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

PORSCHE917
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #1 · 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.2 #2 · 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.2 #3 · 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.2 #4 · 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.2 #5 · 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

Andrew J
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #6 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

After calibration my 500 was way better with a TC. I stack 1.4s now with good results.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 07, 2009 at 01:15 AM

Nello Milanese
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #7 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Btw all the shots I'm posting here are from a friend's 500L...I don't own 1 yet.
You asked for action shots...don't know if these fit the bill: 500L + 1.4 tc wide open

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:28 AM

RobAmy
Online
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #8 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Here are a few with the 1.4x, I use the combo a lot in my kayak. I notice a bit of AF speeds are a bit slower but the results to me are worth using the 1.4x. You want to send them both in.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:47 AM

PetKal
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #9 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I use 1.4xTC on 500 f/4 on stationary/slow moving targets only when there is no other way to get a half-decent shot.....which happens rather seldom to me. Not only that my combo takes an IQ hit compared to the bare lens, it also becomes as AF sluggish as 100-400. I have other better alternatives for BIF photography.

As an example of the combo application, these little Buffalo Ducks keep their distance from the shore at present, and even 700mm is insufficient. However, if I only wait a couple of months, the ice formation will push them closer to the shore so I will be able to get good shots even with a 300mm FL lens.

These are about 75% crops.

Edited on Nov 09, 2009 at 02:29 AM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 04:53 PM

Lasse Eriksson
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #10 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Every super-tele will work perfect together with the 1,4x

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:23 PM

PetKal
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #11 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Three easy shots of my lake regulars.

(Didn't have to use nowhere near 700mm in this case; just exploring the combo performance)

Edited on Nov 08, 2009 at 08:33 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:50 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #12 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

PetKal wrote:
Three easy shots of my lake regulars.

(Didn't have to use nowhere near 700mm in this case; just exploring the combo performance)

Great shots!

Nov 07, 2009 at 06:55 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #13 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I believe I am fine

, did some shots this morning with fixed 1.4tc, heavy crop from pretty far distance (around 300 meters) on mk III:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Some without 1.4tc, I know PetKal will like first one

Edited on Nov 07, 2009 at 07:57 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:00 PM

PetKal
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #14 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I like all of them because the crops have not been pushed too far and they also include beautiful background, accurate exposure and tasteful processing.
The difficult waxwings show some feather detail which is a good sign for the overall resolving power.

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:15 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #15 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

PetKal wrote:
I like all of them because the crops have not been pushed too far and they also include beautiful background, accurate exposure and tasteful processing.
The difficult waxwings show some feather detail which is a good sign for the overall resolving power.

Thanks, I guess I am good to shot with my 500L and 1.4tc. It is for sure great lens, one thing I noticed is that I have to be more cariful with exposure and lights. Possibly because of huge focal I never use before or some other lens specifics. In another word it is more sensative to the bad/good light than my other lenses.

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:43 PM

PetKal
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #16 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Interesting.......I have not noticed any exposure peculiarities with the lens.

The other day I was photographing the same Buffalo Duck scene with the bare 500 f/4. Obviously didn't have quite as much of a reach, however, the colours and bokeh were first class even though there was no sunlight. Well, I sure know what I like better.

Here are three samples, bare 500 f/4....same location as the above shots with the 1.4xTC, just less light.

Edited on Nov 08, 2009 at 08:34 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 08:52 PM

Peyton
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #17 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

gawd I need to hurry up and pawn a kidney for this lens

I think my keyboard is gonna start malfunctioning from all the drool now..

Glad to hear the 500L and 1.4x is working for you...keep up the fantastic work fellas

Nov 07, 2009 at 08:56 PM

Breitling65
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #18 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

PetKal wrote:
Interesting.......I have not noticed any exposure peculiarities with the lens.

The other day I was photographing the same Buffalo Duck scene with the bare 500 f/4. Obviously didn't have quite as much of a reach, however, the colours and bokeh were first class even though there was no sunlight. Well, I sure know what I like better.

Here are three samples, bare 500 f/4....same location as the above shots with the 1.4xTC, just less light.

Please try one day to shot against of sun light, I am interesting in results. Great ducks BTW, I am impressed how many types you have in your shots collection.

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:12 PM

amirm
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #19 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

OP's observations match mine. A few years ago I tested a number of supertelephotos with and without 1.4 and 2.0 TCs. There is no question that you get more CA and other artifacts when you add a TC. As noted, the 300 f2.8 was least affected. And had the best performance with 2.0 TCs.

In my case, I bought the 500 and was frustrated by the slowed down AF on birds in flight. So I bought the 600 and that has been a welcome improvement in being able to shoot with the "naked" lens far more often than with the 500.

When using 2.0 TC, I always try to stop down if the background is clean and I have enough light. One or two stops makes a large difference.

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:22 PM

Peyton
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #20 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Great ducks BTW, I am impressed how many types you have in your shots collection.

not as many ducks as he has pigeons!

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:11 PM

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