p.2 #2 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
My tests showed otherwise. Considerably so. It's also all over the internet that a 1.4 plus a 2.0 will beat a 3x every time from any maker. I've read several people besides myself claim the same thing about two 1.4s too.
YMMV? I dunno, I can only speak for what I've tested.
Mar 14, 2012 at 01:41 PM
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p.2 #3 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Bifurcator wrote:
My tests showed otherwise. Considerably so. It's also all over the internet that a 1.4 plus a 2.0 will beat a 3x every time from any maker.
We didn't talk about any 3x. I don't even know who sells or use 3x extenders. You are only fooling yourself if you belive a Tamron 1,4x + Canon 1,4x will be considerably better than a Canon 2x mkIII
p.2 #4 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
If you're patient and thorough you should be able to find an older Canon 600 f4 (non-IS) for somewhere in the $3-4000 USD range. You keep AF on your 5D but you have no image stabilization. If you're thinking MF, you're giving that up anyway. I take lots of photos of birds with my old 600 non-IS, and get very, very acceptable results at shutter speeds all the way down to 1/60 sec. Happy to post one if you want to see it.
The old 600 is a beast - weighs about 14 lbs - and you need a good gimbal head on a rock-solid tripod.
The older lenses are not supported by Canon any longer, so you can't have them checked out or worked on by Canon. That in itself scares a lot of people away. Didn't scare me away.
IMO, no lens is quite as good on a TC as it is all by itself. I switched from 600 + 1.4 TC on Canon FF to 600 alone on 60D, and I'm as happy as a pig in mud.
Also, again JMO, nobody does super-tele better than Canon.
p.2 #5 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Cheapest way to do 600 ... Vivitar 120-600 / 5.6-8.0.
This is a close copy to Nikon's Super Tele and in some regards was an improvement on Nikon. IF ... you can find one ... I picked up mine for around $300. Built like a tank, will outlive all of us. Softens a little @ 570-600, so I usually rack it out to 550 max. The previous owner had even shot it with 2X, but I haven't had occassion to try it with my 1.4X.
If you're good with "old school" MF ... it has got the be the cheapest way to get 600.
p.2 #6 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
What about the Sigma 600mm Mirror lens? There's one on eBay in OM mount for $190 right now. It's probably inferior to anything listed here but it's not horrible and is 600mm for very cheap.
p.2 #7 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Great replies, thanks to you all for the help so far.
Mirror lenses: Have a 500/8 - not impressed, although it's only a Soligor left over from over from when I was learning. Got if for dirt and on a 5D MKII is about as sharp as water.
I'll look into each of the lenses mentioned, the vivitar in all honesty has me really interested as I'm a zoom fan whenever it's feasible. I love the versatility to crop mid-picture and try different comps. Otherwise I don't mind looking at MF primes, but the zoom is preferred. Older Canon super-teles would the the ideal of course, I'm looking around for the right deal for the right lens.
I know I could use a crop body, and do actually use one, but I want the full res of a 5D MKII for printing big. Thank you for the reminder though, we all do forget the basics sometimes.
Keep those ideas coming, this is getting more and more helpful by the post
I'll share the results if I'm able to find the right lens, as I want to have some longer glass for some upcoming photography over the summer months, storms, lightning, moon lit skies at night, etc..
p.2 #8 · cheapest way to do 600 to 800mm? Canon 5D MkII mount.
Well, I got there by getting an old Nikon 800/5.6. It's big, heavy, and mf but it get's the job done for me. I tried other options to include some mirror lenses, and various telephoto, t-cons. I am happiest with this 800mm lens though. I did originally use it with an adapter on my Canon bodies but finally bought one Nikon DSLR to devote solely to the lens.
