Canon EF 1.4 X III, EF 100-400 L II, & 7DII - Anyone Use This Combo?
Aug 30, 2016 17:44:24 #
LiamRowan wrote:
As it has been part of this thread, please indicate whether/how AF works on each of these two cameras (points available, etc.).
Ah yes, autofocus! With the 6D I only had manual focus. Didn't spend enough time with it on that body to see if it was just my settings. With the 7DII, as expected, f/8 was the limit. Single center-point and the 2 expanded modes were also the only options, as expected. Focus was definitely slower, although that wasn't necessarily bad. Tracking a single bird across the sky it would stay in focus longer if the bird got out of the focus area for short periods instead of immediately focusing off into infinity as it would without the extender. Made it easier to track. Here's a BIF shot I managed to get. Not great but not bad under the circumstances. I was experimenting with my exposure meter options and the result is a bit dark.
Aug 30, 2016 17:51:19 #
LFingar wrote:
Yes it will, as I found out when I locked my keys ... (show quote)
The 1.4 extender does a nice job.
Aug 30, 2016 17:52:33 #
LFingar wrote:
Ah yes, autofocus! With the 6D I only had manual f... (show quote)
I find that with dark birds I have to use +1 2/3 exposure adjustment, further limiting the use of f8 to really bright light. Of course then the sky is overexposing--it's a tough balancing act. I see the bird was shot at ISO 200. You could probably go to 400 to partially compensate for the slower shutter speed that results from using positive exposure adjustment. With ISO 200 your shutter was at 1/1000--can't go too much slower without blurring.
Aug 30, 2016 17:56:44 #
That's a pretty good shot (aside from being too dark). I have found the best success with use auto focus Case #2 in it's default mode (-1,0,0) or all the sliders all the way to the left, and use that same setting for perched birds as well. If you take the extender off, then use the appropriate Case number that suits you best for the focus pattern you choose and the environmental conditions.
Aug 30, 2016 18:29:47 #
The IS on this lens does a super job...In AV mode I've been able to move right with the bird and get by with a slower shutter speed. You'll find that if the exposure is right on, noise no longer is a big issue. I've stopped action at 1/800 shutter speed if I'm moving right with the bird.
Aug 30, 2016 18:33:26 #
Arthur Morris uses ISO 400 all the time, or so he says. So, far I've been using auto ISO and getting by just fine, but you are right, conditions need to be fairly bright for best results.
Aug 31, 2016 05:46:12 #
Regis wrote:
The 1.4 extender does a nice job.
Thank You, but I can already see that to get the type of results you do takes a lot of practice and skill!
Aug 31, 2016 05:51:21 #
LiamRowan wrote:
I find that with dark birds I have to use +1 2/3 exposure adjustment, further limiting the use of f8 to really bright light. Of course then the sky is overexposing--it's a tough balancing act. I see the bird was shot at ISO 200. You could probably go to 400 to partially compensate for the slower shutter speed that results from using positive exposure adjustment. With ISO 200 your shutter was at 1/1000--can't go too much slower without blurring.
I try to stay between 1/1000 and 1/2000. As far as exposure though, I wish it was as simple! A snowy white egret one second and a dark eagle the next is a bit of a challenge!
Aug 31, 2016 15:42:15 #
LFingar wrote:
I try to stay between 1/1000 and 1/2000. As far as exposure though, I wish it was as simple! A snowy white egret one second and a dark eagle the next is a bit of a challenge!
Here are some hummingbirds I took this afternoon on my backyard feeders. All were taken with Canon 7D mark 2, Canon EF 100-400 5.6 L IS II. Number 3-5 were taken with same camera and lens, but added Canon 1.4x III extender. All were hand held, light varied from bright sunlight to cloudy. Please note that I have 2 feeders about 10 feet apart so magnification may appear a little different. All are uncropped and not processed, straight out of the camera, JPEG.
Aug 31, 2016 16:20:45 #
LFingar wrote:
I try to stay between 1/1000 and 1/2000. As far as exposure though, I wish it was as simple! A snowy white egret one second and a dark eagle the next is a bit of a challenge!
I have a similar issue; I often photograph at a rookery that hosts both white egrets and blue herons, and also has white swans frequent the area. What I do is keep the exposure information showing in the viewfinder (hit Info button three times on Canon 7DII) and the exposure compensation feature selected. So when I need to switch from +1 1/3 to zero quickly, all I have to do is hit the Q button and rotate the top dial since the shooting selections will come up with exposure comp activated. Total time to change compensation is less than a second with a little practice, or even less. I take an extra battery or two because of the extra drain, and turn of the screen in quieter moments.
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