For that image, I had the gear tripod mounted. As you know, there is a lot of standing and waiting for action to happen. I actually had two tripods set up. The other one had a 100-400 with ND filter that was set to capture the snow geese blasting off.
I would have preferred to use the lens bare at 600mm, but had I done so, I would have had to crop the image a lot to get a similar composition. Using the 2x allowed me to use the whole frame uncropped to maximize IQ and minimize noise. You shouldn’t be hesitant to use 2x whenever needed for flight or other action. Look no further than @shalu@ for confidence that Sony’s AF and optical systems can deliver the goods!...Show more →
Hi Mitesh, it is more not being able to track the target at that narrow depth-of-field that makes me hesitate using the 2X. That kind of my mental barrier but most of it has been removed after I started using the Dot Sight for that. I will definitely put the 2X to good use while in Bosque, starting tomorrow. Thank you!
kimknapp wrote:
"Showing off for her mate"
Whooping Cranes at Aransas Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
Aransas Bay Birding Charters has flat bottom boats and understands the needs of photogs. Highly recommended.
All taken with A7Riv, 600GM.
Hi Kim, nice to see you post here as well. We basically went through the same route to get here, huh? Great images of the Whooping Cranes.
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This is one of the plenty of falcon images captured during the summer months that didn't get posted. I did enhance the sky here...
Some great images here. Got a question for all you lucky 600GM owners, though. I've been using the 200-600mm Sony lens and I'm amazed how good it is. Of course, I don't have an f/4 aperture, but I'm wondering what else I'm missing and which other reasons than the extra light made you buy the 600GM.
Not that I have the funds right now or am committed to Sony yet, but you never know...
johnvanr wrote:
I have a question for all you lucky 600 GM owners. I've been using the 200-600mm Sony lens and I'm amazed how good it is. Of course, I don't have an f/4 aperture, but I'm wondering what else I'm missing and which other reasons than the extra light made you buy the 600 GM.
Not that I have the funds right now or am committed to Sony yet, but you never know...
Care to share?
Having the 200-600, I really wrestled with this over the last few weeks. I guess it's about the level of passion one has for this pastime, and wanting the best possible tools. Just like wanting the best bike if you were really into cycling, and we could come up with thousands of similar analogies.
The 200-600 is by far the best zoom lens available, and the price is good, but the f/4 is going to be faster focusing given its different focus drive motors, and will work better with extenders than the zoom. The image quality too may be better, especially with extenders. 1200mm at f/8 (instead of f/13) is pretty cool.
johnvanr wrote:
Some great images here. Got a question for all you lucky 600GM owners, though. I've been using the 200-600mm Sony lens and I'm amazed how good it is. Of course, I don't have an f/4 aperture, but I'm wondering what else I'm missing and which other reasons than the extra light made you buy the 600GM.
Not that I have the funds right now or am committed to Sony yet, but you never know...
Care to share?
I'm struggling with the decision to go ahead and purchase the 600GM. I think the one other benefit other than f/4 is the dual-linear focus motors designed to work with the Sony cameras. I would think the AF performance (already pretty amazing with 200-600/A9) would be even more consistent with the 600 and 400 primes. Also for me, f/4 vs f/6.3 isn't really a big deal but as I try and reach out to 840 and 1200 the f/9 and f/13 become a struggle. Also I haven't been happy with AF consistency at 1200 with the 200-600 but from what I've seen from the 600 owners they can shoot even smaller/fast BIF at 1200mm.
My only hesitation in buying the 600 is the size of the thing. The weight is less of an inconvenience as I spent 6 years with the heavier Canon 600II but lugging that size of a lens (especially with hood) is a PITA. I've spent a day shooting Pius' Canon 600III and just went and drooled over Colin's 600GM yesterday...but I'm having a hard time wanting to go back to that size of a lens after the past couple years shooting PF lenses, 500/4 and now 200-600.
Colin F wrote:
Having the 200-600, I really wrestled with this over the last few weeks. I guess it's about the level of passion one has for this pastime, and wanting the best possible tools. Just like wanting the best bike if you were really into cycling, and we could come up with thousands of similar analogies.
The 200-600 is by far the best zoom lens available, and the price is good, but the f/4 is going to be faster focusing given its different focus drive motors, and will work better with extenders than the zoom. The image quality too may be better, especially with extenders. 1200mm at f/8 (instead of f/13) is pretty cool.
My only hesitation in buying the 600 is the size of the thing. The weight is less of an inconvenience as I spent 6 years with the heavier Canon 600II but lugging that size of a lens (especially with hood) is a PITA. I've spent a day shooting Pius' Canon 600III and just went and drooled over Colin's 600GM yesterday...but I'm having a hard time wanting to go back to that size of a lens after the past couple years shooting PF lenses, 500/4 and now 200-600.
I agree with this completely. I would be all in for a 500mm f4, just can't force myself to go back to size and weight of 600mm f4.
arbitrage wrote:
I'm struggling with the decision to go ahead and purchase the 600GM. I think the one other benefit other than f/4 is the dual-linear focus motors designed to work with the Sony cameras. I would think the AF performance (already pretty amazing with 200-600/A9) would be even more consistent with the 600 and 400 primes. Also for me, f/4 vs f/6.3 isn't really a big deal but as I try and reach out to 840 and 1200 the f/9 and f/13 become a struggle. Also I haven't been happy with AF consistency at 1200 with the 200-600 but from what I've seen from the 600 owners they can shoot even smaller/fast BIF at 1200mm.
My only hesitation in buying the 600 is the size of the thing. The weight is less of an inconvenience as I spent 6 years with the heavier Canon 600II but lugging that size of a lens (especially with hood) is a PITA. I've spent a day shooting Pius' Canon 600III and just went and drooled over Colin's 600GM yesterday...but I'm having a hard time wanting to go back to that size of a lens after the past couple years shooting PF lenses, 500/4 and now 200-600....Show more →
Get it for your patients..you need that strength for pulling teeth.
I agree with this completely. I would be all in for a 500mm f4, just can't force myself to go back to size and weight of 600mm f4.
It is also why I've been considering the 400GM to have a much shorter length. Weight about the same but just the shorter length would be nice. However, I can certainly make use of 1200mm and don't often find 400mm enough. So the 400GM would end up being a 560 and 800mm lens for me. If the A7RIV had worked better in my hands then I think I'd go for the 400GM as the R4's pixels would be fine with "only" 800mm. On the A9, I certainly would like 1200mm although 800 is often enough.
I might consider a future 500GM if they knock down the weight enough with these newer designs.
I might just have to try another A7RIV and see if I can get it to work for me...maybe mine was a dud as others have reported getting better 2nd copies??
It is also why I've been considering the 400GM to have a much shorter length. Weight about the same but just the shorter length would be nice. However, I can certainly make use of 1200mm and don't often find 400mm enough. So the 400GM would end up being a 560 and 800mm lens for me. If the A7RIV had worked better in my hands then I think I'd go for the 400GM as the R4's pixels would be fine with "only" 800mm. On the A9, I certainly would like 1200mm although 800 is often enough.
I might consider a future 500GM if they knock down the weight enough with these newer designs.
I might just have to try another A7RIV and see if I can get it to work for me...maybe mine was a dud as others have reported getting better 2nd copies??...Show more →
Maybe the answer will come with the release of the A9III or the A7r V.
It is also why I've been considering the 400GM to have a much shorter length. Weight about the same but just the shorter length would be nice. However, I can certainly make use of 1200mm and don't often find 400mm enough. So the 400GM would end up being a 560 and 800mm lens for me. If the A7RIV had worked better in my hands then I think I'd go for the 400GM as the R4's pixels would be fine with "only" 800mm. On the A9, I certainly would like 1200mm although 800 is often enough.
I might consider a future 500GM if they knock down the weight enough with these newer designs.
I might just have to try another A7RIV and see if I can get it to work for me...maybe mine was a dud as others have reported getting better 2nd copies??...Show more →
A7R IV might be worth another try if your expectations are in sync with its capabilities. It will get AF close 100% of time and perfect about 80% with 200-600 and 1.4X in good light. If you can live with that for the extra pixels and crop ability it is a good deal. Looking at Mukesh's work looks to be better AF performance on 600mm GM and presumably on the yet to be created 500mm GM. The 400GM is a no go for me. I am pretty happy with the A7R IV at this point, but did pick up a A9 for those less than good light days.
Thanks Joshua.
The weight is amazing!
I actually used it with my sling for a short hike. Love it
AGeoJO wrote:
Hi Mitesh, it is more not being able to track the target at that narrow depth-of-field that makes me hesitate using the 2X. That kind of my mental barrier but most of it has been removed after I started using the Dot Sight for that. I will definitely put the 2X to good use while in Bosque, starting tomorrow. Thank you!
Hi Kim, nice to see you post here as well. We basically went through the same route to get here, huh? Great images of the Whooping Cranes.
__________________________________________
This is one of the plenty of falcon images captured during the summer months that didn't get posted. I did enhance the sky here... ...Show more →
but most of it has been removed after I started using the Dot Sight for that. I will definitely put the 2X to good use while in Bosque, starting tomorrow. Thank you!
! Can't wait until tomorrow; everything is packed, including that lens and I already checked in 
.