Posted by Randy Cox on February 20, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Hi everyone. Well I got my 100-400L lens! Hooray for me!I always thought they were white, but mine is kinda tan in color.Normal? I also got the UV filter, LensCoat lens cover and a Slik Pro780DX tripod, nice and tall! Now I want more! If I add a 2x extender, is that too much? I'm going to Yellowstone and the Tetons in May and want some zoom in case I see some wolves again.(I saw some last year and was armed with a point and shoot! I was under gunned!)I have a 10mp xti body and was wondering if autofocus and other functions will work with the 2x ext.? Thanks! Randy
Posted by David Bostedo on February 20, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Randy - The 2X will add two stops at the telephoto end, making it an f/11. Adding a 1.4X will make it an f/8 lens. It will autofocus with the 1.4X only on the "pro" bodies (1D, 1Ds). It won't autofocus on any body with the 2X. (There may be some pin taping that will fool the camera into autofocusing, buy slowly.) As far as I know, teleconverters hurt the IQ pretty badly on that zoom. I don't own it though, so someone may have some actual experience.
Posted by Lisa Wiesbauer on February 20, 2008 at 7:27 PM
David,
Thanks for your reply to Randy, since that's almost the same setup I have -also just got my 100-400, so hurray for me too :)
Sure wish I were going to see wolves soon-Good Luck Randy-I'll look forward to seeing your photos.
Lisa
Posted by Don George on February 20, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Randy,
Make sure you go up over Dunraven Pass for Bears. The last two years have been great for both Black and Grizzly bears. I would stay away from the 2x on a zoom 100-400 lens unless I have time to manual focus. Personaly I would stay with a 1.4x and that can get tough focusing when in a hurry or on a moving subject.
Posted by Ed Cordes on February 20, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Randy, I have the 100-400 and like it a lot. However, there are some compromises with that lens. If you are really going to use a TC the 1.4 is the only one to use. The 100-400 can have good image quality, but it does degrade using TCs. Good quality will have to be obtained by stopping down to f11 or so with a 1.4 TC. The 2X will not produce a good image.
As was said above, the AF will not work on a non-pro body. So, if you have a 1D of any vintage it will AF, but any of the consumer or prosumer bodies, like your XTi, will not AF as the 100-400 @ 400 will be f8 with the 1.4 TC. Taping does help a bit, but AF is way sloooow, so plan to manual focus.
On the other hand the 10MP of the XTi will allow you some cropping ability, so you may be better off just using your 100-400 and cropping the image.
Posted by Chris Jones on February 21, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Randy
I have the 100-400 on 1D mkIII, a 2x is an absolute no no. The extra reach with a 1.4x is anything but hassel free. Totally concur with Ed's experences.
My advice is to keep low and quite and get in closer....... its a great hand held oppotunists lens in the field.
Regards
Chris
Posted by Randy Cox on February 23, 2008 at 12:37 AM
OK, I can take a hint! I guess I will have to get out of my car and get closer! work work work!. Thanks everyone for the advice! Randy
Posted by Steve Foss on February 23, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Randy, I've been shooting that lens for four years with great luck, but luck tends to wear out with the lens and TCs. Ed's and Randy's advice is spot on. I have gotten some nice shots with the 1.4 TC on that lens, but only in very good lighting conditions and stopped down one stop to f11, as noted. Manual focus on fast-moving animals like wolves (well, fast moving in most situations), would be an exercise in frustration.
Discussion
7 repliesThanks for your reply to Randy, since that's almost the same setup I have -also just got my 100-400, so hurray for me too :)
Sure wish I were going to see wolves soon-Good Luck Randy-I'll look forward to seeing your photos.
Lisa
Make sure you go up over Dunraven Pass for Bears. The last two years have been great for both Black and Grizzly bears. I would stay away from the 2x on a zoom 100-400 lens unless I have time to manual focus. Personaly I would stay with a 1.4x and that can get tough focusing when in a hurry or on a moving subject.
As was said above, the AF will not work on a non-pro body. So, if you have a 1D of any vintage it will AF, but any of the consumer or prosumer bodies, like your XTi, will not AF as the 100-400 @ 400 will be f8 with the 1.4 TC. Taping does help a bit, but AF is way sloooow, so plan to manual focus.
On the other hand the 10MP of the XTi will allow you some cropping ability, so you may be better off just using your 100-400 and cropping the image.
I have the 100-400 on 1D mkIII, a 2x is an absolute no no. The extra reach with a 1.4x is anything but hassel free. Totally concur with Ed's experences.
My advice is to keep low and quite and get in closer....... its a great hand held oppotunists lens in the field.
Regards
Chris