The latest addition to my set-up is a 1.4x teleconverter (Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG). It's a small additional piece of glass that fits between a long lens and the camera, and increases magnification. In this case by 1.4x. There are trade-offs in going for extra 'reach' in this way, mainly that less light reaches the lens (you lose two 'stops' in effect). It also doesn't work too well with the image stabilization, so having excellent light is pretty much a pre-requisite to get the best from it. One other quirk is that on some lenses with the Canon 400D (and others) it loses auto-focus. That last problem is overcome by taping the pins, which quite literally is covering up three of the connecting pins inside the converter (which convey data information between the lens and camera) with a small piece of sellotape. That trick restores autofocus functions, although in poor light the lens will tend to hunt a bit before locking on.
So despite the relatively poor light (it had pretty much clouded over by the time I got out today), I gave it a go. The results were variable. A tripod or monopod would help stabilize things, but the extra reach was certainly impressive and tempted me into shots I wouldn't normally try. Such as this gull over a distant tree.
The next usable shot was slightly easier. A stationary subject, and a fence to lean on helped.
I took a number of shots of one of the local magpies. I'm not entirely happy with how they came out but I think this is probably the first time I've filled the frame with one. Being just that bit further away means they don't fly off as you get into close range.
I'm now really hankering after some bright spring days.
Meanwhile the 'first sighting' mentioned in the title to this post was a mistle thrush. I saw several of them over the car park when I arrived at work this morning. The light was truly terrible, and I was shooting directly into what little there was. I assumed it was one of the local redwings, until I got home this evening and looked at the shots. This one is without the teleconverter and has been processed quite heavily to deal with noise.
Finally, just a quick mention of the foxes. One sighting this evening. Of the 'other' shy fox. By other, I mean the one without the nick in its ear. It was unusually co-operative in that it didn't immediately bolt, but I still didn't venture too close and was rewarded when it decided to lie down for a short rest!
Camera note: all shots (except the fox) taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens + Kenko 1.4 teleconverter (except the mistle thrush). The fox was photographed with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.
Vulpes vulpes
17 Jan 2008Looks like you are quickly getting to grips with the teleconverter! The shy fox looks very comfy!
phiznlil
17 Jan 2008First I need to get a tele, then I might think about a converter :rolleyes:
Nice seagull!
Flying Red Fox Blog
17 Jan 2008Nice curious pic of the fungus on a branch in the water i think?
Yep the Fox looks very comfy:P I think its glad the rain stopped for a while.
Words
17 Jan 2008Phil, yep, that's the right order 😉 The seagull was beginners luck. The first or second shot I took with the set-up.
Words
17 Jan 2008Mark, yes that fungus on a branch (in water). It was nice to see the fox. I was surprised when it decided to lie down!
Words
17 Jan 2008Vulpes, I've thrown out about half of what I took, and a lot of the rest I'm only keeping so I can work out what went wrong! My wastage rate was much higher than usual.
SittingFox
17 Jan 2008Odd – I had both One-Eye and the Old Dogfox sleeping in my garden yesterday! (Not at the same time, I hasten to add!) Perhaps the weather is getting to them, too.
Interesting to see your work with the teleconverter :up: I considered a doubler a while back but never purchased one; I was put off by the light reduction issues. The magpie is stunning 🙂 and congrats on seeing the mistle thrush. They're huge, aren't they :eyes:
Ukwildlife
17 Jan 2008Nice new bit of kit. I should problay get one…..after I get a dslr in the first place lol
Words
17 Jan 2008Neil, thanks. It was certainly a lot cheaper than getting an even longer lens, though when Canon bring out their 800mm monster (no doubt at about the same price as a family saloon) it might bring the 600mm into a sensible price range (currently the price of a small runaround) :yikes:
Words
17 Jan 2008Adele, the light reduction is an issue so I can see the teleconverter getting more use in the summer. I gave it more of a work-out today (using flash). I'll post some pictures later. As for the msitle thrush. I photographed it, but am not really sure I can claim to have seen it. It was more a silhouette up in the tree. But yes, the size was what caught my attention.
SittingFox
17 Jan 2008An 800mm lens is all very well, but I'd end up getting a Shetland pony to accompany me on my hikes if I got a lens like that! :ko:
Is that a prime lens? In the highly improbable case of me possessing such a lens, I can see myself fumbling between the 300mm (to find the wolf on the distant hillside amid all the sagebushes) and then hurriedly switching to the 800mm, finding the wolf has moved three metres to the right, frantically fiddling with the tripod head and trying to stop it all toppling over…perhaps such lenses should come with finderscopes, like astronomical telescopes do 😆
Words
17 Jan 2008The 800 is a prime, but not available yet. I can't imagine many non-professionals getting one, but I guess if you can afford a piece of kit like that you'll probably have two bodies, and a spare tripod as well. And an all-terrain vehicle to move around in.