Archive 2023 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

berimbolo
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

Just curious if anyone has experience with the Sony 400mm 2.8 + the 2.0x TC.

I am looking into purchasing the 600 F4 or 400 F2.8. I cannot afford both in the near term future. The 600mm is a bit more useful for me when Im shooting in my local area, but the 400 is definitely way more useful when traveling to Africa.

If it were easier to rent these lenses in Toronto, I would not purchase either. Unfortunately, I need to drive across the border for a rental.

Sep 18, 2023 at 09:56 AM

Lt.Deadeye
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

I have no experience with either of those but, like you, I'm starting to look around. I've searched the internet and when I reached the end, I've discovered I can find any opinion that will support what I hope to be true. I hope I can marry a 1.4 TC to a 400 GM with no perceivable loss and I've found testimonies to support that.

There seems to be a consensus, however, that there exists a degradation in both sharpness and autofocus performance. The only remaining question is how much are you willing to tolerate. Renting or borrowing them will likely be the best way to determine that.

It would be cool if someone could say something like "my 400mm GM f/2.8 coupled with my 1.4 TC is as sharp as my 135mm f/1.8 GM". That would give me some idea.

Sep 18, 2023 at 03:19 PM

gchappel
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

You may want to look at Arthur Morris's site.
He has written about both in the past.
I THINK- I remember his copy of the 400mm did not do well with the Tc's, but a different copy did.
But I may not be remembering that correctly- go to his site to confirm.
He now loves his 400.
I have both- and they are obviously different in what they do. I am glad I do not have to pick between them.
The 600 can not do f2.8.
The 400 can do 600.
Good luck with your decisions.
gary

Sep 18, 2023 at 04:35 PM

davev
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

A year ago I did a quick test of my 400 with the 1.4, and the 2x tc's.

These are tight crops of the full photos, I don't believe I did anything else to them other than crop and save.
All shots are wide open. (f2.8, f4, f5.6)

I measured out 20 feet, 28 feet and 40 feet to keep the target the same size in the photos.
I see very little difference between the lens alone, and the lens with the 1.4 tc.
The 2x isn't very good in my opinion.

For a larger view, go here:

<<< ;https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300939174_1f55d31735_3k.jpg>>>;


	https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300939174_27fb50e82b_h.jpg

Sep 18, 2023 at 04:39 PM

berimbolo
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

davev wrote:

A year ago I did a quick test of my 400 with the 1.4, and the 2x tc's.

These are tight crops of the full photos, I don't believe I did anything else to them other than crop and save.
All shots are wide open. (f2.8, f4, f5.6)

I measured out 20 feet, 28 feet and 40 feet to keep the target the same size in the photos.
I see very little difference between the lens alone, and the lens with the 1.4 tc.
The 2x isn't very good in my opinion.

For a larger view, go here:

<<< ;https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300939174_1f55d31735_3k.jpg>>>;


	https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300939174_27fb50e82b_h.jpg

Thanks.

Looks quite a bit softer and less contrasty with the 2x.

Sep 18, 2023 at 04:46 PM

aboutthelight
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

I don’t have an exact answer for you. I had the Sony 2x and sold it. I didn’t love the results. I do own the 400 and 600. I actually prefer using the 600 despite it being longer and heavier. I would go for the one you think you will get the most out of. For me it is by far the 600. The 400 I bought here used and it is an extreme luxury purchase as I very rarely use it. I would just ask yourself if you will use 400 and 560 more or 600 and 840. I have never put the 1.4 on my 400 because I have the luxury of owning the 600. But I use the 1.4 on the 600 all the time and I find the results to be excellent. You can check out my IG as most of the shots posted are with the 600 or 600 and 1.4. Hard to tell the difference

Sep 18, 2023 at 09:43 PM

dclark
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC


	https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300939174_27fb50e82b_h.jpg

I think this comparison may be misleading. Even if all the lens+TC are diffraction limited, the image at f/5.6 should be less sharp than the image at f/4, and the f/4 image should be less sharp than the f/2.8 image. Remember that the diffraction limited spot size is proportional to the f/#. What you need to compare is the 400+1.4X at f/4 with the 600 at f/4. That is not a perfect comparison since the focal length is a bit different, but it is the operational comparison you want to make. The second case is the 400+2x at f/5.6 with the 600+1.4x at f/5.6. Again the focal length is a bit different but close. I would say you should not adjust the distance to compensate for the focal length difference if you want an operational comparison. In actual use you take the shot from where you are; if you can move closer with one you can move closer with the other. Crop the images to the same part of the subject to compare the imaging performance.

I think if the comparison is between lens+TC's that are shot at the same f/# and nearly the same focal length, the 2x TC looks pretty good. At least when I had both that was my conclusion. I decided at 560/600 and 800/840 they were essentially identical, but I preferred to have 1200/8 rather than 400/2.8, so I sold the 400/2.8 and kept the 600/4.

Dave

Sep 19, 2023 at 12:06 AM

berimbolo
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sony 400mm F2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TC

aboutthelight wrote:
I don’t have an exact answer for you. I had the Sony 2x and sold it. I didn’t love the results. I do own the 400 and 600. I actually prefer using the 600 despite it being longer and heavier. I would go for the one you think you will get the most out of. For me it is by far the 600. The 400 I bought here used and it is an extreme luxury purchase as I very rarely use it. I would just ask yourself if you will use 400 and 560 more or 600 and 840. I...Show more →

The 600 would definitely get more use from me for day to day shooting. 400 would get used locally if I got better at finding owls, and would be more useful for trips to Africa. I'm going to wait a bit longer before making a purchase, allowing myself to rent both lenses at least once.

Sep 19, 2023 at 05:31 AM


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