EF 100-400mm with 1.4x TC?

I have a 70-200mm f/2.8 which I use with the Canon 2x TC and I'm happy with it's performance in the focusing department and never had any problems with focusing at all.
I now want to buy the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM lens. What can I expect from it when used with a Canon 1.4x TC?
Will I still be able to use AF OK and how will go on my 50D or 5D when set on AI Servo.
Appreciate any info from anybody who may have used this set up.

Your 100-400L and 1.4x TC will not AF on the 50D or the 5D.
IQ-wise, it will be decent enough.

Try taping off the 3 left most gold pins or your Canon 1.4TC and see if your 100-400 will AF. I think it will AF...just not fast.

Or try a Kenko 1.4TC. It's not as "chatty" to the body. Mine works in day light conditions.

Autofocus on a 1d is pretty slow with that combo. as far as sharpness, it's not too terrible. A little usm or hpf does wonders. here's a shot from sunday with the 1.4x and 1-4 all the way at the long end.

Tape trick will work with the 5D. it will hunt, but it will AF.
As for the 50D, if it's anything like the 40D, it won't AF on the center AF point.
Who knows why...it's just the way it is...

rang wrote in post #7239347
Try taping off the 3 left most gold pins or your Canon 1.4TC and see if your 100-400 will AF. I think it will AF...just not fast.

Or try a Kenko 1.4TC. It's not as "chatty" to the body. Mine works in day light conditions.

It's not sounding good at the moment.
What I'm really trying to get is more reach than I have now (640)
with my 50D using 70-200 plus 2x.
Should I then think about going over to the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO EX DG, which on the 50D gives me 800mm. How does this lens go on AI-Servo?
nicksan-ogre1231-rang....Thanks for responding.........

Khali,

It works fine on the 100-400. I use mine all the time shooting motorsport, have a look at the Donnington 2008 shots in the link below and judge for yourself. Even in the pouring rain its fine.

I use the Kenko PRO 1.4x, it is better quality, cheaper and more usable then Canons own TC's, which are limited to a certain range of lenses.

Kenko do at least two different grades of 1.4x. The cheaper version has no trouble with chatting to the lens because it has fewer pins and I imagine thus chats less! The problem is that the quality is not as good. The better, PRO version does require three pins be taped over - its not a big deal and seems to have no downside that I've noticed.

In theory the lens might hunt more, but to be honest I've never found it an issue on my 30D or Eos-3. AI Servo is all I ever use trackside, it does need me to concentrate on keeping the focus point nailed when a bike is doing anything from 100 to 200mph, but thats just technique.

From this thread...sounds like the Kenko Pro TC and back button focusing technique is the solution for you.

Let me say this again.

You'll be able to make it work on your 5D, but not your 50D, if it's anything like the 40D.
Note, the 40D's AF system was upgraded from the 30D, and for whatever reason, the tape trick only works on off center AF points with a 1.4x TC combo.

It'll work fine on the 30D, however that's not what you own. My guess is you will run into the same issues with the 50D as folks have with the 40D.

So if you don't expect to AF, you should be fine IQ wise.

khall wrote in post #7239301
I now want to buy the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM lens. What can I expect from it when used with a Canon 1.4x TC?

Shot with the 100-400 + 1.4 T.C.

Sharper if the subject is closer:

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khall wrote in post #7239715
Should I then think about going over to the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO EX DG, which on the 50D gives me 800mm. How does this lens go on AI-Servo?

Any thoughts about the Sigma when using AI-Servo?

I cannot make any comment about the 40D or the 50D, never having used either of them, but on the 30D, all I ever use is the centre AF point.

How does the 40D/50D differ?

Lowner wrote in post #7239845
Khali,

It works fine on the 100-400.

Please explain:

The poster is referring specificially to a Canon 2x, and you seem to referring to a Kenco pro

I'd be interested in what specifically works well and whether any "pins taping" is envolved

In my case, I have a 100-400L, a 40D, and a Tamron SP 1.4. Even with the pins taped, it is twitchy and not very reliable. You really don't know what it'll do next

Here's a photo I took a couple years back using the 1.4 TC and the 100- 400 IS zoomed to 400 mm with my old EOS 1D. I find the focus also works well with my 5D Mk 11 and the 1.4 TC taped.

You be the judge.....

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On your 40D, can you eventually get the center AF point to lock in
IIRC, I couldn't with mine. Off center points lock in after some hunting.

The Kenko Pro and Canon TC's both require taping the pins.
I think there's a cheaper version on the Kenko, and perhaps other brands that don't have the extra 3 pins, hence doesn't report itself.

I guess you just need to find a combo that works.

440roadrunner wrote in post #7244160
Please explain:

The poster is referring specificially to a Canon 2x, and you seem to referring to a Kenco pro

I'd be interested in what specifically works well and whether any "pins taping" is envolved

In my case, I have a 100-400L, a 40D, and a Tamron SP 1.4. Even with the pins taped, it is twitchy and not very reliable. You really don't know what it'll do next