p.1 #1 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Hey gang,
Shooting with a 100-400L, and keep running against the occasional desire/need to have 600mm or 800mm of glass to shoot mountain views and moody moonlit cloudy skies.
Anyone know of a manual focus lens that is pretty decent but affordable that I could convert to Canon mount for such use? I plan on printing these images, depending on how nice the image is and what the edges of the subject matter are, up to 24 x 36".
Any recommendations? I'm a very serious photographer, but am not looking to spend six to ten grand for a Sigma 300-800 right now...is there anything, zoom or prime, or prime with a 1.4 tele, that can get me into pro results range without it being top tier and top dollar?
Thanks truly, would love to add this range to my arsenal, maybe sell it in a year or so if need be.
No renting, unless someone wants to rent me their lens for a year at a month's rate.
p.1 #2 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
How important is AF? The cheapest way to 600mm that still retains a high level of quality would be a user-condition Nikon AIS 300/2.8 and 2x Teleconverter, in my opinion. I don't know of a like-solution to get to 800mm, unless you were willing to live with f/8 or 11 wide open.
p.1 #3 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Hi,
I bought a Zeiss 300 f/4 as tele for 5D2...
too many CA, too slow. too difficult to focus.
(normally i use 35mm 1.4, 50+58 @1.2, 85 1.5, ... however 300 f/4 + 1.5x is nearly impossile to focus freehand)
Now i invested in 100-400L ( my first & only canon lens) + kenko 1.5x.
looks promising ... AF still works, no CA (at a first glance)
p.1 #4 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
AF not important whatsoever.
I'll look into that Kenko 1.5...wasn't familiar with it. I have a Tamron 2X cheapie I picked up many years ago just to have it and it's just not acceptable.
Any old Olympus or Minolta lenses come to mind anyone? Or Zeiss...I'm open to anything..manual focus is fine.
p.1 #7 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Oh, there you go. Pair Tri's lovely 400 with this 300 from EP Levine and 1.4x and 2x converters (I'd actually go with Nikon there as well, since you don't care about AF and you can find excellent copies for less than or about as much as the new 3rd party models) and you've got 300 to 800 well covered for about $2300.
p.1 #9 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
I have a Canon SSC 800mm f/5.6 with a DIY made adapter to Canon EF - but you could as well get one from Ed Mika, which is better machined I guess, but a bit thicker than mine. With both you get infinity with that lens.
But CA is a problem there - have to research a bit further (UV / Skylight filter or Schneider 486).
I suppose the Canon FD L version could be a bit better, but I am not sure.
p.1 #12 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Loco,
I think you are going to be hard pressed to get good results using a 2X teleconverter on any of the older, manual lenses especially from the Nikon camp (from what I've heard about TC's from Nikon shooters). Even with a 1.4 or 1.7 extender; maybe. Especially since you would be adapting to a Canon body. I would definitely make sure you try before you buy whichever setup if possible. Perhaps the best bet would be an old Canon 300/2.8 or 400/2.8 which coupled with matching 2X TC, would likely produce decent images. If still thinking about the Nikon options, the 500/4P ED-IF: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/telephotos/500mm.htm
is a very good lens if you can find one and may take a matching 1.4 very nicely. Not sure what happens thought when used on the Canon body if you lose any IQ.
p.1 #13 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
I occasionally use the 2X Tamron APO teleconverter II and I don't notice much if any degradation. But both my Nikon and my Canon 2X pro grade TC's are inferior to the Tamron. The Canon one is the worst of the three.
Anyway, TC's are the only way you're getting to 600 to 800 cheaply with any kind of quality! The TC's I'm talking about sell used for between $250 and $350
You should also ask this question in the Wildlife forum where all the big guns hang out. They'll know exactly! But do add your budget if you do; we're not mind readers.
BTW, a little known secret... two 1.4x TCs usually delivers better IQ than one 2x TC.
p.1 #14 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Have you thought about Canon 400/5.6 L and 1.4x. You will loose focus on the 5D (not on 1 series) but the lens is still sharp with the extender and with the "tape trick" you are able to AF in good light. I used this combo to shoot birds with my 5D before I got the 500/4.5 L. My guess is that with an 2x the lens will get too dark and loose sharpness, but from a tripod and using the new Canon 2x ...who knows. At least it's cheap.
If you can afford the Canon 500/4.5 L it's a great lens but as with the 400/5.6 you will loose autofocus with an extender on the 5D. Sigma also makes an excellent 500/4.5.
Maybe the cheapest solution for you would be buying a 1.6x extender made by Canon, called 600D or 1100D.
p.1 #15 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
If 500mm is long enough, the Canon FD 500mm f/4.5L (link with 5D full reolution images) and the Ed Mika adapter would be a good choice too. It is build for manual focus, so probably better to work with than with EF 500/4.5 and EF 400/5.6.
p.1 #16 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Bifurcator wrote:
I occasionally use the 2X Tamron APO teleconverter II and I don't notice much if any degradation. But both my Nikon and my Canon 2X pro grade TC's are inferior to the Tamron. The Canon one is the worst of the three.
Anyway, TC's are the only way you're getting to 600 to 800 cheaply with any kind of quality! The TC's I'm talking about sell used for between $250 and $350
You should also ask this question in the Wildlife forum where all the big guns hang out. They'll know exactly! But do add your budget if you do; we're not mind readers.
BTW, a little known secret... two 1.4x TCs usually delivers better IQ than one 2x TC.
p.1 #18 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
I picked up a 500 4.5 a couple of years ago - $3100 range. Great lens, and works decently with a 1.4x (though I don't use it often with the converter).
Sample. Pretty much at MFD, Mr. Coop was in waaaay too close for what I expected. 1D2n body, 500/4.5L, 1.4xII.
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p.1 #19 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
hauxon wrote:
Have you thought about Canon 400/5.6 L and 1.4x. You will loose focus on the 5D (not on 1 series) but the lens is still sharp with the extender and with the "tape trick" you are able to AF in good light. I used this combo to shoot birds with my 5D before I got the 500/4.5 L. My guess is that with an 2x the lens will get too dark and loose sharpness, but from a tripod and using the new Canon 2x ...who knows. At least it's cheap.
If you can afford the Canon 500/4.5 L it's a great lens but as with the 400/5.6 you will loose autofocus with an extender on the 5D. Sigma also makes an excellent 500/4.5.
Maybe the cheapest solution for you would be buying a 1.6x extender made by Canon, called 600D or 1100D. ...Show more →
p.1 #20 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Bifurcator wrote:
I occasionally use the 2X Tamron APO teleconverter II and I don't notice much if any degradation. But both my Nikon and my Canon 2X pro grade TC's are inferior to the Tamron. The Canon one is the worst of the three.
Anyway, TC's are the only way you're getting to 600 to 800 cheaply with any kind of quality! The TC's I'm talking about sell used for between $250 and $350
You should also ask this question in the Wildlife forum where all the big guns hang out. They'll know exactly! But do add your budget if you do; we're not mind readers.
BTW, a little known secret... two 1.4x TCs usually delivers better IQ than one 2x TC. ...Show more → freaklikeme wrote:
What two 1.4s can you use stacked? Of the ones I've used, the front element wouldn't allow it to mount to the rear of another converter.
The Tamron ones, and the Canon ones are the ones I've tried. I've never had two of the Nikon brand APO/ED (pro) types at once so I dunno about those. But stacking is fairly common:
Loco,
I forgot about telescopes and mirror lenses when I made my remarks. High quality mirror lenses weighing in at 500 or 600 mm can do a decent job. Likewise 600 to 800 mm reflector telescopes can be very good as well. Both can be had for under $300 or $400. Additionally you can get an APO refractor telescope of about 600 to 800mm equiv., which will approach the quality of the canon 500 being talked about for right around the $1,000 mark - used on e^pay.
