some_film Offline Upload & Sell: Off
|
Try setting up and shooting a static subject with both lenses (at 500mm, matching apertures and shutter speed), so you can control lighting and exposure, and compare the same shot. You can try focusing in live view. If you're relying on AF, it's helpful if your test subject has some kind of grading or scale running in the foreground and background, so you can judge for AF errors. I have a large flat cardboard panel with a large type logo and small printing, which I set at 45-degrees. Ditch the TC to start with, it's another variable and going to confound the results.
akjackson1 wrote:
I could really use some expert feedback. I recently acquired a used 500 f4 VR G.
To set the stage, I also own the 200-500 VR, and just sold the 70-200 VR II earlier this year, so it's not my first experience with expensive (ish) glass.
With the 500 f4, I'm finding it almost impossible to produce a really sharp image with it, especially with the TC-14E II. I'm on a solid tripod with gimbal head, VR tripod mode (also tried off), mostly high shutter speeds, and IMO good long lens technique. The sharpness isn't horrible, but it's not as good as my 200-500 (even with the 1.4x), and IMO, not adequate for top-notch birds images.
The images just feel slightly "smudged". At first glance, it looks a little like motion blur but appears to be present in all images regardless of any effort to improve stability and shutter speed.
Maybe I'm too picky, but I don't think it's normal to feel frustrated with sharpness every time I use a $4000 piece of glass
Full resolution images:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e87qh2daqcu14hg/AACRiz7FppCVYwPKafwK9KT9a?dl=0
So, thoughts?...Show more →
|