70-200 f/4L IS with 1.4 teleconverter?

I'm heading out to Glacier National Park at the end of the month and want to use the opportunity to rent a couple of lenses. I currently own a Tamron 18-50 f/2.8 non-VC, Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro, and the Canon 50-250. My thought is that I will rent a Canon 10-22 and 70-200 f/4L IS. Others have recommended that I rent the 100-400, but I'm concerned about the extra weight, and the 70-200 looks really impressive as a first L lens for me to buy in the future. On my Rebel XT, the 70-200 it becomes a 112-320. If I rent a 1.4 teleconverter, that extends it to a 156-448 and knocks it down to f/5.6, but with the IS, that should be OK.

Do any of you use a 1.4 teleconverter with the 70-200 f/4? If so, do you recommend it?

Thanks,
Seth

The 1.4x teleconverter on the lens works really, really well. The 70-200mm F4L IS is one of the, if not the sharpest zoom lens Canon makes. I would recommend it, it is still better then the 100-400mm lens(better IS, faster focus and you can take off the teleconverter to get even better IQ).

Nick

The Fox wrote in post #10489497
The 1.4x teleconverter on the lens works really, really well.

I didn't really like it on 70-200mm f/4L IS. I didn't mind it on 100-400mm, so I guess it all comes down to personal preference.

In a technically precise sense it might be better, but as an owner of both, I can say that the 70-200mm f/4L IS is my least used lens and the 100-400mm is my most used lens. I love that lens. And I prefer its IS to the one on the 70-200mm, which I find noisy and distracting.

It think it depends on what a person needs a lens for. Sethch, if you don't need more than 200mm (or 320 with a 1.4 TC, but then again you lose AF), go for the 70-200mm. If you're planning to take quite a few pictures of animals, I'd personally get the 100-400mm. But only if extra weight wouldn't be a problem. The lens is not so heavy that you can't shoot handheld for a prolonged time, but to carry it around for hours together with other equipment might not be that comfortable.

Shots without and with Canon 1.4x on 70-200 f/4L IS, first and third shots

The 70-200mm f/4 L works well with the Canon 1.4. I think you'll like the combination. Although the 200mm 2.8 L does have slightly better IQ with the 1.4.

What do you plan on shooting? I am guessing landscapes with the 10-22 and animals/etc with the 70-200/1.4x or the 100-400. Lots of the animals stay pretty close out there up at Logan Pass/etc. If I was going again and those were my choices I would probably pick the 100-400, not a lot heavier and it is nice to have a little more reach. I have never kicked myself for having too long of a lens when shooting animals.

I shoot with a 1.4x tc on my 70-200mm f4 IS.

Couldn't be happier. It only comes off on dark and cloudy days.

Thanks for your thoughts! The extra reach of the 100-400 would probably be really useful, but we're going to be doing a lot of hiking (4 miles, 7 miles, 15 miles, etc..) and I'm just concerned about the extra weight.

70-200mm w/ 1.4x TC will not loose AF. It will w/ 2x TC on most bodies except 1D series.

Kirke wrote in post #10489621
It think it depends on what a person needs a lens for. Sethch, if you don't need more than 200mm (or 320 with a 1.4 TC, but then again you lose AF), go for the 70-200mm. If you're planning to take quite a few pictures of animals, I'd personally get the 100-400mm. But only if extra weight wouldn't be a problem. The lens is not so heavy that you can't shoot handheld for a prolonged time, but to carry it around for hours together with other equipment might not be that comfortable.

Like others said, the 1.4xTC works great with the 70-200 f/4 L IS on the 7D.

If you already have the 55-250 IS, rent the 100-400 or a Bigmos.

liupublic wrote in post #10496152
70-200mm w/ 1.4x TC will not loose AF. It will w/ 2x TC on most bodies except 1D series.

The f/4 will work with a 2x TC if you do the "tape trick". It works quite well actually.

I would like to see the result if someone post a test shot..

tcssas wrote in post #10521910
I would like to see the result if someone post a test shot..

They are linked above. I did the same thing with my 2.8 IS and went with the 2X TC. I enjoy it. You do lose a little but you still have a LOT to work with. I have shot a few times with the 100-400 and I just like the 70-200 series. Have had 3... on my 3rd now which I like the most. With the 1.4x and 2x TC working well with them I would go with that. As you said the 70-200 could be your first lens and something you are considering so in my opinion that is the best choice. Shoot with it. See if you like it.

70-200 2.8 IS w/ 2x TC @ 400mm

The 70-200 f4 both IS or non-IS are marvelously sharp and should do quite well with the 1.4x TC.

The IS version should even do great with the 2x TC, but you would need a 1D series body for it to AF.