5D Mark III + 100-400L + Kenko 1.4X DGX Autofocus?

Some news for those with the 5D3

http://www.canonrumors​.com …s%29&utm_conten​t=FaceBook

dfbovey wrote in post #15158408
Some news for those with the 5D3

http://www.canonrumors​.com …s%29&utm_conten​t=FaceBook

A last, Canon release a firmware update that changes AF functionality. For over 5 years every single firmware release for every single camera has sparked one idiot or another to speculate about a change in AF. The idiots all say that Canon wouldn't announce such an improvement because it would be tantamount to admitting there was a problem in the earlier firmware.

Now we can see that this supposition was total ballcocks.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #15143006
Anyway, as somebody complained that nobody ever posts in-flight shots made with that combination, I thought I would post a few.

Nice shots.

Many thanks for that comment, its what I've been saying for a long time but certain people don't want to listen. Axes to grind and all that!

By the way, I saw that an Egyptian Goose was seen in the last day or so at a wildlife lake near us. Are they regular visitors this time of year (Europe/UK)?

danwanfur wrote in post #15147183
Thanks a lot!

Lowner wrote in post #15158580
Many thanks for that comment

You're welcome.

Lowner wrote in post #15158580
By the way, I saw that an Egyptian Goose was seen in the last day or so at a wildlife lake near us. Are they regular visitors this time of year (Europe/UK)?

In the Netherlands, Egyptian geese are resident birds and don't migrate so they're here the whole year round. Don't know about other parts of Europe, but wherever they are present in Europe, they were introduced there and because of that I'm betting they are resident birds wherever you find them, be it on the continent or on the British Isles.

Here's another - 400/5.6 + Kenko 1.4x on a 5D3

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/13392981@N03/8​083964555/

Lots of great BIF examples guys. Funny how some people ask for them but then don't comment on them when given!

mileslong24 wrote in post #15164085
Lots of great BIF examples guys. Funny how some people ask for them but then don't comment on them when given!

Thats because they refuse to admit they are mistaken! This way they can trot out the same arguments again at a later date.

mileslong24 wrote in post #15164085
Lots of great BIF examples guys. Funny how some people ask for them but then don't comment on them when given!

Yup. So half a dozen images of big, slow birds is proof that the combination is totally excellent.

No one actually shows images from the camera/extender/lens combination the OP asked about so nothing is proven or disproven. I'm waiting for his/her results. The 100-400mm lens is slower focusing than the 400mm prime so showing images from the prime means nothing to the original question. I'm sure the different camera bodies used have different focusing systems (but I'm guessing, I'm not up to speed on that stuff).

hollis_f wrote in post #15164670
Yup. So half a dozen images of big, slow birds is proof that the combination is totally excellent.

Personally I only use the 400 f/5.6 + 1.4xTC when I go out of the city, which is rare, so I don't have too many examples. But whenever I do use it, it works really well, including for in-flight shots. As for big and slow birds. Yes, they are easier than small and fast birds but this is true for any camera/lens combo. And you still have to make the shot.
As for the Egyptian goose, it may be a big and slow bird, but it came from behind and flew by at very close range and took me by surprise. I had only a split second to get the shot. I pointed the camera and took the shot and quite honestly expected it to not be a keeper, but the combo did not fail me.

I do feel that you are being a bit unfair here as, besides the slow and big Goose, I also posted a shot of a Northern Lapwing and they are not big and they are fast flyers. I have many more good shots of these birds in flight, all made with this combo. There's also a barn swallow there, which is about the fastest little bird you can find in the sky and very difficult to get a good shot of. They're little bullets! I have two dozen of images of barn swallows, all taken with this combo and all in focus and sharp.

Here is another shot that I've kept for reasons of identification. It's a very bad shot and not fit to be seen as conditions were hazy and the birds were far away and this is a 100% crop. But despite that the combo managed to lock on and the birds may be a bit soft because of the conditions, obviously!, but they are in focus (focus was on the right bird).

So, how small and fast do you want them?

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …na_de_ruijter/8​120442622/

Yup, I can't speak for the original combo in question... but the 1D4 with the 400 f/5.6L and 1.4 extender is great for all sizes and speeds of birds in flight.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #15165124
There's also a barn swallow there, which is about the fastest little bird you can find in the sky and very difficult to get a good shot of.

Yes, indeed, Barn Swallows are small and fast. But I'm sure the AF on the 1D can handle them.

hollis_f wrote in post #15165341
Yes, indeed, Barn Swallows are small and fast. But I'm sure the AF on the 1D can handle them.

Sure. But for the record, the Lapwing and the Egyptian goose were shot with the 5D classic.

Frank,

We are not all lying to you, the combo of 100-400 and 1.4x works and with the new Kenko converter sounds like its even better. Without actually putting a stopwatch on the AF speed, it seems to AF just as fast with it on as off.

I tested the previous Kenkos against the Canon TC mkII and it was clearly better, by quite a margin. I admit that was a surprise at the time and I'd love to know how the newer Kenko stacks up against the TC mkIII.

Given that the 5D3 AFs very well with the Kenko 1.4x and that Canon is going to release firmware that allows AF with the Canon extender, I would guess that the AF performance on the 100-400 would be acceptable.

Coupled with the fact the OP is wanting to shoot Raptors and they are relatively slow moving birds there is little to be lost by going this route. To be quite frank, what alternative is there in the $300 price range? The only alternatives I can see start at >$1k with the 400/5.6 and go up rapidly from there.