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400 or 300 with 1.4x

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Mark
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400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by Mark » Mon Aug 14, 2017 5:01 pm

Hi all, I currently have a 300mm f4 prime with 1.4x converter. I'm wondering if it's worth swapping over to the 400mm f5.6 (obviously without a converter) I know I'll lose 20mm focal length, but will the increased autofocus speed be a boost to my images?

Any feedback much appreciated...
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Skip
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by Skip » Mon Aug 14, 2017 5:18 pm

The less glass between the sensor and front element is best
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Thunder
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by Thunder » Mon Aug 14, 2017 6:31 pm

What camera body are you putting it on?

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Cornish-guy
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by Cornish-guy » Mon Aug 14, 2017 7:29 pm

Can I give my 10p worth mark, I would keep the 300f4 Its a Stellar lens, and get yourself a body like a 80d to put your 300f4 on, that way you would have a better newer sensor, better noise handling, more copability(I think the 80d is 24mp) and better focusing over the 7d.

Thats what I would do as I too own a 300f4 (nikkor version) and it serves me very well.

C. :thumb:
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 300 f4 IF ED :-)

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reheat module
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by reheat module » Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:09 pm

OK, here we go with my £0.02 worth.
I had the 300mm f4 and the 1.4Mk2 and absolutely loved the combo.
These are my opinions/findings for FF:-
It certainly wasn't slow on the 5D2 in terms of autofocus and nailed some great action shots (motorcycles/cars/ BIF etc)
When I bought a 5D3, I also got the 100-400Mk2, and loved that too.
I actually then got my 300mm f4 back and used it on the 5D3 and still remain hugely impressed.
I do agree with the above in terms of less glass the better, but in all seriousness I find that unless you go 'pixel peeping' at A2+ size its negligible.
The saving grace is that the 300mm gives you 300mm, or 420 with the extender on, whereas the 100-400 gives you from 140-560 and everything in-between.
Hope my maths is good!
remember that the 100-400Mk2 Canon lens will operate with the Mk2 convertor, but the Mk3 convertor is chipped to better match.
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Mark
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by Mark » Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:35 pm

Thanks guys, it is currently on a 7d and to fund it it has to be a replacement rather than an addition to existing kit, so a new body is out of the question. Unless I could get enough cash together from the sale of a 7d and 60d... Doubtful.... It's a second hand 400mm f5.6 prime that I'm considering, a 100-400 mk2 is well beyond my budget unfortunately. Given this, do I stick or do I Twist??
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Cornish-guy
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by Cornish-guy » Mon Aug 14, 2017 11:34 pm

Mark wrote:Thanks guys, it is currently on a 7d and to fund it it has to be a replacement rather than an addition to existing kit, so a new body is out of the question. Unless I could get enough cash together from the sale of a 7d and 60d... Doubtful.... It's a second hand 400mm f5.6 prime that I'm considering, a 100-400 mk2 is well beyond my budget unfortunately. Given this, do I stick or do I Twist??

If you were selling both a 7d and 60d on paper you might have been able to raise enough for a 80d, if that was one of the things you might want to consider. canon 400 f5.6 (older versions) are about £800 on ebay.

C. :thumb:
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 300 f4 IF ED :-)

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The Phantom
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by The Phantom » Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:21 am

I know the 300mm F4 is a cracking lens (i used to have one). I found it slow with a 1.4 converter on (but this was back on a 400D).

I was always tempted to get the 400mm F5.6 - cracking image quality, fast, etc. The only thing that ever put me off was the lack of IS, which being a weakling i have always found handy - especially with the heavier-build Canon pro-lenses.

But a tough choice: It comes down to whether you want the best image quality and focus speed at 400mm (or 560mm as it will be on a 7D) and can live without IS.
If you don't need the above/can't manage without IS, then maybe what you have is worth sticking with.

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trotsenstein
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by trotsenstein » Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:12 am

Ive got both 300 and 400. Other than the IS, cant tell them apart. Used the 400mm with a 1.4tc at RIAT and worked very well, even in that rubbish light.
Canon 5diii
Canon 70d
Canon 100-400mm mkii
Tamron 70-200SP f2.8

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Mark
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by Mark » Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:13 am

trotsenstein wrote:Ive got both 300 and 400. Other than the IS, cant tell them apart. Used the 400mm with a 1.4tc at RIAT and worked very well, even in that rubbish light.
I'm beginning to think that maybe I have the focus settings on the camera a little off. Can you remember how you had your 7d set up?
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trotsenstein
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Re: 400 or 300 with 1.4x

Post by trotsenstein » Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:31 am

I mainly used the set up on the 5diii. My other camera is the 70d, set that up with centre point focus. As my tc is Kenko version, I was told these keep the AF at f8 on the crop sensor, but original Canon ones dont.
Canon 5diii
Canon 70d
Canon 100-400mm mkii
Tamron 70-200SP f2.8

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