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Archive 2017 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X

  
 
jim allison
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


I took this combination to the Viera Wetlands on Thursday. I was told on this forum that it rivals the Nikon 200-500mm. I don't have that lens so I can't make an honest comparison,
but I'm very satisfied with the combo.



© jim allison 2016





© jim allison 2016





© jim allison 2016





© jim allison 2016




Feb 12, 2017 at 04:19 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


f18 would be a non-starter for me, I shoot the 200-500 at f5.6
They don't look bad...as long as you're happy, eh?!



Feb 12, 2017 at 06:26 PM
jim allison
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Thanks Will. I'm fairly new to birds. I'm just feeling my way. I can't handle more weight hand held.


Feb 12, 2017 at 07:36 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Understood. I'll bet you'd be happier at f8 (much lower ISO's while
keeping the same SS) That's where I lived with the AF-S 300 f4 and
the TC-17E II...MY poor man's 500. Served me well with the BIF. GL



Feb 13, 2017 at 06:10 AM
Danner
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Those look pretty good. Whenever I shoot my PF with the 1.7, it seems to give up an edge of sharpness, at the pixel-peeing level anyway. But who knows, it could be my technique or post-processing skills.


Feb 13, 2017 at 09:32 AM
jim allison
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Thanks Will and Danner.


Feb 13, 2017 at 09:57 AM
Christian H
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


That's some nasty pixellation in the backgrounds. If you must use a converter try to avoid cropping the files to death!


Feb 13, 2017 at 10:27 AM
jim allison
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Thanks Christian. Actually, the files aren't cropped that much. The ISO was 2500 and I probably could have done a better job of controlling the noise. This was my first time using back button autofocus and I was concentrating on that. As Will said, I should have used a wider opening and a lower ISO, but I was concentrating on learning that back button technique.


Feb 13, 2017 at 11:02 AM
AnnJS
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


I think the problem here is two-fold:

The 300 PF is best when almost fully open — not stopped down;

and I suspect you are over concerned with Noise and are using far too much Luminance-noise reduction?

You are also probably under-exposing if you shoot RAW because the metering in all the Nikons that i have ever used was set to underexpose by default.



Feb 13, 2017 at 01:05 PM
jim allison
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Thanks for your feedback Ann. As I previously stated, I was primarily occupied with learning the back button autofocus button, which was completely new to me. The lens had an extender which resulted in an effective focal length of 500mm. Using the lens wide open would have resulted in insufficient depth of field. I agree with Trenchmonkey that f8
would have been a better choice, but I really wasn't paying close attention as I was concentrating on learning the new technique. I'm satisfied with the sharpness rendered
by the combo, which was also a major concern. Thanks.



Feb 13, 2017 at 01:40 PM
arbitrage
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


At f8 which is almost wide open shooting 80ft away (assumption) you would have 2.5 feet of DOF. That should be enough to cove the two birds. If you are further than that then you would have more DOF. If closer then a bit less. Still I shoot birds wide open 90% of the time even 600 f/4. 500 f/7 or so or f/8 would be fine for most situations.


Feb 13, 2017 at 02:12 PM
phototoronto
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


The 300mm pf is an amazing lens but best used wide open at 300mm. For anything else the 200-500 will provide equal (~400mm 5.6 with 1.4tc) or better results.


Feb 13, 2017 at 03:17 PM
jim allison
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


nks for your feedback!


Feb 13, 2017 at 04:06 PM
Charles Loy
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Photos are sharp Jim, great start with the lens and TC. Agree f18 is way out there and not needed, but enjoy the photos and show us more soon. I like my half the price 200-500 5.6, use it a tad closed, f7.1 or 8 usually. Thanks for post, keep shooting.


Feb 13, 2017 at 04:20 PM
jim allison
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Thank you Charles. I will.


Feb 13, 2017 at 06:22 PM
AnnJS
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


I frequently use a TC-20 iii on both my 70-200mm f/2.8 VR and on my 300mm f/4 PF.

The 70-200 becomes a most useful close-up lens when used in this way; and the 300 PF becomes an incredibly light hand-holdable 600mm.

You do need a camera which has AF capability down to f/8 when using the 300 for action and wildlife shots but its performance on my D5 is astonishing.

This is just one example:

Osprey in flight

I shot over 3000 photographs with that combination over one weekend and the camera managed to grab focus and lock-on more than 90% of the time.

I simply do not have the physical strength to hand-hold a real 600mm and walk with it for miles for hours on end so I am pretty thrilled with what the 300mm PF can deliver when used with a TC-20 on a D5.

You can see some more photographs which I shot with that combination here:

Winging It




Feb 15, 2017 at 11:19 AM
lbloom
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Technical considerations aside, I enjoyed looking at the birds and their behavior. Thank you.


Feb 15, 2017 at 11:24 PM
jim allison
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Thank you Ibloom. Sometimes we forget why we made the photos in the first place. I like the subject matter and that was my first consideration. I wanted to see how the equipment worked with those subjects and that was my secondary consideration.


Feb 16, 2017 at 11:41 AM
dwalk
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


I moved from the 300mm f2.8 vr11 to the 300mm pf due to weight considerations. You loose a stop of light but such is life. I have used all three nikon tcs with both lenses but with my copies found the 1.7 to give the most satisfying results. An example of the 300mm pf + 1.7 below. Taken at 1/320s and f8 on a D800.

Great_Tit by smphotodave, on Flickr



Feb 26, 2017 at 05:49 AM
jim allison
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · 300mm f4 PF with the Nikon 1.7X


Nice shot Dave! I'm in a similar situation. Can't handle too much weight. This combo is a great compromise.


Feb 26, 2017 at 07:26 PM
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