canon 70-200 f4 (non IS)

simonm8

simonm8

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Simon
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Looking for some help / advise really..

Friend is into his moto x and GP racing.. has a 70d camera, i lent him my 55-250 lens last year when he went to GP in italy..

He got back and to be honest the pics wasn't great, he is still learning, but biggest problem was not having enough reach on the lens..

He has chance of getting a 70-200 non is lens really cheap. and asked the question would it be ok to use this with a 2x or 1.4x attachment to gain extra reach, when he does get chance to go GP again and for when he is over moto x track doing bit for his brother.. he is not a pro and it is just for personal images he not looking at selling images or anything like that.

but also spends a lot of time at zoos etc..

What would people advise go for the above or recommend something else to him.. any ideas?
 
In my experience, the converters slow the AF down which might be a problem for fast moving subjects like GP. I do occasionally use the 1.4TC with my 70-200/4 non-IS but only when AF speed isn't an issue, so zoo photos would be OK for static subjects but not for things like bird-of-prey displays. I use a 5D so it's possible the 70d might fare better - I've not used one.

Having said that, I find the 70-200/4 to be a generally excellent lens optically and its AF is very fast when used "native".
 
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I forget the exact ratios but a 1.4x slows down the A/F by a factor of 30% and a 2x slows down the A/F by a factor of 60% (The ratios may be a bit inexact but the principle is right!)
That will make use on fast moving subjects tricky. Plus you'll also lose a stop or more so you might have to crank the ISO up to unacceptable levels.
Fairly immobile objects will be Ok; fast moving ones could be a problem.
 
Thanks.. so am I'm right in thinking that the f4 when then be f5.6 with the 1.4tc and f8 with the 2tc.. plus the autofocus will be quite a bit slower..

to be honest my advice to him was to get the 55-250 for his normal use and moto x has can get quite close to track, or get the 70-200 has it is silly cheap.. and when he does go GP hire a lens for the weekend, unless he wants to spend big bucks..
 
simonm8 said:
Thanks.. so am I'm right in thinking that the f4 when then be f5.6 with the 1.4tc and f8 with the 2tc.. plus the autofocus will be quite a bit slower..
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Correct.

to be honest my advice to him was to get the 55-250 for his normal use and moto x has can get quite close to track, or get the 70-200 has it is silly cheap.. and when he does go GP hire a lens for the weekend, unless he wants to spend big bucks..
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The 70-200 will be optically quite a bit better than the 55-250 and the difference in focal length at the long end isn't huge, so I'd be inclined to go for the 70-200 especially as you've said it's a good price. He could then hire or buy a 100-400 when he really needs the extra length.
 
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I found that the 70-200f4 with a 1.4tc on focused not too bad on a 7d and was quick enough on a 1dmkiv so I think it depends on the body that is attached to it.
 
simonm8 said:
Thanks.. so am I'm right in thinking that the f4 when then be f5.6 with the 1.4tc and f8 with the 2tc.. plus the autofocus will be quite a bit slower..
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Incorrect. With a 2x extender it will be f/8, but on a 70D the autofocus won't work at all, not even slowly.
 
mickledore said:
I forget the exact ratios but a 1.4x slows down the A/F by a factor of 30% and a 2x slows down the A/F by a factor of 60% (The ratios may be a bit inexact but the principle is right!)
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I don't know the actual numbers, but I agree the principle is probably right - so long as you're using an f/2.8 lens or a body with pro-level AF (1D series, 5D III, 7D II). With an f/4 lens on a consumer grade body, as the OP is talking about, the 2x extender won't AF at all.
 
I can vouch for all of the above, combination of 70d, 1.4iii tc, 70-200 f4is - good IQ but frustratingly slow af. Kenko ProDgx 2x tc and af does not work (but does on my tamron 70-300vc, bizarrely).
 
Just noticed there is a sigma in the classified 120-400 for sale. What are these like? Would that be a good alternative? Price look reasonable and could be a option or not?
 
I have a 70-200 f4 and used it with a Canon 2x on a 1DSII. IQ was pretty good and managed a number of 'keepers' but it wasn't fast moving action and it was very sunny. Came across a 70-300 L and have plumped for that instead.

A
 
mickledore said:
I forget the exact ratios but a 1.4x slows down the A/F by a factor of 30% and a 2x slows down the A/F by a factor of 60% (The ratios may be a bit inexact but the principle is right!)
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Focus speed is reduced to 50% for the 1.4x and 25% for the 2x (with the exception that the MkII super telephotos have been chivvied along a little when used with a MkIII extender).

Bob
 
Between my wife and myself we have both the lens the OP is talking about the 55-250mm is slow at focusing but the 70-200mm f4L USM is very fast I use it on a 7D and in the past a 60D with the kenko pro 300 DG 1.4x converter. I've tracked the RAF Typhoon coming strait at me at just under the sound barrier and it kept up with that on the 60D. Your friend might need pointing in the right direction for camera settings IE AF Drive needs to be AI Servo Even my Sigma 150-500mm can tracks RAF Hawks in the welsh valleys training.
 
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It's worth pointing out that the speed reduction of the focus motor when using an Extender is only really an issue at the time of initial acquisition. Once the subject is being tracked (no matter how fast it is moving) it requires only a small rate of change to the focus position and the combination's speed reduction is irrelevant all the way down the the last meter or so before MFD.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
Focus speed is reduced to 50% for the 1.4x and 25% for the 2x (with the exception that the MkII super telephotos have been chivvied along a little when used with a MkIII extender).
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That's a bit counter-intuitive - what's the reason for the 1.4x being worse than the 2x?
 
Canon Bob said:
It's worth pointing out that the speed reduction of the focus motor when using an Extender is only really an issue at the time of initial acquisition. Once the subject is being tracked (no matter how fast it is moving) it requires only a small rate of change to the focus position and the combination's speed reduction is irrelevant all the way down the the last meter or so before MFD.

Bob
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Exactly Bob, and I would have thought the OP friend would have pre-focused to the desired area thus making it easier to lock onto.
 
There's a trick where you put tape over the contacts and it will focus if your camera body doesn't support af below f8
 
magicolor1 said:
That's a bit counter-intuitive - what's the reason for the 1.4x being worse than the 2x?
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Read again (Focus speed is reduced to 50% for the 1.4x and 25% for the 2x) that tells me the 1.4x IS reduced to 50% Half as fast. And the 2x is reduced to only 25% so only a quarter of lens speed on its own.
 
Muzzieman said:
There's a trick where you put tape over the contacts and it will focus if your camera body doesn't support af below f8
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I did see a photo of this being done but cannot find it now, Would like to see how my Sigma 150-500mm will cope
 
Thanks for the replys, will pass on and let him deal with it.. i think he is going to go with the 70-200, he reckons with the price he can get it for even if he don't like it or get on with it he can move it on tacking into account bays fees and still make some money.. He won't tell me how much he getting it for though :-(

Has a side not has anyone got any ideas on the sigma lens i mentioned earlier that is in the classified.. thinking for myself..
 
If you want to tell your mate...I am looking to sell my 70-200 f4 IS. I'm talking to MPB but if a thread was to be started in the wanted section maybe he could get a good deal?
 
mickledore said:
If you want to tell your mate...I am looking to sell my 70-200 f4 IS. I'm talking to MPB but if a thread was to be started in the wanted section maybe he could get a good deal?
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He is to on here that why i was asking for him.. i will let him know, but unless it is a super deal i doubt he will be interested has he can get the non is dirt cheap.. i will get back to you
 
No problem. Let me know if you start a wanted thread. I'm almost definitely selling to MPB so I'd only want that price matched.....but we'd better not talk details on this thread!:eek::eek:
 
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