EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review WOW!

AnnieMacD wrote in post #17668361
These are amazing, both bird and flowers. Kev, you shouldn't tell us they were taken in a storm drain - looks like your own personal tropical paradise to me. (You know where I come from and there has been almost NO sunshine at all this summer!)

Thanks Annie, but your location, and it's people, oozes warmth whatever the weather.

clipper_from_oz wrote in post #17668382
the scarlet honeyeaters colors make the shots. Perfect exposure even in what looks like tricky sunny/ shadow conditions....well done !

Thank you Clipper

dodgyexposure wrote in post #17669103
Hi Kev, I've never seen a scarlet honeyeater on my side of town - more's the pity, as they are striking birds. We have mainly blue-faced - pretty, yes, but not quite as pretty as yours. Nice photos.

First one I've seen Damien (but then again, I've never looked for birds up until a couple of months ago) and I only wish I could have got into a position to get a full face. There was a brilliant blue bird in the same bush but by the tiime I got the Scarlet, the blue had flown.

Had an hour down at the drain this morning and got a mixed bag with the highlight being the scarlet honeyeater making another showing. Got quite a few of it but this is the mixed bag for now. I'm finding a lot of missed focus with only having center spot and such small birds but am getting more keepers now that I'm getting used to the weight of the lens.

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Rainbow Lorikeet With Breakfast on Face

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Lbsimon wrote in post #17669121
I did a very quick test this afternoon (I had only one hour before sunset). The results with the Kenko 1.4x really surprised me.

Used with the 100-400II lens on the 70D and the 6D the Kenko TC allowed very quick and reliable AF. I tested it at F8 and F9. What was surprising was that AF allowed the use not only of the center point, but also the zones! I have not uploaded the photos on the computer yet, just checked them on the back LCD, but they looked sharp at any magnification.

Then another surprise: I mounted in on the brand new 7D Mk II. The message on the back LCD said that it required lens firmware upgrade, and that it did not find the firmware update on the card. I have no idea how to go about that!

I also tried the Kenko TC with the 70-200 f/4 IS, and it did both zone and single point AF even at small apertures (e.g., f9). However, the camera kept writing images on the card forever, so I had to remove the battery to reset the camera.

All in all, I loved the 100-400 with this Kenko, but I would appreciate any suggestion as to how to update the firmware.

Not sure I understand the concept of testing AF at f/8 and f/9; remember that the lens will always AF wide open, then stop down (as appropriate) for the shot. I.e. a constant aperture f/5.6 zoom lens (or a f/5.6 prime) with a 1.4x TC will always AF at f/8. Being variable aperture, the 100-400 will be focussing at f/4.5+1 stop (f/6.3) at the wide end, and f/5.6+1 stop (f/8) at the long end.

The Kenko is likely not reporting in the same way as a Canon TC; thus you have a chance of other AF points working in good light.

Note sure about the firmware issue; but a lens+TC should report differently to the bare lens, so that's likely the problem.

sploo wrote in post #17669500
Not sure I understand the concept of testing AF at f/8 and f/9; .

I'm far from being a technophobe and more like an old fart, correction. am an old fart, but being as someone new to birding and stalking my prey with an extender fitted, wouldn't checking at f8 be the way to go?

Kev, being old and pretty dense, I could be wrong; but suspect you have not completely understood what sploo is saying about AF. AF occurs before the exposure, and the f stop you have dialed up is of no relevance to the AF process.

The aperture during AF is always the widest that the lens, maybe plus TC, allows. Also in a zoom lens such as the 100-400 we have an aperture "gear change" with focal length. So the aperture is normally "parked" wide open and only pulses to the selected value during exposure. This allows maximum light to reach the focus sensor and our eyes, via the view finder.

Sorry if I am mentioning things you already know.

I would love to have some of that Queensland light down here in Adelaide where it has been very cold, overcast and drizzly for far too long. People from other places seem to love our brightly coloured parrots. In Adelaide we have an Adelaide Rosella in addition to the ordinary rosellas and lorrikeets. They are not as gaudy in their colours, but quite beautiful to my mind. Must post some shots when I get an operating system installed that supports the 7DII software.

Keith

sploo wrote in post #17669500
Not sure I understand the concept of testing AF at f/8 and f/9; remember that the lens will always AF wide open, then stop down (as appropriate) for the shot. I.e. a constant aperture f/5.6 zoom lens (or a f/5.6 prime) with a 1.4x TC will always AF at f/8. Being variable aperture, the 100-400 will be focussing at f/4.5+1 stop (f/6.3) at the wide end, and f/5.6+1 stop (f/8) at the long end.

The Kenko is likely not reporting in the same way as a Canon TC; thus you have a chance of other AF points working in good light.

Note sure about the firmware issue; but a lens+TC should report differently to the bare lens, so that's likely the problem.

I am very busy today, so I will be short.

Canon cameras, except for 5DIII and 7DI (maybe 1Dx, but it is out of my range) I, do not AF at F/8 and and smaller apertures. So I can only do manual focus with the 100-400 plus 1.4X Canon TC at the long end, as we are at /8. Well, with Kenko 1.4TC they do, and not only the center point.

On the 7DII the TC does not work at all. The 100-400II produces this firmware error, and shots taken with 70-200 would not get written on the card.

BTW, the light was poor.

Keith Taylor wrote in post #17669660
Kev, being old and pretty dense, I could be wrong; but suspect you have not completely understood what sploo is saying about AF. AF occurs before the exposure, and the f stop you have dialed up is of no relevance to the AF process.

The aperture during AF is always the widest that the lens, maybe plus TC, allows. Also in a zoom lens such as the 100-400 we have an aperture "gear change" with focal length. So the aperture is normally "parked" wide open and only pulses to the selected value during exposure. This allows maximum light to reach the focus sensor and our eyes, via the view finder.

Sorry if I am mentioning things you already know.

I would love to have some of that Queensland light down here in Adelaide where it has been very cold, overcast and drizzly for far too long. People from other places seem to love our brightly coloured parrots. In Adelaide we have an Adelaide Rosella in addition to the ordinary rosellas and lorrikeets. They are not as gaudy in their colours, but quite beautiful to my mind. Must post some shots when I get an operating system installed that supports the 7DII software.

Keith

I'm with it now Keith, and no need for sorry as I'd forgotten what sucking eggs tasted like I had a few chateaux de carboard box last night I didn't quite get the post The light here gives more options but somethimes it can be too bright with harsh shadows. I look forward to seeing your shots when you're set up. have you got Adobes DNG convertor?

châteaux de cardboard box Love it!

Yes the same with mine last Nov, some of the Kenko 1.4 will work and some do not. Mine did not so out the door it went and the Canon 1.4III rolled in. Never looked back

Calf Moose I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday

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This morning at the storm drain again. I won't know what to do with myself when the Grvillias stop flowering!

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More great shots Kev. Love 'em