mattia]

You can tape the pin on the converter (look it up, and at your own risk), because otherwise you'll lose AF with a converter on the 100-400 on anything but a 1 series body.

A crop factor Rebel is hardly ideal if you're wanting to manual focus; you'd need a different focussing screen (not sure they exist for the rebels), or liveview (very good, but slow).

[JWright]

The pin taping trick is iffy at best. I've had the pins on my 1.4X taped and the 100-400 only autofocuses with the 1.4 in bright light. If it is overcast or the subject is shaded, the AF is going to be spotty and lens will hunt more.