500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

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Archive 2009 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Andrew J
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p.2 #1 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

After calibration my 500 was way better with a TC. I stack 1.4s now with good results.

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Nov 07, 2009 at 01:15 AM

Nello Milanese
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p.2 #2 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Btw all the shots I'm posting here are from a friend's 500L...I don't own 1 yet.
You asked for action shots...don't know if these fit the bill: 500L + 1.4 tc wide open

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Nov 07, 2009 at 10:28 AM

RobAmy
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p.2 #3 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Here are a few with the 1.4x, I use the combo a lot in my kayak. I notice a bit of AF speeds are a bit slower but the results to me are worth using the 1.4x. You want to send them both in.

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Nov 07, 2009 at 10:47 AM

PetKal
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p.2 #4 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I use 1.4xTC on 500 f/4 on stationary/slow moving targets only when there is no other way to get a half-decent shot.....which happens rather seldom to me. Not only that my combo takes an IQ hit compared to the bare lens, it also becomes as AF sluggish as 100-400. I have other better alternatives for BIF photography.

As an example of the combo application, these little Buffalo Ducks keep their distance from the shore at present, and even 700mm is insufficient. However, if I only wait a couple of months, the ice formation will push them closer to the shore so I will be able to get good shots even with a 300mm FL lens.

These are about 75% crops.

Edited on Nov 09, 2009 at 02:29 AM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 04:53 PM

Lasse Eriksson
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p.2 #5 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Every super-tele will work perfect together with the 1,4x

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:23 PM

PetKal
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p.2 #6 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Three easy shots of my lake regulars.

(Didn't have to use nowhere near 700mm in this case; just exploring the combo performance)

Edited on Nov 08, 2009 at 08:33 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:50 PM

Breitling65
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p.2 #7 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

PetKal wrote:
Three easy shots of my lake regulars.

(Didn't have to use nowhere near 700mm in this case; just exploring the combo performance)

Great shots!

Nov 07, 2009 at 06:55 PM

Breitling65
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p.2 #8 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I believe I am fine

, did some shots this morning with fixed 1.4tc, heavy crop from pretty far distance (around 300 meters) on mk III:

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Some without 1.4tc, I know PetKal will like first one

Edited on Nov 07, 2009 at 07:57 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:00 PM

PetKal
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p.2 #9 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I like all of them because the crops have not been pushed too far and they also include beautiful background, accurate exposure and tasteful processing.
The difficult waxwings show some feather detail which is a good sign for the overall resolving power.

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:15 PM

Breitling65
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p.2 #10 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

PetKal wrote:
I like all of them because the crops have not been pushed too far and they also include beautiful background, accurate exposure and tasteful processing.
The difficult waxwings show some feather detail which is a good sign for the overall resolving power.

Thanks, I guess I am good to shot with my 500L and 1.4tc. It is for sure great lens, one thing I noticed is that I have to be more cariful with exposure and lights. Possibly because of huge focal I never use before or some other lens specifics. In another word it is more sensative to the bad/good light than my other lenses.

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:43 PM

PetKal
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p.2 #11 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Interesting.......I have not noticed any exposure peculiarities with the lens.

The other day I was photographing the same Buffalo Duck scene with the bare 500 f/4. Obviously didn't have quite as much of a reach, however, the colours and bokeh were first class even though there was no sunlight. Well, I sure know what I like better.

Here are three samples, bare 500 f/4....same location as the above shots with the 1.4xTC, just less light.

Edited on Nov 08, 2009 at 08:34 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 08:52 PM

Peyton
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p.2 #12 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

gawd I need to hurry up and pawn a kidney for this lens

I think my keyboard is gonna start malfunctioning from all the drool now..

Glad to hear the 500L and 1.4x is working for you...keep up the fantastic work fellas

Nov 07, 2009 at 08:56 PM

Breitling65
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p.2 #13 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

PetKal wrote:
Interesting.......I have not noticed any exposure peculiarities with the lens.

The other day I was photographing the same Buffalo Duck scene with the bare 500 f/4. Obviously didn't have quite as much of a reach, however, the colours and bokeh were first class even though there was no sunlight. Well, I sure know what I like better.

Here are three samples, bare 500 f/4....same location as the above shots with the 1.4xTC, just less light.

Please try one day to shot against of sun light, I am interesting in results. Great ducks BTW, I am impressed how many types you have in your shots collection.

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:12 PM

amirm
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p.2 #14 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

OP's observations match mine. A few years ago I tested a number of supertelephotos with and without 1.4 and 2.0 TCs. There is no question that you get more CA and other artifacts when you add a TC. As noted, the 300 f2.8 was least affected. And had the best performance with 2.0 TCs.

In my case, I bought the 500 and was frustrated by the slowed down AF on birds in flight. So I bought the 600 and that has been a welcome improvement in being able to shoot with the "naked" lens far more often than with the 500.

When using 2.0 TC, I always try to stop down if the background is clean and I have enough light. One or two stops makes a large difference.

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:22 PM

Peyton
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p.2 #15 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Great ducks BTW, I am impressed how many types you have in your shots collection.

not as many ducks as he has pigeons!

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:11 PM

PetKal
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p.2 #16 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Breitling65 wrote:

Please try one day to shot against of sun light, I am interesting in results. Great ducks BTW, I am impressed how many types you have in your shots collection.

I will try. Usually I like to have the sun beaming into my back.

However, quite often I end up having to shoot against a strong backlight, be it skyshine or water reflection, like on these three images below, shot with bare 500 f/4. In fact, I thought I got less subject washout than I expected, which is very good.

Edited on Nov 08, 2009 at 08:34 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:23 PM

Adam L
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p.2 #17 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

So many birders own this lens

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:23 PM

Breitling65
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p.2 #18 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

amirm wrote:
OP's observations match mine. A few years ago I tested a number of supertelephotos with and without 1.4 and 2.0 TCs. There is no question that you get more CA and other artifacts when you add a TC. As noted, the 300 f2.8 was least affected. And had the best performance with 2.0 TCs.

In my case, I bought the 500 and was frustrated by the slowed down AF on birds in flight. So I bought the 600 and that has been a welcome improvement in being able to shoot with the "naked" lens far more often than with the 500.

When using 2.0 TC, I always try to stop down if the background is clean and I have enough light. One or two stops makes a large difference.

Right, that is possibly because I been using stunning 300/F2.8L IS with any tc's lot before 500L. Not sure if any other Canon lens impressed me as much with optical performance...

Nov 07, 2009 at 11:51 PM

Colin Key
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p.2 #19 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

I do not see any deterioration of I.Q. when I use my 500mm f/4 L with a Canon x1.4TCII on my 1D Mk3:

Little Bittern
1/2,000s f/7.1 at 700mm ISO 400

Spotted Crake
1/1,250s f/7.1 at 700mm ISO 400

Fan-tailed Warbler (Zitting cisticola)
1/1,600s f/7.1 at 700mm ISO 400

Nov 08, 2009 at 02:08 PM

PetKal
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p.2 #20 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Breitling65 wrote:
Right, that is possibly because I been using stunning 300/F2.8L IS with any tc's lot before 500L. Not sure if any other Canon lens impressed me as much with optical performance...

The 300 f/2.8 IS handles difficult exposure situations very well, while maintaining good contrast, colours and bokeh, without a need for manic postprocessing, assuming camera exposure was done reasonably well. See examples below for some fairly tough exposure conditions I've encountered today.
In fact, because of its f/2.8 nominal aperture, much lower weight/bulk and faster focusing, whenever possible at all I will use 300 f/2.8 as opposed to 500 f/4 or even 500 f/4.5.

Edited on Nov 09, 2009 at 02:30 AM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2009 at 04:50 PM

AGeoJO
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p.2 #21 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Here is another shot with that combo on my 1D MarkIII

Canon EOS-1D Mark III 700 mm f/8.0 1/160 sec 400 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 08, 2009 at 06:19 PM

rd4tile
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p.2 #22 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

PetKal wrote:

The 300 f/2.8 IS handles difficult exposure situations very well, while maintaining good contrast, colours and bokeh, without a need for manic postprocessing, assuming camera exposure was done reasonably well. See examples below for some fairly tough exposure conditions I've encountered today.
In fact, because of its f/2.8 nominal aperture, much lower weight/bulk and faster focusing, whenever possible at all I will use 300 f/2.8 as opposed to 500 f/4 or even 500 f/4.5.

PetKal:

Can you post up a few from your 500 f4.5 as well? (just bought one of those myself and I'm waiting for it to show up.)

thanks
Rich

Nov 09, 2009 at 02:32 AM

PetKal
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p.2 #23 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Here you go, one of my favourites taken with the 500 f/4.5L.
BTW, I have to look at full exif in order to see which 500mm lens a shot was taken with. Those two lenses have practically indistinguishable IQ, although I'd perhaps give a very small edge to the f./4 version.....and not quite sure about it either.

Edited on Nov 09, 2009 at 11:43 PM · View previous versions

Nov 09, 2009 at 02:42 AM

rd4tile
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p.2 #24 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

Thanks, I love threads like this!

I've always wanted a 500 f4 L IS so I figured a (much) cheaper 4.5 version would be a nice way to figure out if I'll use it enough to justify dropping the extra $.

Nov 09, 2009 at 03:11 AM

TooManyShots
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p.2 #25 · 500L owners, lens performance with 1.4tc

500L + 1.4x converter. 1dmarkIII

500L + 1.4x converter. 1dmarkIII ISO1600

Nov 09, 2009 at 04:00 AM


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