Am I doing something wrong or expecting too much out of my lens: I have a canon 40D. Lens Canon 700-200 is ll 2.8 I also got the 1x 4 extender. I am not able to zoom in on pictures...

Whitebasser Loc: East Texas

I have a canon 40D. Lens Canon 700-200 is ll 2.8 I also got the 1x 4 extender. I am not able to zoom in on pictures like I expected to do. Are the pictures posted on this forum cropped so close to pull them in or am I expecting too much. Tried to take pictures of birds about 25 feet away and they are not zoomed up close. I really wanted the 100-400 but this was all I could afford. Thanks for your help

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Whitebasser wrote:

I have a canon 40D. Lens Canon 700-200 is ll 2.8 I also got the 1x 4 extender. I am not able to zoom in on pictures like I expected to do. Are the pictures posted on this forum cropped so close to pull them in or am I expecting too much. Tried to take pictures of birds about 25 feet away and they are not zoomed up close. I really wanted the 100-400 but this was all I could afford. Thanks for your help

Please post a few examples and check the "store original" box to right.

Whitebasser Loc: East Texas

Have to go to work. Will do tomorrow. Thanks

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

you loose f stops using extenders

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Whitebasser wrote:

I have a canon 40D. Lens Canon 700-200 is ll 2.8 I also got the 1x 4 extender. I am not able to zoom in on pictures like I expected to do. Are the pictures posted on this forum cropped so close to pull them in or am I expecting too much. Tried to take pictures of birds about 25 feet away and they are not zoomed up close. I really wanted the 100-400 but this was all I could afford. Thanks for your help

You might be expecting too much. Wildlife photography is not easy---especially birds. You never seem to have enough reach. YES, as the following video explains, every wildlife photographer crops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hbli8lh9Pcw

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If I understand the math correctly, at the 200mm zoom on your 40D, you experience a 320mm focal length due to the cropped factor of the sensor. Adding the 1.4x extending should boost you up to 448mm. If you're getting a high quality (aka acceptable) image, you can then crop in further. Pick something static at the same distance as your birds and then test with / without the extender.

Said another way ... the crop factor is accounted for when the lens is mounted to your 40D. The 200 vs 320 is a difference you'll see when the same lens is used on a full-frame (5D / 6D) aka a 60% increase using the 40D vs FF. The difference when adding the extender to your 40D will be roughly another 130mm to get to 448mm, or approx a 40% increase. 400mm+ should be pretty impressive, but only a 40% increase over what you've already got with the lens alone.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

CHG_CANON wrote:

If I understand the math correctly, at the 200mm z... (show quote)

Frorget the crop factor, it will be the same with any lens used on a 40D and only confuses the topic. Using the 1.4 TC he is shooting a 280mm lens. A big difference from a 400mm lens!

Yes most bird shooters do crop, often heavily!

Jim D

Samuraiz Loc: Central Florida

I'm interpreting the op's post as there is a greater expectation for image magnification with their current set-up. A 200mm with a 1.4 TC is considered a medium telephoto. IF you really want to pull the image in you would need to step up to a 400,500,600 mm lens at greater cost and weight consideration. The long telephotos also require additional technique do to weight, depth of field and background compression issues.

Samuraiz Loc: Central Florida

Whitebasser wrote:

I have a canon 40D. Lens Canon 700-200 is ll 2.8 I also got the 1x 4 extender. I am not able to zoom in on pictures like I expected to do. Are the pictures posted on this forum cropped so close to pull them in or am I expecting too much. Tried to take pictures of birds about 25 feet away and they are not zoomed up close. I really wanted the 100-400 but this was all I could afford. Thanks for your help

Using a 1.4 TC on a 200 gives an effective 280mm. To see how lens focal length influences image magnification visit this site.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/index.htm

I know it's a Nikon site, but the effect will be the same.

Choose DX from the right side yellow boxes.

Slide the slider to adjust the focal length.

There are three little photos to choose from.

cindij Loc: New Lowell, Ontario, Canada

Some photographers on this site are lucky enough to get very close to their subjects others are cropped. Do not get discouraged. I use the same lens with a 2x extender. Some of my photos are really close and others I have to crop. I would be more concerned that they are clear, tack sharp and well composed, the rest can be fixed in your processing. Just my opinion.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

I shoot with a 70-300mm all day long. Your reaching right in there where I'm at.. The key to great shots is getting close, just learn your subject and don't be afraid to get dirty.

GPappy Loc: Finally decided to plop down, Clover, S.C.

Whitebasser wrote:

I have a canon 40D. Lens Canon 700-200 is ll 2.8 I also got the 1x 4 extender. I am not able to zoom in on pictures like I expected to do. Are the pictures posted on this forum cropped so close to pull them in or am I expecting too much. Tried to take pictures of birds about 25 feet away and they are not zoomed up close. I really wanted the 100-400 but this was all I could afford. Thanks for your help

Most of the time auto focus doesn't work well when using an extender at maximum zoom. I think you are hoping for more than you will get from the extender. They do help some but still not like what a good long lens will do. You usually get what you paid for, not what you hoped for.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

fstop22 wrote:

I shoot with a 70-300mm all day long. Your reaching right in there where I'm at.. The key to great shots is getting close, just learn your subject and don't be afraid to get dirty.

:thumbup:

Whitebasser Loc: East Texas

Thanks for all of your input. I am posting a few pictures to see what you think. I better understand how the lens, camera and extender work together. I am trying so hard to understand how to make the triangle of iso, shutter, and aparture work so my pics may not be tack sharp. I am struggling. Someone suggest that I post a few so here goes. I thought these were shot in raw but they are coming up jpeg???

70mm

200

200 with extender

Whitebasser Loc: East Texas

After going in to photoshop and looking at these, I realize they are not even in focus. The water hose that was in the way was in focus but that is not the question anyway. Just thought I would let you know that I know before I get zonked with replys about that.