500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

FM Forum Rules
Canon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 3 end

Archive 2009 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Honestly I am not happy at all with 1.4tc performance on 500L, lot of light loss not as perfect AF, loss of contrast and chroma is very noticible in many cases. Much less keepers than without 1.4tc. Not even close to 300/F2.8L IS + 1.4tc results, on same apertures. I talked to PetKal already he is not using 1.4tc since AF speed loss....

How about you?

Note: I am using Canon 1.4tc and mk III.

Oct 26, 2009 at 09:00 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

No one currently using 1.4tc on 500L/F4IS?

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:06 PM

Will Patterson
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

i know plenty of people use the combo, and I've seen great photos from it. Do you have the version II of the 1.4x? Also, once in a while I do hear about people sending them in to get looked at and they come back a lot better.

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:09 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Will Patterson wrote:
i know plenty of people use the combo, and I've seen great photos from it. Do you have the version II of the 1.4x? Also, once in a while I do hear about people sending them in to get looked at and they come back a lot better.

Do you mean they are sending tc for service? That might be good idea, I have latest version II but about 3.5 years old.

Edited on Oct 26, 2009 at 11:18 PM · View previous versions

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:13 PM

Adam L
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Kenko 1.4 tc served me pretty well here with the 500

http://adamlawler.smugmug.com/Holidays/South-Africa/Kruger-National-Park/9964679_M9guP#680694557_6EgxG

I'm no pixel peeper - I'm only interested in the final shot, and I was pretty happy with a lot of those images.

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:18 PM

AGeoJO
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Practically, I didn't see any loss in IQ when used in combo with this lens. The AF is just a tad slower but still very responsive. Optically, both versions are the same but version II has weather sealing.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:21 PM

Paul Tessier
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I usually have to look at the image info on my 1dsIII to see if it was used or not the quality is so similar. Mine does take a different micro adjust than the strait 5 so you might want to look at that. Also I have herd of (no surprise) copy variations but, have been happy with the couple I've had.
Af is slower so you have to be careful with that but, no less accurate.
my .02

Edited on Oct 26, 2009 at 11:26 PM · View previous versions

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:22 PM

WakeTurbulence
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

The 500 f/4L + Canon 1.4xII combo works great for me. AF is slightly slower, but not bad, and IQ is still excellent.
-Matt

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Pixel Perfect
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Breitling65 wrote:
Honestly I am not happy at all with 1.4tc performance on 500L, lot of light loss not as perfect AF, loss of contrast and chroma is very noticible in many cases. Much less keepers than without 1.4tc. Not even close to 300/F2.8L IS + 1.4tc results, on same apertures. I talked to PetKal already he is not using 1.4tc since AF speed loss....

How about you?

Note: I am using Canon 1.4tc and mk III.

500 + 1.4x should be superb, 500 + 2x should be very good.

These are wide open shots with 500 + 2x on the lowly 1D II

This image is copyrighted by the owner

I will have to dig up some 500 + 1.4x shots, don't have any at hand, but I have no troubles using it, all the superteles eat 1.4x for breakfast

Here's a 500 + 2x + 1.4x shot of the moon on 40D

This image is copyrighted by the owner

and same shot with just 500 + 2x

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:25 PM

Ben Horne
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Sounds like something is wrong with your setup. You should notice hardly a difference with the 1.4x. Stopping down a tad when using a TC also helps.

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:29 PM

AGeoJO
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Yup, there is definitely something wrong with your setup. If your 500mm by itself generates great images then your TC is out of whack

. This one was taken at wide open aperture (effective f/5.6) using that combo on a 1D Mark III:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:36 PM

Will Patterson
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #12 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Breitling65 wrote:
Will Patterson wrote:
i know plenty of people use the combo, and I've seen great photos from it. Do you have the version II of the 1.4x? Also, once in a while I do hear about people sending them in to get looked at and they come back a lot better.

Do you mean they are sending tc for service? That might be good idea, I have latest version II but about 3.5 years old.

Yea, I wouldn't hesitate sending it in. Wouldn't even be expensive.

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:50 PM

Nello Milanese
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Here's 1 w the 500L + 1.4tc combo at 1/250s on a 40d. It is a killer combo..IQ is brilliant and the focus is still faster than the bare 1-400 IS lens

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:17 AM

lancemoreland
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Here is one with my 1.4 TC wide open. It is not as sharp as the 500L without an extender but is certainly acceptable.

Lance
www.lancemoreland.com

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:58 AM

TooManyShots
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #15 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

All with converter on and shot them with 1dmarkIII.
This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 27, 2009 at 03:29 AM

mrogers
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #16 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I'd like to see some action shots with and without the TC, I've personally have never been happy with my shots using a TC. Full stop less (f5.6), lets in half the light as f4

Oct 27, 2009 at 03:59 AM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #17 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

mrogers wrote:
I'd like to see some action shots with and without the TC, I've personally have never been happy with my shots using a TC. Full stop less (f5.6), lets in half the light as f4

What scares me most that it is not as noticeable as on my 300/F2.8L IS probably because of superior optics and faster lens or maybe some design limits of 500L.

Oct 27, 2009 at 11:31 AM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Pixel Perfect wrote:
Breitling65 wrote:
Honestly I am not happy at all with 1.4tc performance on 500L, lot of light loss not as perfect AF, loss of contrast and chroma is very noticible in many cases. Much less keepers than without 1.4tc. Not even close to 300/F2.8L IS + 1.4tc results, on same apertures. I talked to PetKal already he is not using 1.4tc since AF speed loss....

How about you?

Note: I am using Canon 1.4tc and mk III.

500 + 1.4x should be superb, 500 + 2x should be very good.

These are wide open shots with 500 + 2x on the lowly 1D II

This image is copyrighted by the owner

and same shot with just 500 + 2x

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Your 500L shots probably best in this post, however I still could notice (especially on GBH) this chroma or whatever grayish cast as I do on mine shots. Is this unavoidable with this lens?

Oct 27, 2009 at 11:42 AM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #19 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Nello Milanese wrote:
Here's 1 w the 500L + 1.4tc combo at 1/250s on a 40d. It is a killer combo..IQ is brilliant and the focus is still faster than the bare 1-400 IS lens

This image is copyrighted by the owner

That is very sharp, great shot!

Oct 27, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Paul Tessier wrote:
I usually have to look at the image info on my 1dsIII to see if it was used or not the quality is so similar. Mine does take a different micro adjust than the strait 5 so you might want to look at that. Also I have herd of (no surprise) copy variations but, have been happy with the couple I've had.
Af is slower so you have to be careful with that but, no less accurate.
my .02

I might need to MA bit too, I noticed difference on mk III and 5DmkII already. Thanks!

Oct 27, 2009 at 11:48 AM

PORSCHE917
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #21 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Dear Breitling:

When I had a Canon EF 500/ F4L IS USM (the "500") I didn't notice any difference in image quality when using it with a Canon Mk II 1.4 TC. I used the 500 with a Canon 1D Mk III; and the images were very sharp and the color rendition was excellent. Like the other posters, I think you may need to send your TC in or to try some MAs with your cameras.

Good luck.

Best regards,

Roman

Oct 27, 2009 at 03:01 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #22 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Thanks, I hope that is the case. My 1.4tc is 4 years old, used on several lenses and I never checked it before. I will drive this week to Canon/NJ hope that will be not as expensive procedure

PORSCHE917 wrote:
Dear Breitling:

When I had a Canon EF 500/ F4L IS USM (the "500") I didn't notice any difference in image quality when using it with a Canon Mk II 1.4 TC. I used the 500 with a Canon 1D Mk III; and the images were very sharp and the color rendition was excellent. Like the other posters, I think you may need to send your TC in or to try some MAs with your cameras.

Good luck.

Best regards,

Roman

Oct 27, 2009 at 05:52 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #23 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Update: I took my 1.4tc to the Canon/NJ and paid $64.00 for replaced mount pin cleaning and adjustments. Will re-test lens soon and update agan.

Question: Could broken 1.4tc mount pin causing such problems? Anyone with same broken pin problem? It seem like tc become easy to brake part when used with large lenses.

Nov 06, 2009 at 03:19 PM

GeneO
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #24 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I doubt the pin could cause this.

I didn't get terrific results with the same combo either, though the bare lens was fine. Not until the AF on my 500 crapped out and had to be replaced. Then the 1.4X worked much much better. Hope you don't have a similar issue.

Gen e

Nov 06, 2009 at 04:04 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #25 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

GeneO wrote:
I doubt the pin could cause this.

I didn't get terrific results with the same combo either, though the bare lens was fine. Not until the AF on my 500 crapped out and had to be replaced. Then the 1.4X worked much much better. Hope you don't have a similar issue.

Gen e

I will give it more tests and bring it to Canon with my mk III which is actually never been a problem with another lenses.

Nov 06, 2009 at 04:11 PM


FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 end