Has anyone tried the Sigma 2x TC? I'm thinking of getting it to use on my Sigma 70-200 lens for some extra reach and a cheaper alternative to the Bigma.
I had a cheap 70-300mm lens that I sold when I got the 70-200 because i didn't think the difference between 200 and 300mm was that great, So I really want something between 300 and 400mm. I will almost certainly be using it on a tripod all the time with the D2H. I understand that my max aperture will go from 2.8 to 5.6, but I don't mind raising the ISO to compensate. I think that it will still auto focus and expose properly.
This is all because I was in a park trying to shoot some deer the other day for fun, and 200mm just didn't cut it, especially with the lack of cropping room from the D2h. I probably wont do this kind of shooting often and it will most likely be used for landscape more often than not.
So the other questions are, what's it like optically? and, what's the build like? - am I likely to break it by lugging the camera around with it attached to the lens?
Hi to be honest leave the 2x tele alone you lose alot of image quality with it,on the other hand tho buy the 1.4x tele,my 70-200 and 120-300 works just the same with it on as with it off in fact i believe that my 120-300 works better with it on(it seems sharper).
Paul
Have to agree with Paul.GT the 2 x is OK if you are in a fix.
The 1.4 is amazing, I use it on a 70 200 2.8 and 500 4.5 sigmas. On the 70 200 I have to look at the exif data to check if it was on or not its that good.
I have used the 2x on the 70 200 and its not that good. The build quality is very good you will not break it.
FWIW, I have both an older sigma 2x TC and a new sigma 2x DG TC. It seems to me that the newer version is better but still not as good as my older 1.4x TC. The 2x will do okay in a pinch, but I don't think I'd want to try to print real large from it. I've only tried it on my 120-300 though, so it might just be that my ultra long lens technique just really sux.
I've been using the Sigma 70-200 with the 2x converter, and I haven't been too impressed with it. The only time I seem to get sharp images when shooting at 5.6 is when I'm zoomed at the wide end. I would much rather shoot without it that with it.
Well that looks pretty good to me. Perhaps not world class sharpness, but pretty good for an amateur like me. I might give it a go. I doubt I'd use it that often so it's not going to be a critical piece of kit. Might have to wait at least a month first to afford one now.
Just make sure you use a very stable setup and good long lens technique. When your 200mm lens becomes a 400mm it is easy to "get" soft images simply from movement/vibration.
Personally I have only used the 1.4x Sigma and think very highly of it when mated to the 100-300mm f4. It seems to almost literally not affect AF performance or sharpness.
