Thanks, Peter. Your last samples are as usual well-detailed, but what stands out more to my eyes is the pleasing bokeh, particularly in the elements just before and after the sharp zone. My 500 f4 IS/400 2.8 IS + 2x II is not as good. I need to stop another vice aside from smoking to fund some new big whites.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Here are 2 samples:
The first is with the 400mm f/2.8L IS II + 2x III extender @f/5.6 and the second with the 500mm f/4L IS II + 2x III extender @f/8.
So both wide-open. They were also both handheld.
Excellent aesthetically and technically, Fred! Thanks for posting the impressive crops as well, these showcase the technical perfection of the new big whites minus considerable weight.
I like the 2x TC as I use it on a 300 f/2.8L IS a lot, but also the 500 occasionally. Some of the exifs won;t look righjt as I used stacked 1.4x TC's early on.
Pixel Perfect wrote:
I like the 2x TC as I use it on a 300 f/2.8L IS a lot, but also the 500 occasionally. Some of the exifs won;t look righjt as I used stacked 1.4x TC's early on.
Lovely set, Whayne... I specially like the soft lighting of the first.
Meantime, here's a sample from a zoom + a doubler.
Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopecta , a Philippine endemic, female)
5D2 + Sigmonster (Sigma 300-800 DG) + Canon 2x TC, 1374 mm, f/18, ISO 640, 1/6 sec, 475B/3421 support, uncropped full frame, manual exposure in available light.
And a consumer ultra-zoom + a doubler + a 1.4x TC.
40D + Sigma 18-200 OS + stacked standard Tamron 2x and 1.4x TCs, 560 mm, bare lens at f/9 (effective Av of combo = f/25), 1/60 sec, ISO 320, manual focus via Live View, tripod/geared head, cropped and resized to 50% of original pixels.
I think everyone accepts that 2x TC's reduce image quality, however I don't agree with Andy Rouse and will be continue to use my 2x TC rather than upscaling a shot taken with a 1.4x.
Romy, I loved watching the video of you coaching Pogito at BIFs!
Great doubler examples here from so many of you!
I feel that my 2X III is very worthwhile with my 300/2.8 II, and wouldn't have let disparaging comments from one superior photographer (referring to Rouse) put me off using it. Still, it's nice to see demonstrations of outstanding results from lots of fine shooters, some of whom have access to passels of "Great Whites" and collections of TCs.
Besides, Andy Rouse uses hyperbole for effect. "When I finally got hold of the lens I was very pleasantly surprised, here is the mechanism:
[photo]
Oh god that turns me on just looking at it. I might have to go down to the shed. To make it look less boring I let my arty side take over and applied a Silver FX Pro Art Noire filter, taken inspiration from the west bank of Paris on a rainy day. I felt the image coming from deep inside me, it grew to express itself as an image of post social economic decline in the world of the 70s....what a load of old bull monochrome photographers talk dont they? Anyway there you have it."
The same thing applies to the part of the article that Romy quoted. He doesn't really mean for us all to destroy our 2Xs, he just is letting us know that he doesn't use one. Romy's tests, and others, make it clear that a 2X can do better than cropping a 1.4X to get the same view.
Pixel Perfect wrote:
Thanks Romy. Love your kingfisher.
Here's a 500 + 1.4x + 2x of the moon on a 40D
Tons of lunar detail, Whayne!
Lars Johnsson wrote:
1D3+800+2x from a couple of years ago
Great detail Lars, the 800L didn't even flinch a bit from the doubler.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Awesome Kingfisher portraits Lars and Romy!. The video was a nice surprise.
Thanks, Fred!
Candor wrote:
I rarely use mine but in the right circumstance my experience is that it will outperform the 1.4 and cropping.
+1.
Nice exposure job .... I think these raptors should be called kingfishers and mine re-termed as princefisher.
PetKal wrote:
Today I have used 200 f/2 IS with 2xTC MkIII for the first time ever.
I'm amazed at the variety of pidjuns in your corner of the world Peter, sweet shot. Looks like that combo is a viable BIF shooter, sharpness-wise and AF-speed-wise.
waldr_p wrote:
Here are a few from my 7D, Sigma 120-300 F2.8 OS and Sigma 2x TC.
All these images are crops of one degree or another.
I think everyone accepts that 2x TC's reduce image quality, however I don't agree with Andy Rouse and will be continue to use my 2x TC rather than upscaling a shot taken with a 1.4x.
Paul.
Surprisingly good IQ from the 120-300 OS + 2x, Paul. The brightness, optics, OS and framing flexibility makes this glass very tempting. Is your copy the newest version?
Photon wrote:
Romy, I loved watching the video of you coaching Pogito at BIFs!
Great doubler examples here from so many of you!
I feel that my 2X III is very worthwhile with my 300/2.8 II, and wouldn't have let disparaging comments from one superior photographer (referring to Rouse) put me off using it. Still, it's nice to see demonstrations of outstanding results from lots of fine shooters, some of whom have access to passels of "Great Whites" and collections of TCs.
Besides, Andy Rouse uses hyperbole for effect. "When I finally got hold of the lens I was very pleasantly surprised, here is the mechanism:
[photo]
Oh god that turns me on just looking at it. I might have to go down to the shed. To make it look less boring I let my arty side take over and applied a Silver FX Pro Art Noire filter, taken inspiration from the west bank of Paris on a rainy day. I felt the image coming from deep inside me, it grew to express itself as an image of post social economic decline in the world of the 70s....what a load of old bull monochrome photographers talk dont they? Anyway there you have it."
The same thing applies to the part of the article that Romy quoted. He doesn't really mean for us all to destroy our 2Xs, he just is letting us know that he doesn't use one. Romy's tests, and others, make it clear that a 2X can do better than cropping a 1.4X to get the same view.
Oriental Honeybuzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Canon 7D + EF 500 f4 IS + 2x TC II, 1000 mm, f/10, ISO 400, 1/320 sec, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, uncropped full frame resized to 1500x1000.
Liquidstone wrote: Oriental Honeybuzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Canon 7D + EF 500 f4 IS + 2x TC II, 1000 mm, f/10, ISO 400, 1/320 sec, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, uncropped full frame resized to 1500x1000.
I'm a little disappointed. I was expecting a great tit, better yet - a pair.
Adding a doubler would make them even bigger and more impressive : -)
Not being a birder, I'd swear it is a chickadee.
Super pictures from everyone.
I read Andy reviews of the zoom and 1Dx.
Both monotonous, repetitive and void of interesting substance to any prospective buyer. Hard to believe he used the lens for months.
For Andy everything is dandy : -)
Canon specs. and announcements are more informative.
