Northern Harrier with long dead duck carcass which was dropped a few seconds later as a bald eagle approached. Neither returned for the duck. Shot at Terra Nova just across the Middle Arm of The Fraser River, south of Vancouver Airport.
arbitrage wrote:
Green-winged Teal with the 400DOII
I am about to make a decision between a Nikon D500 + 500pf with 1.4 extender and the Canon 400DOII with 1.4 and 2.0 extenders. My preference is for the Canon lens, because it would duplicate my current Pentax DA560 f5.6 with the 1.4tc. 60mm may not seem much, but to me it is still significant, since I am always short on reach. Furtermore, I seem to like all images posted and taken by the 400DOII, either with or without a converter.
My intention is however, for economic reasons, to use the Canon on my current Sony A7rII, which I know does not have the best AF system.
Still, if I can get by for one or two years, I can save up for a Sony A7rIII or even IV.
So would the A7rII at least work properly for static birds with the 400DO and the mc-11 and the 1.4tc?
I'm not exactly sure what I've not got right with a number of my BIF photos that look rather plastic. The detail is washed out even at 1/2000. It was overcast and grey, but there was plenty of detail in perched bird photos, albeit not as much crop. Any comments would be appreciated. Most are ±50% crops.
ChrisMak wrote:
I am about to make a decision between a Nikon D500 + 500pf with 1.4 extender and the Canon 400DOII with 1.4 and 2.0 extenders. My preference is for the Canon lens, because it would duplicate my current Pentax DA560 f5.6 with the 1.4tc. 60mm may not seem much, but to me it is still significant, since I am always short on reach. Furtermore, I seem to like all images posted and taken by the 400DOII, either with or without a converter.
My intention is however, for economic reasons, to use the Canon on my current Sony A7rII, which I know does not have the best AF system.
Still, if I can get by for one or two years, I can save up for a Sony A7rIII or even IV.
So would the A7rII at least work properly for static birds with the 400DO and the mc-11 and the 1.4tc?
I have no idea how the A7R2 will do with adapted glass. What I can tell you is with the very best camera to adapt (ie the A9) the hit rate for BIF is not great especially with the 1.4TC on the 400DOII. For just shooting perched, swimming birds the adapted combo works great on the A9...again, no idea what it is like on the A7R2.
The D500/500PF with and without TC is a better performing combo for AF. Yes you have 500mm at f/5.6 vs 560mm but the D500 has 21MP on a APS-C sensor which is equivalent to 47MP so you gain back some of that 60mm (maybe most of it...would have to do the math) because of the extra 5MPs.
Only issue with 500PF is it is very hard to come by, some people who ordered from the big NY stores in August still don't have them. However, many have been able to get the lens by using smaller stores even ordering in Jan.
ChrisMak wrote:
I am about to make a decision between a Nikon D500 + 500pf with 1.4 extender and the Canon 400DOII with 1.4 and 2.0 extenders. My preference is for the Canon lens, because it would duplicate my current Pentax DA560 f5.6 with the 1.4tc. 60mm may not seem much, but to me it is still significant, since I am always short on reach. Furtermore, I seem to like all images posted and taken by the 400DOII, either with or without a converter.
My intention is however, for economic reasons, to use the Canon on my current Sony A7rII, which I know does not have the best AF system.
Still, if I can get by for one or two years, I can save up for a Sony A7rIII or even IV.
So would the A7rII at least work properly for static birds with the 400DO and the mc-11 and the 1.4tc?
Chris, if you'll remind me (it is my work week and hard to keep up with the real world) when I get off for my off-week I can put a 400DO+1.4TC onto the A7Rii(2) and see what gives.
I can choose MC-11 or Metabones. Just tell me which.
This for perched bierds.....will be either Blue-J, Cardinal, or Tit...about all that is here lately.
I don't expect a lot from this combo, surely tried in in 'the day' but promptly forgot.
MedicineMan404 wrote:
Chris, if you'll remind me (it is my work week and hard to keep up with the real world) when I get off for my off-week I can put a 400DO+1.4TC onto the A7Rii(2) and see what gives.
I can choose MC-11 or Metabones. Just tell me which.
This for perched bierds.....will be either Blue-J, Cardinal, or Tit...about all that is here lately.
I don't expect a lot from this combo, surely tried in in 'the day' but promptly forgot.
That would be very nice! Just to know if it works at all, except for BIF which I know is out of bounds.
I have understood that the Sigma mc-11 is the preferred adapter, so I intend to get that.
Thanks!
Chris
arbitrage wrote:
I have no idea how the A7R2 will do with adapted glass. What I can tell you is with the very best camera to adapt (ie the A9) the hit rate for BIF is not great especially with the 1.4TC on the 400DOII. For just shooting perched, swimming birds the adapted combo works great on the A9...again, no idea what it is like on the A7R2.
The D500/500PF with and without TC is a better performing combo for AF. Yes you have 500mm at f/5.6 vs 560mm but the D500 has 21MP on a APS-C sensor which is equivalent to 47MP so you gain back some of that 60mm (maybe most of it...would have to do the math) because of the extra 5MPs.
Only issue with 500PF is it is very hard to come by, some people who ordered from the big NY stores in August still don't have them. However, many have been able to get the lens by using smaller stores even ordering in Jan....Show more →
Ouch, not great with the 1.4TC on a body like the A9 is less than I had hoped for. I intend to glue the 1.4TC to the 400DOII, except when taking it off to put the 2.0TC on.
Understanding your comments, that would drive me towards a Canon body, which is a letdown.
On the up, I understand that the Nikon set-up delivers with te 1.4TC. It is also a very good lens, just not 400DOII level to my eyes from the many images posted.
ChrisMak wrote:
That would be very nice! Just to know if it works at all, except for BIF which I know is out of bounds.
I have understood that the Sigma mc-11 is the preferred adapter, so I intend to get that.
Thanks!
Chris
OK I'll use the MC-11. I'd have to look for the MB anyway---covered in dust.
Posting in this thread for ease of finding for ChrisMak.
Hope you guys/gals don't mind.
Via-
Sony ILCE-7RM2
DT 400mm F4 SAM
ƒ/5.6 560.0 mm 1/2000 500
Chris setting this up reminded me of using this combo with the Metabones a while ago.
The MC-11 is better, for sure better.
But you're right BIF would still be a pain.
OK, focus throw.
Going from far to near (and I would focus on something 30-40 feet then come back to something 20 feet, or 50 and 20, etc.) focus was OK speed wise. Not snappy, maybe 1/2 second.
Going from new to far (same distances, something 20 feet and going to 30 or 40 feet) hunting occurs and you will notice as you wait for a second, maybe 1.25 seconds. Kinda expected.
Two times I adjust the focus ring myself helping the A7Rii get there, that works too.
Honestly much better than I remembered for AF speed. It will never be 100400GM level but you know that.
So here's a snap at something roughly 25 feet away.
I say no BIF but that is not true, it's just way harder, but it did get me in my BIF album going back.
Here's one via the A7Rii. You just have to get it in the first 2-3 frames before the object is lost in the lag and the bigger the subject the better.
MedicineMan404 wrote:
Posting in this thread for ease of finding for ChrisMak.
Hope you guys/gals don't mind.
Via-
Sony ILCE-7RM2
DT 400mm F4 SAM
ƒ/5.6 560.0 mm 1/2000 500
Chris setting this up reminded me of using this combo with the Metabones a while ago.
The MC-11 is better, for sure better.
But you're right BIF would still be a pain.
OK, focus throw.
Going from far to near (and I would focus on something 30-40 feet then come back to something 20 feet, or 50 and 20, etc.) focus was OK speed wise. Not snappy, maybe 1/2 second.
Going from new to far (same distances, something 20 feet and going to 30 or 40 feet) hunting occurs and you will notice as you wait for a second, maybe 1.25 seconds. Kinda expected.
Two times I adjust the focus ring myself helping the A7Rii get there, that works too.
Honestly much better than I remembered for AF speed. It will never be 100400GM level but you know that.
So here's a snap at something roughly 25 feet away.
I say no BIF but that is not true, it's just way harder, but it did get me in my BIF album going back.
Here's one via the A7Rii. You just have to get it in the first 2-3 frames before the object is lost in the lag and the bigger the subject the better.
Thank you!
I think you may just have swayed me to set my plan for the 400DOII with at least the 1.4TC.
Thing is that I am not fully bent on doing ultimate BIF (as yet), but would like to get the IQ from my A7rII matched with a high end supertelelens, and have no need for a zoom, but do have a need for an aperture not too high, and the 100-400 is just too slow to be an allround lens for me.
This with in the back of my mind that it will give me suffiecient time to save up for a future Sony body that no doubt will give me a substantial upgrade path regarding AF. IQ is simply there with the A7rII already and resolution is sufficient.
It's all a very personal thing, and somehow tha Canon 400DOII appeals to me, there is something about the images that does it for me, and I am stunned by its performance with the TC's.
In future I could even add a 500pf with future Nikon body for cutting edge BIF.
In any event, your opinion does about the A7rII with the 400DOII seems not at all hopeless to me, and the resulting IQ is just what I am looking for.
EDIT:
Btw.: am I correct in assuming that focus lock (when near the subject) is secure and reliable? What I have faced with the Pentax DA560, is 3 out of 10 sharp images, and the rest júst out of focus, making them useless to me. I am assuming that sensor based AF will get a more reliable and precise AF lock when there is no urgent hurry. I don't mind working a bit harder, but don't like júst out of focus shots ruining precious moments.
Thanks a lot for your effort!
