I’m giving serious thought to selling my Sigma 100-400 and Tamron 25-200 and going with the combo in the subject for my telephoto needs (I have a 20-70 for the wide end). Less weight, faster AF, no vignetting, and more space in my bag compared to the 100-400, and hopefully much better image quality than the 25-200.
Anyone using the 70-200 and 2x combo and want to share their thoughts? Most of my use will be landscape and abstract nature photography, but I occasionally like to do bird and wildlife photos too. Not worried about the doubling of aperture with the teleconvertor as I’m usually shooting at F8 or higher anyway.
Guessing I will only be using the 2x about 20% of the time FWIW. These will be mounted to an A7CR, but I’m not concerned about the size and weight there as I’m on a tripod usually or use the included add on grip for the A7CR.
Related, any recommendations for a lens collar for the 70-200 that has arca compatibility.
Not sure what your image quality expectations are, but it's certainly diminished from the incredible sharpness of the 70-200 2.8GMII (one of the sharpest I've ever used). So much so, for me anyways, I'd just to crop (on the a1 or a7r5). AF is slower, as expected and probably even more so on an older body. If you want birds in flight, it will be much more challenging. I loved my 100-400 and 200-500 sony lenses and would use those over a teleconverter on the 70-200. However, without knowing your level of pickiness, it may or may not meet your expectations.
I think the general consensus is that the 1.4x teleconverter gives up very little from the bare 70-200 gmii and performs exceptionally well, while the 2x does shave a bit of sharpness/contrast/focusing speed - remaining very very good, but a notch below the bare lens.
Personally, I shoot the 70-200mm gmii on an a7rV primarily, and usually leave off my 1.4x teleconverter because cropping on the 61mp sensor (like the a7cr) is so easy. Having said that, if using a lower MP camera I would probably put on the teleconverter more often.
You may be aware, but Viltrox also just released a 2x teleconverter that appears to be ~on par with the Sony for about half the price.
@Tarekith, are you asking about the 70-200mm f/4 Macro G II or 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II ?
I use the f/4 Macro G II lens with the 1.4x TC and it is fantastic. There is no degradation in image quality or AF speed. Getting true 1:1 magnification with the 2x TC could be useful though. 0.7x is more than I ever need. My feelings on 2x TC's in general are mixed. It usually feels like I can do just as well by cropping a wider image as shooting directly with a 2x TC.
jchapell wrote:
You may be aware, but Viltrox also just released a 2x teleconverter that appears to be ~on par with the Sony for about half the price.
I did not realize that, so thanks. Part of what is driving this decision is B&H is offering me a deal on the 70-200 and 2x convertor combo that makes the Sony convertor only slightly more than the Viltrox it looks like. So I think give the small difference in price with the deal, I'd rather stick with Sony. Good to know about the Viltrox either way though in case I take too long to decide and miss this offer.
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jeffbuzz wrote:
@Tarekith@, are you asking about the 70-200mm f/4 Macro G II or 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II ?
I use the f/4 Macro G II lens with the 1.4x TC and it is fantastic. There is no degradation in image quality or AF speed. Getting true 1:1 magnification with the 2x TC could be useful though. 0.7x more than I ever need. My feelings on 2x TC's in general are mixed. It usually feels like I can do just as well by cropping a wider image as shooting directly with a 2x TC.
I'm asking about the F4 macro 70-200, I have no interest in the GMII as it's too heavy and large for my uses (plus cost). Thanks for your thoughts on the 1.4TC, I was hoping someone here had actual hands on experience with some form of this combo instead of just speculation (I'm good at that already! )
While I agree about cropping versus TC (it's why I went with the A7CR instead of A7CII, I even have the video record button assigned to APSC crop I use it so often), I'm still interested in the 2x TC because then I can effectively get 600mm if I need it via cropping. I find I use that now and then already with my Sigma 100-400 and the lower resolution has never been an issue. If I was only going to shoot at 400mm, then yes I would likely just forgo the TC and keep it simple.
jchapell wrote:
I think the general consensus is that the 1.4x teleconverter gives up very little from the bare 70-200 gmii and performs exceptionally well, while the 2x does shave a bit of sharpness/contrast/focusing speed - remaining very very good, but a notch below the bare lens.
Personally, I shoot the 70-200mm gmii on an a7rV primarily, and usually leave off my 1.4x teleconverter because cropping on the 61mp sensor (like the a7cr) is so easy. Having said that, if using a lower MP camera I would probably put on the teleconverter more often.
You may be aware, but Viltrox also just released a 2x teleconverter that appears to be ~on par with the Sony for about half the price. ...Show more →
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jeffbuzz wrote:
@Tarekith@, are you asking about the 70-200mm f/4 Macro G II or 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II ?
I use the f/4 Macro G II lens with the 1.4x TC and it is fantastic. There is no degradation in image quality or AF speed. Getting true 1:1 magnification with the 2x TC could be useful though. 0.7x more than I ever need. My feelings on 2x TC's in general are mixed. It usually feels like I can do just as well by cropping a wider image as shooting directly with a 2x TC.
+1.
But, of course, one can also use the 2X TC with a high resolution sensor and THEN crop if you wish.
My own experience with both the 70-200 II f4 and the 70-200 II f2.8 is, as stated above, you give up nothing noticeable with the 1.4TC and very little with the 2X TC. Both zooms take the TCs well. I don't shoot BIF, but I haven't noticed AF differences with what I do shoot (people, animals, landscapes).
I was not happy with the performance of the 2x on my 70-200/2.8GMII, noticeably softer and more chromatic aberration. So I stuck to the 1.4x which retains top image quality, and cropping to 420mm when needed still leaves 26mp. Could certainly crop even more for web use.
Like others have said on here, I as well use the 70-200 f4 g ii macro lens with a 1.4x tc and love the image quality that I get out of it and I take landscapes using my Sony a7rii. I don't shoot birds so I can't tell you how af would perform in those situations.
Just wanted to follow up and thank everyone for sharing their experiences with this combo. Received the 70-200 yesterday and I'm very happy with the quality I get out of it on it's own and with the TC. It was pretty liberating having a tele lens that gives me effectively up to 600mm on my A7CR and still fits in a 6L sling (attached to the body even).
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