Another F/4L & 1.4x teleconverter question please...

Ok, I have asked some questions in the past about this combination and I have searched and read some of the other questions asked and answers... and now I have another question before I pull the trigger and buy me one tonight.

Before buying the 70-200 F/4 I had the cheapo 75-300 (I think it was 5.6 at 300). I wasn't happy with it. Within a week of owning it I bought the 70-200 F/4L in it's place. I'm still learning but I am liking the lens more and more each time I use it. I use it for my kids sports (football and baseball). I am finding I am having a hard time getting good shots of 1st base when I am on the 3rd base side and vice versa.

So , my choices were to spend alot more money that I don't have and upgrade my lens, or check out a teleconverter.

I have decided on the Kenko 1.4X pro teleconverter.

My question is this...and please excuse my ignorance as I am still new to all of this...

If I use that teleconverter it will make my F/stop 5.6 . I normally use F/4. I am concerned that at 5.6 it will slow my shutter speed, which I find my pics are best at 1000-1600. Once my SS falls to 800 or below I start tossing a lot of pics. If I shoot at 5.6 , say on a day where my SS is normally, say, 1000.... what will this bring my SS down to?

One more question...

Is this going to degrade the quality of my lens.... it isn't going reduce the quality to that of the 75-300mm is it? It would be pointless to have a nice lens just to turn it into the quality of a cheapo that I didn't like to begin with.

Thanks in advance for the help and putting up with me and my many questions.

I had a 70-200 f/2.8 and haven't used the f/4, but it should give much better results with the TC than you had with the 75-300. You are only losing 1 f/stop so you should be able to increase your ISO setting to allow for the loss and still get acceptable results.

Bob R

You don't say which body you're using. But you can also adjust the ISO to get the shutter speed you need. Some bodies are better than others for IQ.

I use the XTi. I try not to put my ISO above 200. I don't know if it is just my camera but I get a lot of noise with 400 and above.

I should have added my ISO. Say my ISO is 200, at F/4, and my SS is around 1000. Now add the 1.4x.... what will it convert to?

caroleigh wrote in post #5390558
I use the XTi. I try not to put my ISO above 200. I don't know if it is just my camera but I get a lot of noise with 400 and above.

I should have added my ISO. Say my ISO is 200, at F/4, and my SS is around 1000. Now add the 1.4x.... what will it convert to?

Your shutter speed would drop to half, in this case 1/500. However if you increase your ISO from 200 to 400 your shutter speed will double, back to 1/1000.

Don't be afraid of a little ISO noise, it's better to have a bit of noise than have blurred photos, and if you expose your pics properly and run a de-noise filter over your pics you should have quite acceptable results at ISO 400.

Thanks Jo. I'm gonna get the extender and check it out. If I don't like the results I can just resell it.

A couple of random thoughts based on several years of shooting sports.

The 70-200's all take a 1.4 well with minimal loss of IQ.

And the IQ is good enough to make a pretty severe crop:
https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=4795437&po​stcount=17

During indoor sports season when I was using the XTI it was always on ISO 1600--and I never had significant noise problem as long as the exposure was correct.

Here is a link to a free noiseware program that you can try:
http://noiseware-community-edition.en.softonic.co​m/

It's not a good as Noise Ninja but the price is right.

Let us know what you think when you get your converter.

I have both the Kenko and the Canon converters 1.4x and the 70-200 f/4L. It works fine with either converter, I say save the money and buy the Kenko. Yes, you will be at F5.6 max, I don't see a degradation in IQ, but I'm not a pixel peeper.

Thanks. I do have noiseware. My exposure is getting better so my noise problems should get better too! I wont hold my breath that I will have it by this weekends games unless the seller ships PM tomorrow. I hope it does get here on time, that would be awesome and I will come back with some shots!
Thanks again for all the help, it really is appreciated.

I have 12x18" prints at ISO 1600 from a DRebel, and the noise is barely visible. You will not see any noise in any normal size print from an XTi up until about ISO 800 / ISO 1600. Even then, it won't look too bad unless you really missed exposure. Noise is not a photo killer...in fact, sometimes I add noise to my photos to make them fit a particular mood.

I have to run noiseware on every photo above 200. I thought at first either there might be something wrong with the camera but the more I learn, the more I blame myself.
I bought the extender, it is being shipped today. My son has 2 double headers this weekend, I hope it gets here in time!!
Thanks again for al lthe help.

caroleigh wrote in post #5393549
I have to run noiseware on every photo above 200. I thought at first either there might be something wrong with the camera but the more I learn, the more I blame myself.
I bought the extender, it is being shipped today. My son has 2 double headers this weekend, I hope it gets here in time!!
Thanks again for al lthe help.

wow...where are you buying yours from. I bought from B&H......I thought I saw ship date 4/21.......ahhhhhhhhit​s 4/28....bummer

1downfall wrote in post #5393645
wow...where are you buying yours from. I bought from B&H......I thought I saw ship date 4/21.......ahhhhhhhhit​s 4/28....bummer

Hi, I got it off of ebay. I have been looking for one for weeks now. I seen one last week with a BIN of $100, I pussyfooted around and when I went to hit the button someone else beat me out. All the other ones have been from hong kong and then I seen one new in box listed for $149 bin so I went ahead and bought it. I figure if I don't like it I can resell it - it seems they are pretty hard to find (on the forums and ebay).

caroleigh wrote in post #5393705
Hi, I got it off of ebay. I have been looking for one for weeks now. I seen one last week with a BIN of $100, I pussyfooted around and when I went to hit the button someone else beat me out. All the other ones have been from hong kong and then I seen one new in box listed for $149 bin so I went ahead and bought it. I figure if I don't like it I can resell it - it seems they are pretty hard to find (on the forums and ebay).

yes, i agree, it has been hard to find these on ebay. I have looked for a bit myself and found none...except full price Canon's. thanks....enjoy it and show us some pics!!

Increase ISO to 400 at least. Also try at ISO 800 and see if you can tolerate the results. If not, do some noise reduction in your post processing. That can help as well.