Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

[JeroenVanheuverswyn]

A few images I took with this lens last year:

Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Body: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Settings: F/8 - ISO 320 - 1/500

Short-toed Eagle
Body: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Settings: F/7.1 - ISO 400 - 1/500

Jackdaw
Body: Canon EOS 7D
Settings: F/6.3 - ISO 400 - 1/500

Arctic Tern
Body: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Settings: F/8 - ISO 400 - 1/500

 

[spandau]

Took this the other day with Canon 400mm F5.6L on a Canon 70D.

 

[Click]

A few images I took with this lens last year:

Very nice series. I especially like the Jackdaw.

 

[jthomson]

Running Start by jim4496, on Flickr

One from the other day, 400mm f5.6L on 7D2

 

[sym69ine]

A Jack Rabbit at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Alviso, Northern California).

Canon 60D with 400mm f/5.6L USM

 

[rgb]

Here are 2 images from Helgoland dune, Germany, dez. 2014

7d2, 400/5.6

 

[TheJock]

What’s everyone’s experience/opinions on the 400 f5.6 when combined with a 1.4xTCIII?
I was thinking about selling my version 1 100-400L for the version 2, but the price difference in my country is about the same as buying the 400 f5.6 brand new, and I would rather have AF at f8 on the 400mm prime than no AF at all on the 100-400mm zoom.
Does the AF work from f8 onwards? I’m not sure as I have never seen how this 1.4xTCIII works with different lenses as I only bought it last Sunday.
Very grateful in advance for any replies.

 

[weixing]

Hi,

What’s everyone’s experience/opinions on the 400 f5.6 when combined with a 1.4xTCIII?
I was thinking about selling my version 1 100-400L for the version 2, but the price difference in my country is about the same as buying the 400 f5.6 brand new, and I would rather have AF at f8 on the 400mm prime than no AF at all on the 100-400mm zoom.
Does the AF work from f8 onwards? I’m not sure as I have never seen how this 1.4xTCIII works with different lenses as I only bought it last Sunday.
Very grateful in advance for any replies.

Which body are you using?? Only 7D2, 5D3 and 1DX (not sure about 5DS) will AF at F8. The version 1 100-400mm L will also be able to AF with 1.4x TC when use with one of the above body.

Anyway, when we mention able to AF at F8 mean that the camera able to AF when the largest aperture (wide open) of the lens and lens combination is not smaller than F8. For example, the version 1 100-400mm L at 400mm is F5.6 and with 1.4x TC, it'll be F8 (wide open), so will be able to AF if use with one of the above body. Please note AF is done at wide open, so it'll be able to AF regardless of what aperture value you set in the camera.

Have a nice day.

 

[sedwards]

Autofocus will work fine on your 70d with 400+1.4 using liveveiw. I recently upgraded from from the 70d to 7d2 and i used the taped pins trick with the 70d to achive autofocus. It worked but not very well. Results are much better just using liveview and no tape on the pins. As for bodies that work at f8, you can only use the centre focus point but it works a lot better than taped pins . I will try and remeber to post some pics òf 400 5.6+1.4 when i get home tonight.

 

[quod]

What’s everyone’s experience/opinions on the 400 f5.6 when combined with a 1.4xTCIII?

It's decent, but so is the 1.4x on the 100-400 II. I have both lenses. Both are superior to to the 100-400 I in sharpness and AF speed. If I had to choose, I would have the 100-400 II over the 400/5.6, but the compliment each other. As noted, you need a 1-series, 5D3, or 7D2 to shoot the 1.4x on any of these lenses with AF, although there is the tape trick or you can use a 1st gen Kenko 1.4x.

 

[weixing]

What’s everyone’s experience/opinions on the 400 f5.6 when combined with a 1.4xTCIII?

It's decent, but so is the 1.4x on the 100-400 II. I have both lenses. Both are superior to to the 100-400 I in sharpness and AF speed. If I had to choose, I would have the 100-400 II over the 400/5.6, but the compliment each other. As noted, you need a 1-series, 5D3, or 7D2 to shoot the 1.4x on any of these lenses with AF, although there is the tape trick or you can use a 1st gen Kenko 1.4x.

Hi,
Please note that 7D2 with Kenko 1.4x PRO 300 DGX + EF 400mm F5.6L will somehow hang the AF on the 7D2, but interestingly, the 7D2 AF work normally when with Kenko 1.4x PRO 300 DGX + Tamron 150-600... Although AF very slow and IQ not good, but AF still work.

Have a nice day.

 

[sedwards]

What’s everyone’s experience/opinions on the 400 f5.6 when combined with a 1.4xTCIII?
I was thinking about selling my version 1 100-400L for the version 2, but the price difference in my country is about the same as buying the 400 f5.6 brand new, and I would rather have AF at f8 on the 400mm prime than no AF at all on the 100-400mm zoom.
Does the AF work from f8 onwards? I’m not sure as I have never seen how this 1.4xTCIII works with different lenses as I only bought it last Sunday.
Very grateful in advance for any replies.

here are a few pics taken with 400 f5.6+ 1.4II on a 70D with taped pins. autofocus is a little slow and it wont lock on target sometimes but definitely works

IMG_3919 by Stuart Edwards, on Flickr
IMG_3982 by Stuart Edwards, on Flickr
IMG_4010 by Stuart Edwards, on Flickr

 

[TheJock]

Many thanks for all the advice guys,
I will certainly try the “tape” method this weekend to how that works out. As you’re looking at the base of the convertor, it’s the three pins on the left that you tape over, correct???
I think I would rather buy the 400 f5.6L to accompany my existing V1 100-400L, I believe the IQ with the 1.4 convertor will be better than on the zoom, plus it’s the same price to upgrade the zoom to the V2 as it will be to buy a new 400mm f5.6, so a no brainer!!!
Thanks again for all the input and images, you guys rock 8)

 

[candyman]

What’s everyone’s experience/opinions on the 400 f5.6 when combined with a 1.4xTCIII?
I was thinking about selling my version 1 100-400L for the version 2, but the price difference in my country is about the same as buying the 400 f5.6 brand new, and I would rather have AF at f8 on the 400mm prime than no AF at all on the 100-400mm zoom.
Does the AF work from f8 onwards? I’m not sure as I have never seen how this 1.4xTCIII works with different lenses as I only bought it last Sunday.
Very grateful in advance for any replies.

here are a few pics taken with 400 f5.6+ 1.4II on a 70D with taped pins. autofocus is a little slow and it wont lock on target sometimes but definitely works

IMG_3919 by Stuart Edwards, on Flickr

Hi Stuart,
You took some excellent photos. I especially like the first one. You caught this one in a wonderful position: tail up, wings down - from the back and turning the head towards you. Also the light is great. And, last but not least; nice sharp.
I do have the 100-400II. Yes,with the 1.4x you go to AF f8 centerpoint only. I did use it but I wasn't satisfied about it. Most likely user error. Already for a long time I am looking for a focal length more than 400mm, good IQ and that can be handheld for a longer period of time. I looking at 500mm II. But that takes some time to save. In the meantime I should work on my user error while using the 1.4 ext. Because according to TDP one should get some good results. It is slightly better than the 400 f/5.6 using the 1.4 ext.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=278&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=1&API=1&LensComp=972&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=5&APIComp=0

 

[beforeEos Camaras]

hello candyman I also have the 400 plus the 1.4 tele I posted someplace on this forum a air cape cod in wheels down. I used manual focus as I have the 70D if you nail down manual focus hand held or with a mono pod the 400 and the 100-400II will give you the extra reach you want or look at the Tamron or sigma tele zoom till you can afford your dream lens.

 

[candyman]

hello candyman I also have the 400 plus the 1.4 tele I posted someplace on this forum a air cape cod in wheels down. I used manual focus as I have the 70D if you nail down manual focus hand held or with a mono pod the 400 and the 100-400II will give you the extra reach you want or look at the Tamron or sigma tele zoom till you can afford your dream lens.

Thanks for your input.
I actually looked at the tamron and sigma (S). I even considered the sigma 300-800 (not from weight point of view but FL icw zoom). I like the zoom especially when taking photos in the forest. Smaller birds can come close as well. The 100-400II has this great small MFD. So I stick to this lens. I decided not to replace it for another zoom with more reach. But on top of the 100-400II go for the longer focal length. The 500II can give me f/4 and with 1.4x 700 @f/5.6 - still handholdable for longer period. I just need to practice much more with the 1.4x

edit: my recent posted bird images here at CR were at FL 400mm. I am sure longer FL would have given more better framed photos.

 

[JeroenVanheuverswyn]

Grabbed this lens once again to get on a pelagic. Still doing a great job given it's age.

Northern Gannet
Body: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Settings: F/5.6 - ISO 250 - 1/4000

Northern Gannet
Body: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Settings: F/5.6 - ISO 250 - 1/2500

 

[Click]

Grabbed this lens once again to get on a pelagic. Still doing a great job given it's age.

Very nice shots. Well done, Jeroen.

 

[AlanF]

Grabbed this lens once again to get on a pelagic. Still doing a great job given it's age.

Northern Gannet
Body: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Settings: F/5.6 - ISO 250 - 1/4000

Northern Gannet
Body: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Settings: F/5.6 - ISO 250 - 1/2500

If you had the zoom you could have got the wings as well.

 

[JeroenVanheuverswyn]

Grabbed this lens once again to get on a pelagic. Still doing a great job given it's age.

If you had the zoom you could have got the wings as well.

I was also carrying the 70-200, but was more satisfied with the shots where the wings are clipped compared to those with full wings. In this case it seems to add more drama to the picture.