Which Kenco 1.4x tc with 5D3

I have read about certain Kenko 1.4x converters causing the 5D3 to 'lock-up' with some Canon lenses. I am specifically looking to use a 1.4x with the Canon 100mm L IS Macro and the Canon 400/5.6. Only looking for answer when used with the 5D3 (latest firmware) please. Thanks in advance for any experiences with a Kenko on the 5D3.

Forgot to mention but just to confuse matters even more it seems as if some Kenko tc's will also lock-up the 5D3 when you have AFMA enabled.

Hi,

In midwinter Kenko support tested my Kenko 1.4 MC4 DGX, finding that it would hang a 70D with any one of the following 400 5.6L, 100-400 L, and 300 4.0 ISL when per lens microfocus adjustment was turned on for any len. I was told it would effect some but not all other lenses for all of the cameras with the newest design of microfocus adjustment (5D3, 6D, 70D, and 1DX.

The issue could be worked around by disabling per lens micro focus adjustment on the camera. Before attaching the lens/converter combination. For example same for all lens type adjustment does not cause the issue. I was told that the issue affected every teleconverter that they were making at that time.

In my case they sent me a refund for what I paid on converter.

I don't know if anything has changed since mid winter.

Wow. This is all news to me. I haven't had reason to try my kenko with the 5D3..
Looks like a good reason to stick with the Canon in this case

jack_dorsey wrote in post #16957581
Hi,

In midwinter Kenko support tested my Kenko 1.4 MC4 DGX, finding that it would hang a 70D with any one of the following 400 5.6L, 100-400 L, and 300 4.0 ISL when per lens microfocus adjustment was turned on for any len. I was told it would effect some but not all other lenses for all of the cameras with the newest design of microfocus adjustment (5D3, 6D, 70D, and 1DX.

The issue could be worked around by disabling per lens micro focus adjustment on the camera. Before attaching the lens/converter combination. For example same for all lens type adjustment does not cause the issue. I was told that the issue affected every teleconverter that they were making at that time.

In my case they sent me a refund for what I paid on converter.

I don't know if anything has changed since mid winter.

Thanks for that Jack, interesting workaround of disabling AFMA per lens before attaching the combo. So you can still use AFMA but only on a 'same for all lens' setting?
How does the Kenko 1.4 MC4 DGX perform IQ wise against the more expensive Kenko 1.4x pro 300 DGX?

Yes!

For example on my 70D I keep per lens have micro adjustment enabled with 0, 0 for most lenses and 0 for most primes but for my 100-400L I have it set to -3 W and +4 T.


If I were going to use a kenko 1.4 with my 100-400L I could either disable microadjustment or change to same for all lens setting of something like +4 without the kenko attatched. Then put on the kenko 100-400L combo. Then I could re enable per lens microfocus adjustment when I used the 100-400L without kenko.

I had tested all that before sending the converter to kenko support. I hoped that they could fix the problem. When they could not fix it I decided that I'm to stupid or perhaps undisciplined to deal with it.

I don't know how the image quality of the mc4 compares to the more expensive model. I suspect it depends on the camera lens combination.

I have used my Kenko Teleplus Pro 300DG 1.4x TC with a 135L on my 5D3 without any issues. However, I have no microfocus adjustment set for this lens on the 5D3. The only two lenses I use the TC with (and even that is rare anymore) are the 135L and 70-200 f/4 IS, but I do not believe I have tried the Kenko with the 5D3 on the latter lens.

I can't help with the 5DIII question, but a particular note about the 100L (since you mentioned it) and TCs. It doesn't like them with AF on any camera that I've used (Rebels, 20D, 7D, and 5D2), so chances are the same with the 5DIII.

I have TCs of 1.4X (in Canon II, Tamron, and what asked about a Kenko previous model), a 2X Kenko, and a life size converter. The 100L does not like to AF with any of these. Before someone chimes in about the Canon not fitting, I used an ET as a spacer so it would fit, just no infinity focus.

The 100L plus TC combination almost always continuously racks back and forth with no lock. It will occasionally will lock focus, but not often and you have to have it almost in perfect focus before you press your AF switch (and it is still only sometimes). Overall the lens TC combination effective aperture should allow AF on any Canon body - but it doesn't autofocus.

I have been told that AF works with the newer Kenko TCs with the X in the name (Example - Teleplus PRO DGX. I have not yet tried this so consider it is an unverified rumor at the moment.

Applying this to you. One lens you were interested in using this with is the 100L, IF the TC works with the lens and locks-up your 5DIII it doesn't help you. If it works with your 5DIII and not the 100L it still doesn't help you (at least not for AF).

Also before someone also chimes in and says it doesn't matter, it is better to use manual focus for macro - I agree. I do use (usually) manual for macro photography. I also use the 100L for other types of photography where the AF is useful (and would like at times to use it a TC but can't).

I don't know if this information helps you at all, but I gave it just in case it does.

I just got a 1.4 kenko pro300 dgx. It will lock up the 5DIII with a 100mmL 2.8/ 200mmL 2.8 whether you disable AFMA or not. Same lens/TC combo works on 6D with AFMA disabled. I have written Kenko Japan (have a contact there) to ask why.

I also have a 2x pro 300 dgx and it does the same on 5DIII, works on 6D.

70-300L works with either TC on 5D and 6D....

The annoying part of all of this is there is no disclaimer on retailers like B&H as to what combo works or not

Robert