Canon EOS-1D X AF at f/8 with the Kenko 1.4TC

[Canon Rumors]

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<strong>From Arthur Morris


</strong>Arthur has written a great article about getting f/8 autofocus with the new Canon EOS-1D X. A lot of birders used the EF 800 f/5.6L IS with the Canon 1.4x TC & EOS-1D Mark IV for example. The biggest complaint with the EOS-1D X has been the inability to get f/8 autofocus.</p>
<p>However, with the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/674565-REG/Kenko_PRO3001_4XDGXC_Teleplus_PRO_300_DG.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4</a> teleconverter you can give the EOS-1D X the ability to autofocus at f/8 with the EF 800 f/5.6L IS. Another plus of using the Kenko teleconverter is you’re able to move the AF point at f/8. With the Canon teleconverter on say, the 1D Mark IV, you only had the center AF point active.</p>
<p>Arthur has posted lots of images to show the image quality that is possible with the Kenko 1.4x TC.</p>
<p><strong>From Arthur Morris</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>Once I got down in the mud I discovered that AF with the the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter was fast and sure and accurate. I have been out every morning and afternoon since then and have totally fallen in love with the 1DX. That first afternoon I managed to get a huge gob of black, sticky, gooey much all over my brand new camera. It was a proper baptism.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2012/08/30/mega-amazing-discovery-800-f5-6-1-4x-tc-canon-eos-1dx/" target="_blank">Read the entire article</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/674565-REG/Kenko_PRO3001_4XDGXC_Teleplus_PRO_300_DG.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Kenko 1.4 TC at B&H $259</a> | <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/827036-REG/Canon_5253B002_EOS_1D_X_EOS_Digital.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EOS-1D X at B&H $6799</a></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[Vinniej]

Wonder if it would also work for the 5DIII.

 

[Loswr]

Wonder if it would also work for the 5DIII.

If you read Art Morris' article, you'll find the answer. Hint - if you're a 5DIII owner, you won't like the answer. But it's there.

 

[Loswr]

My question is if the Kenko 1.4x TC allows AF with an f/5.6 supertele on a 1D X, does the equivalent Kenko 2x TC allow AF with an f/4 supertele on a 1D X?

 

[cliffwang]

I don't get it. Does that mean AF doesn't works on Canon 1.4 TC + F/5.6? Anything special for Kenko TC?

 

[zrz2005101]

Gives me some confidence to challenge the price of that 1Dx

 

[littlebob]

I guess I am the only one who decided the loss of one stop, reduced AF performance and reduced resolution is not worth 1.4x with today's high MP cameras because I can easily crop that much. I have not used my Canon 1.4x in a couple years.

 

[Viggo]

So I guess someone read my statement, LOL

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=8705.0

 

[Vinniej]

Wonder if it would also work for the 5DIII.

If you read Art Morris' article, you'll find the answer. Hint - if you're a 5DIII owner, you won't like the answer. But it's there.

Thanks. Someone in the comments of the article says the Kenko 2x MC4 works with it.

 

[Portrait_Moments_Photogra]

I tried it with the follow;

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus Kenko 1.4x Pro DGX - f/8 - OK - all AF points works - AF is somewhat front focused.

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus Kenko 2.0x Pro DGX - f/11- NO GO - Hang-Up - Had to Remove Battery.

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus EF 1.4X II - f/8 - NO AF but Camera WORKS

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus EF 2.0X II - f/11 - NO AF but Camera WORKS

 

[Rick Massie]

I tried it with the follow;

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus Kenko 1.4x Pro DGX - f/8 - OK - all AF points works - AF is somewhat front focused.

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus Kenko 2.0x Pro DGX - f/11- NO GO - Hang-Up - Had to Remove Battery.

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus EF 1.4X II - f/8 - NO AF but Camera WORKS

1DX with EF400L 5.6 plus EF 2.0X II - f/11 - NO AF but Camera WORKS

If you have time, would you mind testing the 400 f5.6 and the Kenko 2x on the 1dMKIIN? (I'd say 1dmkIV, but looks like you don't have one handy according to your signature). I'd really appreciate it. I have a 1dMKIV and am wondering (hoping) that the 2x and 400mm will work together on the pre-1dX series. Thanks!

 

[Portrait_Moments_Photogra]

5.6 plus 2x = f/11 - there's no camera that AF at f/11....

you can manual focus though on bright daylight

My 1D Mark IIN and your 1D Mark IV will work on f/8 but not f/11 - none does

hope this helps your inquiry.

 

[Rick Massie]

5.6 plus 2x = f/11 - there's no camera that AF at f/11....

you can manual focus though on bright daylight

My 1D Mark IIN and your 1D Mark IV will work on f/8 but not f/11 - none does

hope this helps your inquiry.

Thanks. I only ask since I saw this quote in the thread Birdsasart.com:

"I did not test the Kenko Pro since Artie had already confirmed that the Pro DGX did not work with 5DIII. The Kenko 1.4X MC4 would cause the same error as the Pro DGX with the 5DIII/800 combo. However, the 2X would work and would even autofocus at f11 with the 5DIII. "

 

[danski0224]

How long 'til a firmware update fixes this...

 

[AJ]

I don't understand the need to dial in -1 stop compensation? Doesn't the light loss caused by the TC automatically result in a lower metered exposure? I'm confused

 

[TexPhoto]

OK, to understand why this works, you need to understand the camera refuses to AF with the Canon extender because it's being told there is an f8 (or f11 for the 2X) lens on the front. The software of the camera then declares "hell no".

The Kenko converter is passing the f stop of the lens without the change in aperture. So the camera thinks there is an f5.6 lens on it. Now you still need decent light and a contrasty subject, more than without the telecenter, but it still works.

Why the -1? Because he camera is metering at f8 while being told it has f5.6. So before the photo is taken, it is metering wrong.

 

[Portrait_Moments_Photogra]

5.6 plus 2x = f/11 - there's no camera that AF at f/11....

you can manual focus though on bright daylight

My 1D Mark IIN and your 1D Mark IV will work on f/8 but not f/11 - none does

hope this helps your inquiry.

Thanks. I only ask since I saw this quote in the thread Birdsasart.com:

"I did not test the Kenko Pro since Artie had already confirmed that the Pro DGX did not work with 5DIII. The Kenko 1.4X MC4 would cause the same error as the Pro DGX with the 5DIII/800 combo. However, the 2X would work and would even autofocus at f11 with the 5DIII. "

Hhhmmmmm, HOLY COW Rick!!!!! my 1D Mark IIN with 400L 5.6 plus 2x Kenko f/11 - DOES AF and LOCKS!!!!
and I'm inside the house - night time - on daytime - bright sunlight - THIS WILL ROCK!!!

What a shame for Canon....

 

[Portrait_Moments_Photogra]

now with my 1DX, im starting to feel really cheated by Canon - i really do.

my 7 year old 1D Mark IIN and 8 yr old 1D Mark II paired with a third party TC works at f/11 just fine
~ while my 1DX wont.

also - tested it on the Canon T3 - it worked - a bit slower than the 1D Mark II's but very acceptable.

- tested on the 5D Mark II - it will AF and Lock only if you pre-focus it manually.
- 5D Mark II without pre-focus will AF and Lock 1 out of 10 or even more - so not acceptable in any standard.

but they will work - while the 1DX wont - WTH Canon!!!!

 

[stochasticmotions]

I have been using the kenko 1.4 DGX for quite some time with my 5d Mark II and the 100-400. At 400 it focuses quite quickly except in the lowest of light (using the centre focus point mostly). It also metres correctly and shows f8 both on the camera and in the exif. With the Canon 1.4 I had to tape up some of the connectors and then although it would focus it was very slow and would not correctly show the aperture.

As a side note the kenko is much sharper that the canon (I have the version 2 of the 1.4 canon teleconverter) at least at f8-f11. I have tried it on an old 500 f4.5 and it also worked like a charm. These teleconverters do not focus quickly with my 7D (or at all but in the brightest light)

 

[Rick Massie]

now with my 1DX, im starting to feel really cheated by Canon - i really do.

my 7 year old 1D Mark IIN and 8 yr old 1D Mark II paired with a third party TC works at f/11 just fine
~ while my 1DX wont.

also - tested it on the Canon T3 - it worked - a bit slower than the 1D Mark II's but very acceptable.

- tested on the 5D Mark II - it will AF and Lock only if you pre-focus it manually.
- 5D Mark II without pre-focus will AF and Lock 1 out of 10 or even more - so not acceptable in any standard.

but they will work - while the 1DX wont - WTH Canon!!!!

Awesome! Glad you checked it out. Even though it doesn't fully confirm it will work with an MKIV, I may have to pick up a kenko on the chance that it might work!