Archive 2018 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

gordec
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

Has anyone tried this combo? I'm getting the 70-200 GM and want to play with birding and wildlife. I was wondering if the 2x teleconverter can give a beginner some decent results into wildlife. Using the A7RII body BTW.

May 04, 2018 at 11:00 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

Although I am happy with the lens and the FE 1.4X TC combined, I am not too thrilled with the 2X TC. I would get the 1.4X TC if I were you. I am not referring to the AF capability but somehow that f/2.8 GM lens is not made for that setup, it seems. By itself, the lens, even at f/2.8 performs splendidly.

The 2X TC, on the other hand, works fine with the GM 100-400mm and I am convinced it will work just great with the new and upcoming FE 400mm f/2.8 GM lens. It seems that that particular TC is designed to match that new prime lens.

If you are serious into wildlife photography, the GM 100-400mm lens with either TC is a formidable wildlife combo, albeit on the slow side with the 2X TC. The PDAF doesn't work on the A7r II and A7r III but it works just fine with the A9. Good luck!

May 04, 2018 at 11:40 AM

Parariss
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

I don't think many people that were expecting to turn their 70-200GM into a wildlife lens via a teleconverter were very happy with the result. (I think some of the disappointment surrounding that lens was a direct result of just that.) If you want a wildlife lens, get the 100-400GM. And, if you want a teleconverter, buy a used, late model crop body instead. Then, maybe, buy the 1.4x.

May 04, 2018 at 02:13 PM

oddjobprime
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

The performance if that combo isn’t bad at stopped down 1-stop, so f8, but it seems as though the 100-400 + TC performs much better, even wide open.

I have only used it on the A9, though. Not sure how well it tracks on the R2 at f8.

May 04, 2018 at 03:14 PM

oddjobprime
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

May 04, 2018 at 03:14 PM

arbitrage
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

AGeoJO wrote:
I am convinced it will work just great with the new and upcoming FE 400mm f/2.8 GM lens. !

It darn well better work well for the price they are going to charge for that lens. I was curious if you are willing to give up your stacking of 2x Canon and 1.4x Sony on the Canon 400/2.8 for the superior native lens limited to 800/5.6?

It is odd that the 2x doesn’t play well with a fast 2.8 zoom but does good on the 5.6 zoom

The Canon 70-200/2.8 did very well with the 2x at least for IQ although AF was best done with the focus limiter not set to full range.

May 04, 2018 at 03:17 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

arbitrage wrote:
It darn well better work well for the price they are going to charge for that lens. I was curious if you are willing to give up your stacking of 2x Canon and 1.4x Sony on the Canon 400/2.8 for the superior native lens limited to 800/5.6?

It is odd that the 2x doesn’t play well with a fast 2.8 zoom but does good on the 5.6 zoom

The Canon 70-200/2.8 did very well with the 2x at least for IQ although AF was best done with the focus limiter not set to full range.

You know what Geoff? I have been thinking about that after Sony showed the prototype of that 400mm lens. Yup, the reach of 800mm of that Sony FE 400mm lens plus the 2X TC is definitely more limited but AF-wise it is more promising than the combo of Canon 400mm f/2.8 plus Canon 1.4X TC and FE 2X TC. Whether I am willing to sacrifice more reach for a better AF will depend on the actual lens itself. Time will tell, I guess. And of course, it depends also on the price.

Probably, I can get for my Canon lens somewhere between $7,500 and $7,800. Plus, I will be selling the Canon 1.4X TC. So, let's say a total of $8,000. Considering the circumstances right now, the maximum I am willing to add to that to get the Sony is $4K. And again, time will tell.

I had the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 Mark II lens before. I wasn't too thrilled with the result of that lens when combined with the Canon EF 2X TC, Basically, I feel the same way about the Sony 70-200mm GM. It works in a pinch but not my preferred setup.

May 04, 2018 at 03:38 PM

SoundHound
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

If you really need a long lens then why not buy a Non IS Canon EF 600mm F 4.0 for a little bit more than the Sony 100-300? Use the cheaper Canon TCs and adapt it to the A9 with the Metabones V.

The AF is fine in good light with a 1.4X TC (840mm F5.6!) and should be better than a 100-400 with a 800mm F11 combo with the Sony 2X TC. Be sure to set your IBIS to Manual and select the nearest FL.

May 04, 2018 at 10:43 PM

arbitrage
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 70-200 GM with 2x teleconverter

SoundHound wrote:
If you really need a long lens then why not buy a Non IS Canon EF 600mm F 4.0 for a little bit more than the Sony 100-300? Use the cheaper Canon TCs and adapt it to the A9 with the Metabones V.

The AF is fine in good light with a 1.4X TC (840mm F5.6!) and should be better than a 100-400 with a 800mm F11 combo with the Sony 2X TC. Be sure to set your IBIS to Manual and select the nearest FL.

At least in my experience so far the AF is still better with the Sony 2x on 100-400GM than it is with an adapted 600/4 IS II.
I will say that yesterday I was more impressed with the adapted Canon lenses in cloudy bright light than I had been in full on sun the other day. Probably down to more experience with the shortcomings and how to deal with them than the change in light quality.
Both can be great combos but one sticks you at f/11 vs f/5.6 however the other can still react quicker to focus when you are out of the zone. The 100-400 is also a much more manageable size which also allows quicker reaction to bouncing warblers. The good thing is after yesterday's testing I'm happy enough with the 400DOII's performance that I will be using it on the A9 when I need more light.

As a caveat, I don't have my own Sony 2xTC yet so my experience is still limited to borrowing one in Florida. I have one on the way so will get to test it better next week in an environment I shoot in every day (my 5 acre backyard)

May 05, 2018 at 07:40 AM


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