300mm f2.8 + X2 + X1.4 = f8 and amazement!

dougdarter

dougdarter

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Douglas
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Hi,

Still no wildlife around, so I decided to stack some Tele converters on the new 300mm 2.8. I stacked a x2, and a x1.4 giving an actual focal length of 900mm @f8. This works out to a 35mm equivalent of 1350mm@f8.

Given that these pics were taken in poor light, with 2 teleconverters attached, I think the results were very impressive indeed. In fact, If I hadn't shot this set, I wouldn't have thought it possible....

Here is a 'normal' pic of the view from my back garden. In the far background you can see the tower of St Michaels church. It is about a mile away.

DSC_0975-1.jpg


Here is a crop from the 900mm picture of the same tower:

Stmartins1200.jpg


Here's another from the same picture, but cropped tighter:

Stmichaelscrop.jpg


Here is a crop from a picture of some electricity pylon insulators around 400 yards away:

insulator.jpg


Here is the warning sign from the same pylon:

1200sign.jpg


And most impressive of all - some roadworks being carried out on the M74 in Scotland about 8 miles away!! That's actually a different country :D

Motorway1200.jpg
 
Fabulous shots there Doug, especially the one of the roadworks 8 miles away.

Oh... it's 840mm not 900mm... 300 X 2 = 600, x 1.4 = 840 :)
 
Impressive indeed :)
 
theMusicMan said:
Fabulous shots there Doug, especially the one of the roadworks 8 miles away.

Oh... it's 840mm not 900mm... 300 X 2 = 600, x 1.4 = 840 :)
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Correct:D I like rounding up in my favour, and down in somebody elses:lol:
 
Point it at the moon next!
 
I used a 300mm F2.8 IS with a 2x and a 1.4 converter for a long time, I didn't use them stacked but did try it once.. Now I use a 600 F4 IS.

I'd say that the 300 + 2x is a very usable combo, but when stacked the IQ is pretty poor, colour and contrast all suffer dramatically. Its bad enough with a 2x but with both... I'd only use that if I was desperate.

I always found that the initial results were impressive, mainly because you actually get a picture and does actually work, however the moment you start using it in a real scenario it quickly becomes apparent how bad the IQ really is with stacked TCs.

I find the 300 F2.8 + 1.4 one of the best combos for birds in flight.
 
cherryrig said:
Take more!!!!!

:)

Is on a Nikon or Canon camera? Not trying to start a fight just wondering which lenses and stuff he is using :)
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Nikon D2X

Kenko AF Pro 300 teleconverters.
 
timg said:
I used a 300mm F2.8 IS with a 2x and a 1.4 converter for a long time, I didn't use them stacked but did try it once.. Now I use a 600 F4 IS.

I'd say that the 300 + 2x is a very usable combo, but when stacked the IQ is pretty poor, colour and contrast all suffer dramatically. Its bad enough with a 2x but with both... I'd only use that if I was desperate.

I always found that the initial results were impressive, mainly because you actually get a picture and does actually work, however the moment you start using it in a real scenario it quickly becomes apparent how bad the IQ really is with stacked TCs.

I find the 300 F2.8 + 1.4 one of the best combos for birds in flight.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't agree. These are 'real life' photographs. How is it that 'initial' results are impressive, but subsequently, not so?? Does your technique, or the lens combo change after you have taken the inital shots??

IQ, given this set up is, I think remarkably good. Colour/contrast isn't too bad either considering that it is a grey, wet and slightly misty day. Whilst this set up is not in any way perfect, or ideal, if I want to get beyond 800mm, this is the only way I can afford to do it, so I'm more than happy:)

Not all of us can afford 600mm exotica!!
 
These are very impressive, to say the least.

Were you handholding this monster of a set-up? Sure makes me very envious of your technique and results.

Thanks for posting these, and most of all for showing us that something this crazy :cuckoo::cuckoo: is doable.
 
Wail said:
These are very impressive, to say the least.

Were you handholding this monster of a set-up? Sure makes me very envious of your technique and results.

Thanks for posting these, and most of all for showing us that something this crazy :cuckoo::cuckoo: is doable.
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Thanks, but the lens and camera did all the work, I just pressed the shutter button.

The combo was mounted on a CF tripod (very rigid), and on a Wimberley gimbal head.
 
Pains me to say it Doug but that's impressive....on a par with some top class digiscoping.

(First time I've seen a shot of road works with a watermark though ;))

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
Pains me to say it Doug but that's impressive....on a par with some top class digiscoping.

(First time I've seen a shot of road works with a watermark though ;))

Bob
Click to expand...

From a fanatical lightsider, that's a real compliment Bob, thanks:lol:
 
Impressive stuff Doug......:thumbs:
 
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