Tele converters

I'm using a T2i with a Canon 100>400 lense
When taking some pics of birds perched in a tree I can't get close enough to get a good pic before they scatter
Considering a Canon 1.4 tele converter
While this may be good for stills , what about the inflight pics ?
Your thoughts and commenst are welcome
Mach

There is a "sticky" on teleconverters, just do a forum search and you'll find lots of information and experience. The primary thing to know is that when you add a TC to a 100-400, planning to use it mainly at f 7.8 and 560mm, you lose autofocus and, because of the long length, you need to use a tripod for the sharpest pictures. Even with IS, you must shoot with an adequate speed to overcome vibrations due to many factors including all that glass hanging out there. OH, and IS is supposed to be shut off on a tripod with that lens, if I remember correctly. In terms of 35mm field of view, your lens at 400mm with 1.4 X TC would result in the equivalent of 896mm, which requires you to shoot at 1/1000 or thereabout to cut down vibration effects.

100-400 on T2i with TC, you will lose autofocus. Even taping the pin, the AF still has hard time locking on the subject. Hence, it's not suitable for BIF in my opinion. It could be more feasible with a 1D series camera but i don't have 1st hand experience with it though.
Perhaps try other methods such as using blind, practicing on stealth technique, observe where your subject like to hangout and be there ahead of them. Do whatever it takes to break down human shape/form, you'll have better success at getting closer to them.

I have tried to use both the Canon 1.4 and Cann 2x teleconverters with my 100-400mm zoom. In my opinion, the results were disastrous. I use these same teleconverters on fast prime lenses, and the 1.4 works marvelously while the 2x works acceptably.
I would not recommend using these teleconverters on the 100-400mm zoom.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #13821880
I have tried to use both the Canon 1.4 and Cann 2x teleconverters with my 100-400mm zoom. In my opinion, the results were disastrous. I use these same teleconverters on fast prime lenses, and the 1.4 works marvelously while the 2x works acceptably.
I would not recommend using these teleconverters on the 100-400mm zoom.

My experiences and my recommendation also.

Some people say that you can get AF to work by taping the pins of the TC. These people have a different definition of the word 'work' from most of the world. Their definition seems to be 'will attempt to do what it's supposed to do and will, in optimum conditions, sometimes succeed - however, most of the time it'll give up after several seconds of to-and-fro hunting"

For BIF's they are not acceptable, well not on the 100-400 anyway. Hunts too much and is too slow. But...there is always a but! lol They do work well for static subjects if you don't mind slow focus or better yet manual focus. They will give you the added reach you may want. So depending on what you want to do, they may "work" they may not.

heres what lens are compatable with the 2x teleconverters..

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …arts/canon2xExt​ender.html

I just ordered the 2xii... should be here by next week...

Mach wrote in post #13818372
I'm using a T2i with a Canon 100>400 lense
When taking some pics of birds perched in a tree I can't get close enough to get a good pic before they scatter
Considering a Canon 1.4 tele converter
While this may be good for stills , what about the inflight pics ?
Your thoughts and commenst are welcome
Mach

I notice the OP does not mention auto focus.

I do use the "old" 1.4x TC with my 100-400 and don't get "terrible" results, although I use it with my 1D3 and so get decent AF (center point only). I'd compare the results to what I got when I used the 2x TC with the 300 f/2.8 IS...

Here's an example:

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ive gotten some decent shots with my Kenko 1.4 TC on my 100-400L.
It works best in manual on a still subject.
Im not exactly sure if its any better than shooting at 400mm and then cropping though.

I would say to get the Kenko 1.5 TC (about $90). Try it to see if you like TCs then you could always get a Canon later or just keep using it. I've had mine for 4 or 5 years now and couldn't be happier. I always have it on.

I initially got it with the 100-400, but in 2008 got the 500 and still use the Kenko TC.

Here's a few I took with the 100-400, Kenko 1.5x TC on a Rebel XT body:
http://www.southernokp​hotography.com/p621564​330/h80c98b2#h80c98b2

http://www.southernokp​hotography.com …64330/h31c2a330​#h31c2a330

http://www.southernokp​hotography.com/p621564​330/h88e92b8#h88e92b8


edit: With this one you don't have to tape pins.

Don`t waste your money.

If you're trying for bif's using an 1.4 extender I would stick with using one on an f/4 lens. I used a Canon 1.4 on my 400mm f/5.6L and the focus was too slow to be worth it.....

I use one on my 500mm f/4L and it works just fine......

TCs tend to work best on the telephoto primes; there's just too much variation between focal lengths in the zooms to account for with the extra glass in the TCs. You'll either have to break out the checkbook for longer glass (instead of that new car you've been saving for ) or work hard and stalk closer.

That being said, if you're up for a fair amount of trial and error, they CAN work ok...I just don't feel that having to tape pins or losing AF is worth the thrash.

I tried a kenko 1.4 TC for use with my 70-300 f5.6 lens and T3i. Autofocus worked quite well on the bright day that I tried it, but the image quality was terrible. I did some tests comparing the lens alone to the lens with TC and the difference was quite noticeable. I sent it back.