May keep the 1.4 tele

When I got my 400mm 5.6 lens I tested the 1.4 Tameron tele on it indoors as it was winter. Was not satisfied with the results. Thought I would give it one more try sitting in the back yard. This sparrow sat above me trying to figure out what I was up to. This was about one hour before sunset, so in good out door light the results may even be better.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Overall I think it looks pretty clean, was you in manual or auto focus. If I use my Canon 1.4 tele. I have to use manual, I have not used it in sunlight yet. I would like to see some pictures when you get some in the sun light, I am thinking they are going to be quite good.
rw

I was in auto focus but fine tuned it manually.

from my experience, and what i've heard from others, most telecoverters are a bit of a hit-or-miss proposition, especially on "marginall" lenses that only open up to 5.6, like my Sigma 80-400. i have a Kenko 1.4x Pro 300 (made by the same company as the Tamron), and while i've gotten some decent results with it, none of the photos with it are as clear and sharp as those taken without. it's a tradeoff... if you'd lose more image quality by cropping than you would by using the TC, by all means use it. but if you can get a decent image without it, leave it off.

squirl033 wrote in post #3093767
from my experience, and what i've heard from others, most telecoverters are a bit of a hit-or-miss proposition, especially on "marginall" lenses that only open up to 5.6, like my Sigma 80-400. i have a Kenko 1.4x Pro 300 (made by the same company as the Tamron), and while i've gotten some decent results with it, none of the photos with it are as clear and sharp as those taken without. it's a tradeoff... if you'd lose more image quality by cropping than you would by using the TC, by all means use it. but if you can get a decent image without it, leave it off.

I also have the Kenko pro and the 400 5.6, and find this to be true. Too many shots were out of focus when I tried to use the AF. Will keep the Kenko to use with the 75-300 and Sigma 24-70 though...
Karen

Odd, I'm having no problems like that with the Kenko Pro on my 100-400, and I'd have bet that of the two lenses (the zoom and the prime) it would be the zoom that kicked up more of a fuss.

I'm even getting sharp, well focussed pictures in light that warrants 1000+ ISO - and at a nominal f/5.6, too.

Keith R wrote in post #3095109
Odd, I'm having no problems like that with the Kenko Pro on my 100-400, and I'd have bet that of the two lenses (the zoom and the prime) it would be the zoom that kicked up more of a fuss.

I'm even getting sharp, well focussed pictures in light that warrants 1000+ ISO - and at a nominal f/5.6, too.

I was told by Allen (Morehtml) that the 400 has some issues (I can't remember what) that made using a tc not feasible. I thought at first mine worked by covering three sensors on the connection, but in truth maybe 1 out of 4 was in focus.
Karen

Keith R wrote in post #3095109
Odd, I'm having no problems like that with the Kenko Pro on my 100-400, and I'd have bet that of the two lenses (the zoom and the prime) it would be the zoom that kicked up more of a fuss.

I'm even getting sharp, well focussed pictures in light that warrants 1000+ ISO - and at a nominal f/5.6, too.

interesting, Keith... though your results seem to be atypical. of course, i tend to use my long lens for shooting moving subjects a lot, and that's a challenge for the AF even without the TC on! have you had the same results using the AI Servo mode, or do you mostly use single shot? either that or most of the people i've talked to got "less than perfect" copies of the Pro 300...

here some sample of the 400mm f5.6 + 1.5X TC from Kenko. The picture are downsized for the web with no sharpening apply. The owl are at 1/200 f8, 400 iso. The vole are at 1/200 f5.6, 640 iso. The AF is working, with no pin taped

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

AI servo 100% of the time, Rocky - and I photograph little rascals like sanderling (small, fast, unpredictable) with my set up without any real problems.

I don't actually think my experiences are entirely atypical, incidentally - several people, here and on other websites have written that their experiences with the 100-400 and Kenko converter closely match mine.

All I know for sure is that I'm pretty happy to be where I am right now..!