50D+EF100-400L+Kenko Pro 300 1.4x TC - taped pin trick

Ok guys 'n' girls. Been hunting the forums, but can't find it.
I need the definitive answer from someone who has done it successfully (or not!)

Can you AF the 100-400L with the Kenko Pro 300 1.4x TC on the 50D if you tape the left-most pins in the TC?

I have the Kenko Pro 300 1.4x and the EF100-400L and have found it to be pretty good with the taped-pins trick on my 30D.

Though I want to wait for the 1DMkIV, it ain't here yet, and I'm seeing prices for the 50D dropping much closer to an affordable level without really making a difference to my long-term plan.

And 50D plus 1DMkIV should make a better combo than 30D plus 1DMkIV.....

So, if you've done it, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, and post a pic or two so we can see the results.

In advance, thankyouthankyouthanky​ou!!!!


[And CyberDyneSystems if you're looking in, I know taping can be hit 'n' miss, but if anyone's had a "hit" I'd love to hear from them and see the pictures]

Doesnt this burn out the motor

~ Josh

I have used this combination with the 40D but not heavy use. Autofocus OK in good light, and no sign of any problems so far.

No examples to hand at present, sadly.

skygod44 wrote in post #7954839
Can you AF the 100-400L with the Kenko Pro 300 1.4x TC on the 50D if you tape the left-most pins in the TC?

skygod44,
It works on my 40D

Joshua Bowden wrote in post #7955365
Doesnt this burn out the motor
~ Josh

Which motor?

billhercus wrote in post #7955602
I have used this combination with the 40D but not heavy use. Autofocus OK in good light, and no sign of any problems so far.
No examples to hand at present, sadly.

John_B wrote in post #7955648
skygod44,
It works on my 40D

Thanks guys....yeah, I know it works on the 40D, but I want/need to know if the 50D has been re-something-or-othered so that it doesn't work.

Anyone out there in POTN-land know the answer?

the 100-400 has an internal focusing motor so adding a TC shouldnt burn it out.

brianch wrote in post #7959271
the 100-400 has an internal focusing motor so adding a TC shouldnt burn it out.

Oh....Josh meant the focus. I was a bit curious on that, but still......

Anyone?

Original question?

Has nobody tried it?

Ok I have the everything but the kenko and was wanting to do this too..... I hope that somone has the answer.....

50D Newbe wrote in post #7967153
Ok I have the everything but the kenko and was wanting to do this too..... I hope that somone has the answer.....

Me too. But I found a thread yesterday where a POTN member has the 1DMkIII, 50D, and 40D, and finds the AF of the 1DMkIII outclasses the pixels on the 50D....

So at the moment, I'm thinking I might have to wait for the 1DMkIV to be fully "bodied-up".

This would be interesting to follow as another POTN member and I are striking up a deal on a 100-400.

As of late my 40D has been producing a lot of noise even at iso100 where it never use to, looking back at pictures taken within the first 3000 clicks I havnt seen anything, but here i am around 20,000 clicks and I am getting noise at low iso high shutter speeds.

I got it from Sams club so I am just going to return it and order the 50D untill I get the 5DII.

I am trying to get Sams to sell the 5DII online because if it ever dies I can return it
Thus another reason why I have held off.

NeoTokyo wrote in post #7967969
I am trying to get Sams to sell the 5DII online because if it ever dies I can return it
Thus another reason why I have held off.

Good plan!

But the 5D2 is not for me....
50D/60D plus 1D4 is my aim.

....what is surprising though, is that nobody has come up with the answer yet.
Not seen the thread, I guess, but the 50D threads are full of pictures, so this question would probably be missed if I linked it there.....

So....anyone know the answer to the question?

With my 50D, 100-400 and taped Kenko 1.4X teleconverter I can give up on trying to AF with the centre point in all but the most favourable lighting and subject contrast. The four points at the diagonals of the focus point array do actually work quite well for One Shot. I have not tried the combination in AI Servo mode.

It's a similar story with my 40D. With my 30D it was easier to get the centre point to AF but it was pretty poor for BIF etc.. Now that I have a 1D3 I have removed the tape from the teleconverter (at least my EXIF now reads correctly) and prefer to only use the teleconverter on my 50D for manual focus with Live View for perched birds. For BIF it's the 50D with bare lens or the 1D3.

Although the tape trick can get AF to work, possibly, it should not be forgotten that at f/8 you are trying to operate outside the specs for the system and there is no reason to expect or demand good AF performance when "cheating". It would appear that with the 40D the tape trick had mixed success for different people. I imagine it is a similar story with the 50D.

tdodd wrote in post #7968527
With my 50D, 100-400 and taped Kenko 1.4X teleconverter I can give up on trying to AF with the centre point in all but the most favourable lighting and subject contrast. The four points at the diagonals of the focus point array do actually work quite well for One Shot. I have not tried the combination in AI Servo mode.

It's a similar story with my 40D. With my 30D it was easier to get the centre point to AF but it was pretty poor for BIF etc.. Now that I have a 1D3 I have removed the tape from the teleconverter (at least my EXIF now reads correctly) and prefer to only use the teleconverter on my 50D for manual focus with Live View for perched birds. For BIF it's the 50D with bare lens or the 1D3.

Although the tape trick can get AF to work, possibly, it should not be forgotten that at f/8 you are trying to operate outside the specs for the system and there is no reason to expect or demand good AF performance when "cheating". It would appear that with the 40D the tape trick had mixed success for different people. I imagine it is a similar story with the 50D.

Thanks for the answer Tim....I was beginning to think that might be the case since Canon seems pretty keen on providing us with exactly what the camera can do, and as few "freebies" as possible - otherwise, why upgrade?

Guess I'll still look at a 50D/1D3 combo, and perhaps just keep my 30D as paragliding body and spare.

btw, you're not from East Ham are you....?
I recall a Dodd family from my childhood there....