Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 + 2.0x teleconverter softness?

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Toukakoukan

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Been having a play around with this setup and I don't know whether it's something I'm doing but I don't seem to be getting the clarity I'd like

Looks ok there, but if you click on it to get the hi-res version and then zoom in, it's almost as if there's a haze over the whole shot...
I'm shooting in RAW and then importing into lightroom and letting it apply its defaults.
 
it does look a little soft.

The 2.0 x tc is noted as being inferior to the 1.4 in the sharpness stakes.

I notice you were at 140mm with the tc fitted....did you try the lens at 140mm without the TC fitted as a comparison ?
 
Yep - that's typical of what to expect from a x2 I'm afraid.
 
If this is a Canon EF2XII then it's a damn good shot!

It's pretty much a useless lump on anything except a long prime.

Bob
 
I'd have guessed at it being Sigma's 2x tc

Matty had the 2x with his 70-200 and was less than impressed with it, iirc he changed it for the 1.4x


I also have the sigma 70-200 and the sigma 1.4x, I find it's soft at the wide end but it's quite sharp beyond 5.6
 
I don't think that is anything less than I'd expect from a t-converter.... :( They are only magnifying the central part of the image so any aberrations of the original optic will also be magnified. Welcome to the world of teleconverters..... !
 
chuckles said:
I don't think that is anything less than I'd expect from a t-converter....
Click to expand...


Sorry Barry but as quoted by Canon Bob they work a treat on long primes with very little (if any) loss in PQ at all..:p

Now if you are talking about the use on zoom lenses then thats a different story..;)
 
I agree with you Tim .... (and even conceded) with primes they are better than with zooms..... but at the end of the day, they introduce problems all of their own. You're putting extra glass in the optical path and elements that magnify the central image - it most be conceded they are a compromise, between performance and value for money.

If you're willing to put up with a reduction in some areas of performance then they work just fine. I've never had that much success and was always disappointed so I'm probably speaking with sour grapes..... having said that, I had a Kenko 2x converter (I think) with a Zenza Bronica S2a which weemed to perform quite well but that's 6x6 cm!
 
Was it handheld and what shutter speed was used as with crop factor you probably have a focal length of over 600mm (not knowing what body you are using) and that could lose you sharpness.
 
digitalfailure said:
it does look a little soft.

The 2.0 x tc is noted as being inferior to the 1.4 in the sharpness stakes.

I notice you were at 140mm with the tc fitted....did you try the lens at 140mm without the TC fitted as a comparison ?
Click to expand...
No, I'm going to do some comparison shots with/without at some point.

It is the sigma converter, was a tripod shot and 1/800th anyhow!

Kinda dissapointed in a way as for over £600 worth of gear it's a bit... less than I'd hoped for.
I guess I'll use the 70-200mm nude for most of the time and pull out the teleconverter when I really have to...
 
stick with it m8

I only put the TC on my sigma if i need to go over 200, and you can get some decent images with the set up.

One other Q, the exif shows you were in manual, was the focus manual too?
Also flowers aren't the best test of sharpness out in the open, even the slightest breeze will move them and give a soft image...or the vibration through the camera as the mirror rises etc.

I would suggest comparison shots with and without the TC on a static subject with strong contrast and the mirror locked up. Make sure the shots use the same shutter speed and aperture.
 
I tested a 2x converter on my Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (Nikon D80) & the images were unacceptably soft. I also couldn't stand the endless focus hunting. As has been said, if I were using a prime lens for static pictures that may have been different, but I rarely take that kind of image.
 
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