500mm vs 600mm

I'm using the 400mm f/2.8 VR and a 2.0 TC III although I'll probably pick up the newer 1.4 III TC and maybe a 1.7 as the 2.0 degrades the IQ a bit too much. The Nikon 800 is £13,500 which is well overpriced and had me looking at the 600 VR. The superteles had me swithering as to whether to jump over to Canon again but I like the D800 too much.
 
sk66 said:
I have the Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6... It's a very descent lens but it's not any better than my 400 2.8 w/ TC's. Given that and the fact it's bigger, heavier, and slower at wider FL's, I don't use it very much. The problem with the longer primes (besides the narrow FOV) is the fact that they are primes... you have no option of going wider/faster if needed. That's one reason I use the 400 2.8 +TC's.
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Unless you have a selection of lens'
 
sk66 said:
I didn't mean to imply locking it was "entirely wrong" as such... It's not like I'm going to change tripods/heads in the middle of shooting... The ability is there, it serves a purpose; it's just that using it that way is something of a compromise.
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Spent the afternoon focused on a peregrines nest. Didn't want to take a snap of anything but the nest, howling wind, cliff top location. Wimberley firmly locked on one spot all afternoon.
 
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Just been playing with my 70-200 2.8 mk 2 and 1.4 extender, photographing common terns in flight, and with over 500 shots, at 280mm, the af was spot on, and just as fast as the lens without the extender, (I was, unusually playing with all 61 points active) I'd say perhaps 20 were OOF, and my fault-and the tracking was superb against mostly a blue sky with clouds.
Am going to try the 2x tomorrow, weather permitting.
Frankly, surprised with the results.
 
I have found the x2 a bit of a let down after using the1.4.
(On the 70-200 2.8mk2 & mk3 extenders)
 
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Well, hold the front page for tomorrow's report!!!

:eek:
 
Like the first one. Nice shot. Which lens out of interest? Didn't know you could get a 5 or 600 w/a! ;)
 
Was with a 17/40 with a bit fill in flash.
I used the camera to shield my head with this type of shot in mind.
Still ended up giving blood for the cause though.
 
pollie said:
I have found the x2 a bit of a let down after using the1.4.
(On the 70-200 2.8mk2 & mk3 extenders)
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I have not really found the 70 200mm f2.8 VR with the TC14 or TC20 good at all for bird shots ….. with the x2 it was not great - even on a tripod

(Because of the VR) - I thought that it would be as good as the 300mm f4 with the TC14 and more flexible ……. but it came nowhere near in IQ

Saying that, the 70 200mm f2.8 VR is probably my favourite lens for generally photography, especially on an FX body
 
drexyl said:
Was with a 17/40 with a bit fill in flash.
I used the camera to shield my head with this type of shot in mind.
Still ended up giving blood for the cause though.
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Most honourable. At least it wasn't a 'Bonxie'!
 
Been to the SBK Bike racing this weekend and thought that the 300mm would be perfect..............how wrong was I.
I bought tickets for the K1 grandstand and got myself right in the front row but I would guess that I was still 60 to 100 feet away from the bikes and the 300mm just wasn't close enough.
The few pictures that I got are almost 100% crop...........I am now thinking I messed up getting the 300mm and should have waited to get a 600mm.
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BillN_33 said:
I have not really found the 70 200mm f2.8 VR with the TC14 or TC20 good at all for bird shots ….. with the x2 it was not great - even on a tripod

(Because of the VR) - I thought that it would be as good as the 300mm f4 with the TC14 and more flexible ……. but it came nowhere near in IQ

Saying that, the 70 200mm f2.8 VR is probably my favourite lens for generally photography, especially on an FX body
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Not having used Nikon gear I'm not in a position to comment on them but is there a major difference between the Nikon and Canon TC's?

I use the Canon 1.4x & 2x MkIII's on my 70-200 2.8 MkII and a couple of other lenses & find them excellent.

It seems a lot of Nikon users aren't that happy with the Nikon TC's
 
BMD said:
Not having used Nikon gear I'm not in a position to comment on them but is there a major difference between the Nikon and Canon TC's?

I use the Canon 1.4x & 2x MkIII's on my 70-200 2.8 MkII and a couple of other lenses & find them excellent.

It seems a lot of Nikon users aren't that happy with the Nikon TC's
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I am far from unhappy with my Nikon TC's
The TC-20Elll is great with the 300mm f2.8 - giving 600mm @ f5.6 - I hardly notice any IQ difference, with or without

The TC-14Ell performs equally as well on my 300mm f4 - giving 420mm @f5.6

maybe the Nikon TC's have a specialised function than those made by Canon
 
BillN_33 said:
I am far from unhappy with my Nikon TC's
The TC-20Elll is great with the 300mm f2.8 - giving 600mm @ f5.6 - I hardly notice any IQ difference, with or without

The TC-14Ell performs equally as well on my 300mm f4 - giving 420mm @f5.6

maybe the Nikon TC's have a specialised function than those made by Canon
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There definitely is a drop in IQ, you don't get something for nothing.
 
BMD said:
Not having used Nikon gear I'm not in a position to comment on them but is there a major difference between the Nikon and Canon TC's?

I use the Canon 1.4x & 2x MkIII's on my 70-200 2.8 MkII and a couple of other lenses & find them excellent.

It seems a lot of Nikon users aren't that happy with the Nikon TC's
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My Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8VRII +TC-20EIII works well permitting you have good lighting and having a D3/4 Series DSLR seems to help alot also, I have major issues with the D800 and 2x Nikon Converter with back focus, D800 does not like converters at all...The 70-200mm + 2x can produce some decent results (Have a look at my flickr or website if your interested to see ) but honestly can't wait to get a big prime in the coming months so I never have to use the 2x again! I'am not one sided when it comes to Nikon vs Canon etc. I must say the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8IS II + Latest 2x MKIII converter focuses a dam sight Quicker and sharper than the nikon equivalent, My Dad use to use it on a 1DIV and now a 1DX and the results from both are far better than mine as he is hitting a higher hit rate due to the focusing being spot on every time, We have had a play with each others and agree the Canon is far better in terms of IQ and focusing speed with the Converters on, without them the lenses become equal in perfomance IMHO :)
 
BillN_33 said:
I am far from unhappy with my Nikon TC's
The TC-20Elll is great with the 300mm f2.8 - giving 600mm @ f5.6 - I hardly notice any IQ difference, with or without

The TC-14Ell performs equally as well on my 300mm f4 - giving 420mm @f5.6

maybe the Nikon TC's have a specialised function than those made by Canon
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Joeturner11 said:
My Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8VRII +TC-20EIII works well permitting you have good lighting and having a D3/4 Series DSLR seems to help alot also, I have major issues with the D800 and 2x Nikon Converter with back focus, D800 does not like converters at all...The 70-200mm + 2x can produce some decent results (Have a look at my flickr or website if your interested to see ) but honestly can't wait to get a big prime in the coming months so I never have to use the 2x again! I'am not one sided when it comes to Nikon vs Canon etc. I must say the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8IS II + Latest 2x MKIII converter focuses a dam sight Quicker and sharper than the nikon equivalent, My Dad use to use it on a 1DIV and now a 1DX and the results from both are far better than mine as he is hitting a higher hit rate due to the focusing being spot on every time, We have had a play with each others and agree the Canon is far better in terms of IQ and focusing speed with the Converters on, without them the lenses become equal in perfomance IMHO :)
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I do think it's a camera/lens combination issue... I have some lenses/TC that like the D800 better than the D4 and vice-versa... I do think that the D800 is too demanding for some of the combinations...
 
Joeturner11 said:
My Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8VRII +TC-20EIII works well permitting you have good lighting and having a D3/4 Series DSLR seems to help alot also, I have major issues with the D800 and 2x Nikon Converter with back focus, D800 does not like converters at all...The 70-200mm + 2x can produce some decent results (Have a look at my flickr or website if your interested to see ) but honestly can't wait to get a big prime in the coming months so I never have to use the 2x again! I'am not one sided when it comes to Nikon vs Canon etc. I must say the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8IS II + Latest 2x MKIII converter focuses a dam sight Quicker and sharper than the nikon equivalent, My Dad use to use it on a 1DIV and now a 1DX and the results from both are far better than mine as he is hitting a higher hit rate due to the focusing being spot on every time, We have had a play with each others and agree the Canon is far better in terms of IQ and focusing speed with the Converters on, without them the lenses become equal in perfomance IMHO :)
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You will probably still have a use for it, reach is King. What big lens are you buying?
 
Joeturner11 said:
Looking to get either a 400mm or 500mm, and use maybe a 1.4x converter at the most with it
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All 3 TCs and a 400 or 500 is what I'd take, you can never have enough reach. The 400 naked has supposedly the best acuity of the Nikon superteles so should handle the TCs the best although it is a beast of a lens to carry.
 
Laudrup said:
All 3 TCs and a 400 or 500 is what I'd take, you can never have enough reach. The 400 naked has supposedly the best acuity of the Nikon superteles so should handle the TCs the best although it is a beast of a lens to carry.
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When I get the lens optical quality is the main thing I'am working towards so the 1.4x TC will be the max are be putting on the lens, The 400mm f/2.8 is the more likely lens I will going for as the f/2.8 creates better options when shooting sport photography in low light, and the weight side of things is not as issue to me personally...
 
sk66 said:
My D800 does not like the 400mm w/ TC's
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Interesting hearing that as I have read many reports online about the D800 not liking converters at all, I always have found with the 2x on and many reports online share my same issue on big lenses like the 400mm you have that the TC's make the lens back focus on the D800 and not getting sharp results, never had the issue with my old D700 and my current D3 & D2Xs work fine with the 2x, Maybe because of the huge amount of pixels the D800 is causing this? or a well needed firmware issue, who know...
 
I have to use a +15AFMA w/ the 400mm + TC on the D800 and it's still not "critically sharp." I also have to change the AFMA a little if the working distance changes significantly. And the D800 is terribly critical of lens IQ... the pixels are just too small. (It's fine if downsampling and not using DX mode/heavy cropping)

I have 0 AFMA w/ the 120-300 on the D800 (w-w/o TC's).
 
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Joeturner11 said:
When I get the lens optical quality is the main thing I'am working towards so the 1.4x TC will be the max are be putting on the lens, The 400mm f/2.8 is the more likely lens I will going for as the f/2.8 creates better options when shooting sport photography in low light, and the weight side of things is not as issue to me personally..
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Have you used the 400 or 500 yet?
 
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