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I was asked the other day by someone on twitter what I thought about the 600mm f4 VR and my TC 2x III, well I took it for a test run the last couple of days and I've put together a couple of shots for review, and I'll interject some comment about how I found using it as we go on.
Auto-focus
Biggest issue surrounding the use of a 2x TC with a f/4 lens is that the auto-focus is not guaranteed to work. Whilst in good light it is use-able I found that during my couple of days with it that I spent 90% of the time manual focusing, as the lens hunts like crazy.
To combat this you have to engage the ∞-10 m which did improve the speed, it was a waste of time. So if your happy to manual focus then its not a problem.
Conclusion
The 600mm f4 VR is an incredible lens and if you want to get some shots at ridiculous focal lengths, you could use the 2x TC III, but its a bit of a struggle to get good quality, its possible but hope for good light and no wind.
You can find some of the edited shots from the last couple of days on my flickr, which I'll be updating throughout the rest of the day and evening.
Auto-focus
Biggest issue surrounding the use of a 2x TC with a f/4 lens is that the auto-focus is not guaranteed to work. Whilst in good light it is use-able I found that during my couple of days with it that I spent 90% of the time manual focusing, as the lens hunts like crazy.
To combat this you have to engage the ∞-10 m which did improve the speed, it was a waste of time. So if your happy to manual focus then its not a problem.
First photo
Ringed Teal (Captive-Escapee), England / Distance 12 m
Camera - D3s
EXIF DATA
Aperture f/8
ISO 1000
Shutter Speed 1/1250
100% Crop
As you can see the image isn't as sharp as the 600mm alone, but its off use-able quality.
Second Photo
Ringed Teal (Captive-Escapee), England / Distance 12 m
Camera - D3s
EXIF DATA
Aperture f/8
ISO 1000
Shutter Speed 1/1250
100% Crop
Quality increases the closer the subject is in and with the amount of light available.
Third Photo
Great Egret. England / Distance 40+ m
Camera - D5000
EXIF DATA
Aperture f/8
ISO 800
Shutter Speed 1/2000
100% Crop
Quality is starting to reduce at this focal length (1800mm effective), it doesn't focus at all with the D5000, well it does but very very slowly.
Ringed Teal (Captive-Escapee), England / Distance 12 m
Camera - D3s
EXIF DATA
Aperture f/8
ISO 1000
Shutter Speed 1/1250
100% Crop
As you can see the image isn't as sharp as the 600mm alone, but its off use-able quality.
Second Photo
Ringed Teal (Captive-Escapee), England / Distance 12 m
Camera - D3s
EXIF DATA
Aperture f/8
ISO 1000
Shutter Speed 1/1250
100% Crop
Quality increases the closer the subject is in and with the amount of light available.
Third Photo
Great Egret. England / Distance 40+ m
Camera - D5000
EXIF DATA
Aperture f/8
ISO 800
Shutter Speed 1/2000
100% Crop
Quality is starting to reduce at this focal length (1800mm effective), it doesn't focus at all with the D5000, well it does but very very slowly.
Conclusion
The 600mm f4 VR is an incredible lens and if you want to get some shots at ridiculous focal lengths, you could use the 2x TC III, but its a bit of a struggle to get good quality, its possible but hope for good light and no wind.
You can find some of the edited shots from the last couple of days on my flickr, which I'll be updating throughout the rest of the day and evening.
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