Canon 100-400 with a 2x Extender?

Skyline On Fire

Skyline On Fire

Messages
1,391
Name
Luke
Edit My Images
Yes
Anybody have any photos at 800mm? Preferably on a 7D or other high end crop body. Or even any experience? I'm going traveling for a few years in April and it seems like something small and relatively inexpensive that could come in handy at times with my 100-400, but it's hard to find any decent test shots etc... Online.

Does anybody have any real world experience or opinions with this combination?

Thanks,
 
Luke, it won't af on a 7D.....1.4 extender will, but to be honest I wouldn't bother, shoot at reasonable iso (<800) and you can crop...why do you want such a focal length?

400 mm on a 7D is 640mm equivalent...
 
I expect 800mm f/11 is pretty useless for anything that moves.
 
It wont be used for anything that particularly moves, it's just a little piece of kit that would come in handy occasionally, and I'm just looking for image quality advice etc.. I know it wont work, and it will be used on a tripod.

As for why I need such a focal length, I'm going to be hiking and camping across Europe into Asia for two years from this spring, and I'm trying to build a good list of kit that can cover every need and situation. I can just imagine it being useful, and it doesn't take up much room or weight at all.
 
I think from what you are saying that if it means not getting the shot and shooting at 800mm then yes. The IQ will take a hit I use both 1.4 and 2X on my Sigma 150-500 on the 7D, it will have to be kept steady and the viewfinder will be dim, so manual focusing will be a challenge though Live View at 10X is an option if the subject is stationery. I shoot birds and this was with a 2X, certainly better than no shot at all.

http://SPAM/c3whur/7Dtest/Img_1986.jpg
 
Exactly, with live view, a stable tripod, good lighting, it shouldn't be too tough, and I just know if I don't take one I'll regret it. That was with the 2x on the Sigma? At 1000mm?
 
Sure it's not optically perfect but it's good for an emergency etc... Thank you for that, I think I'll see if I can pick up a second hand 2x before I leave.
 
artyman said:
I think from what you are saying that if it means not getting the shot and shooting at 800mm then yes. The IQ will take a hit I use both 1.4 and 2X on my Sigma 150-500 on the 7D, it will have to be kept steady and the viewfinder will be dim, so manual focusing will be a challenge though Live View at 10X is an option if the subject is stationery. I shoot birds and this was with a 2X, certainly better than no shot at all.

http://SPAM/c3whur/7Dtest/Img_1986.jpg
Click to expand...

thats an acceptable image re quality imo Ken :thumbs: and i agree some times a compromise is made to get something
 
But on an 18mp 7D, could the same or better IQ not be achieved by cropping (and upscaling if necessary)?
 
squishy said:
But on an 18mp 7D, could the same or better IQ not be achieved by cropping (and upscaling if necessary)?
Click to expand...
Possible better IQ with regards to the likes of sharpness, contrast, and noise Adam but the thing is that using a tc (e.g more magnification) will always get you more detail than cropping - with cropping you cannot extract any more detail than was originally recorded.
 
Skyline On Fire said:
Anybody have any photos at 800mm? Preferably on a 7D or other high end crop body. Or even any experience? I'm going traveling for a few years in April and it seems like something small and relatively inexpensive that could come in handy at times with my 100-400, but it's hard to find any decent test shots etc... Online.

Does anybody have any real world experience or opinions with this combination?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Luke, I think your online searches has answered your own question, there are very few samples because it is not really a viable option. You will always be able to find a few half decent shots taken with slow lenses and a 2x converter but these are very selective and the hit rate will be very low - in the field they they are next to useless IMO.
In general 2x tc only work well with high quality fast primes (for which they were developed in the first place).
 
Roy C said:
Luke, I think your online searches has answered your own question, there are very few samples because it is not really a viable option. You will always be able to find a few half decent shots taken with slow lenses and a 2x converter but these are very selective and the hit rate will be very low - in the field they they are next to useless IMO.
In general 2x tc only work well with high quality fast primes (for which they were developed in the first place).
Click to expand...

...and even then, the x2 doesn't have a brilliant reputation...
 
Roy C said:
Not too bad with the right lens George, see HERE for some of my shots with the Canon 2x MkII tc + 300/2.8.
Click to expand...

I accept hese are good, Roy, my problem was I couldn't rely on the af, quite a few turned out a bit less sharp than I wanted and I couldn't rely on the combo, hence I tended to avoid the 2x unless I had a static subject.
Perhaps you've get a good 'un!!

I'm getting the m3 versions next week, hope they'll be better.
 
George said:
I accept hese are good, Roy, my problem was I couldn't rely on the af, quite a few turned out a bit less sharp than I wanted and I couldn't rely on the combo, hence I tended to avoid the 2x unless I had a static subject.
Perhaps you've get a good 'un!!

I'm getting the m3 versions next week, hope they'll be better.
Click to expand...
AF does slow down with a 2x George but I find that if I set a focus limiter then it is more than acceptable speed wise, I also try to stop down one when using the 2x - must admit I have never really had trouble with AF accuracy when using a 2x on the 7D. It is a combo I use most all of the time for birds.

I will be very interested in what you think of the 2x Mk3 George - especially if you will be using it on a 300/2.8, perhaps you could keep us posted.
 
Roy C said:
AF does slow down with a 2x George but I find that if I set a focus limiter then it is more than acceptable speed wise, I also try to stop down one when using the 2x - must admit I have never really had trouble with AF accuracy when using a 2x on the 7D. It is a combo I use most all of the time for birds.

I will be very interested in what you think of the 2x Mk3 George - especially if you will be using it on a 300/2.8, perhaps you could keep us posted.
Click to expand...

Yup, will do...off to India in 3 weeks to shoot (!!) tigers, I hope, a good test although I may well not need the reach, i"ll be having a play!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top