Messages

31

Lenses / Re: Kenko TC and AF at F8

« on: October 14, 2012, 07:27:22 PM »

After reading Authur Morris blog, I went for the Kenko 1.4 Teleplus for use with my 70-300L f4-5.6 and Canon 5D3.  I'm happy to report that the 5D3 retains all 61 points AF.  The AF at F8 isn't bad at all and the IQ is useable.  I have also a 300F2.8 + 1.4X and 2X, but for a walk around lens, the 70-300L is much lighter and the Kenko 1.4X does a pretty good job.  Will test some more in the weeks to come.  The attached photos are shot at 1/2500, f8, ISO 1250, 420mm.  The focus is spot on as in the second photo.

32

Lenses / Re: Canon 200mm 2.8 l ii: what's the deal

« on: October 01, 2012, 09:27:44 PM »

I traded the 200f2.8 II for a 70-300L and don't regret it.  The lens is pretty sharp under good light, but under low light, I found it was tough without IS, so the non IS negated the f2.8 for me.  It's very light. Which is great or carrying around.  I found, however, because it's so light, I kept forgetting that it is a 200mm lens and so etimes got blurry picture.  I'm pretty happy itch my 70-300L under good light and appreciate the extra reach in a small light weight package.

33

Canon General / Re: Do you feel your photos have improved proportionally to the cost of your gear?

« on: August 30, 2012, 03:53:40 PM »

I'm new to photography and I started out with a T3i and Canon 100-400mm back in November 2011.  I shoot mainly wildlife: wolves, bears, birds, and whatever that moves.  I could get sharp images up to 300mm, but couldn't seem to get equally sharp images at 400mm with the 100-400mm.  I bought a 300mm f2.8 IS Mark I, a 1.4X II and a 2.0 II TCs, and a 5D3 in April 2012.   I saw my photo quality improved dramatically with the new equipment.  The T3i + 100-400mm cost me about $2,200, the 5D3 + 300mm f2.8 (used) + 1.4X Tc + 2X TC ~ $7500.  I'd say I got my money worth > 3X improvements . 

However, now that I know I can take sharp images, I suspect I can go back to the T3i and 100-400mm and get much better quality images than I used to, so may be not 3X improvements .  But I enjoy photography a lot more and have no regret for spending that kind of money on new gear

34

Lenses / Canon500mm f4 IS II - should I order from Camera Canada

« on: August 26, 2012, 04:39:57 PM »

Camera Canada lists the canon 500mm f4 IS II at $8,999 vs others at $10,999, will accept pre-order.  Has anyone bought high end equipment from this merchant before?  Is the lens under warranty by Canon?

35

Lenses / Re: 500mm f/4.5 focusing help?!?!?

« on: August 17, 2012, 12:53:54 AM »

The 5D3 has excellent image quality at high ISO.  I regularly shoot at ISO 1000 so that my shutter speed is above 1/2000.  If your feeder is sharp and the bird itself is blur, I would think the shutter speed is too low or your AF is off.  How did you set the AF?  Try Focus priority instead of shutter release priority and shoot at F8 instead of wide open at f4.5. 

36

Lenses / Re: 70-300L or 70-200 2.8 IS II?

« on: August 14, 2012, 04:18:11 PM »

I have the 70-300L and love it, very sharp, light weight, IS is great.  Not a bad lens even indoor when paired with the 5D3. You can bump the ISO up a stop or so to compensate for the smaller aperture (I think it is F5 at 200mm) and the IS allows you to shoot at reasonably low speed.  and it is shorter (when retracted) and cheaper too.  The draw back is it does not accept the TCs whereas you can add TCs on the 70-200 to reach up to 400mm.

37

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: TC or Crop? Is there a consensus? Please help!

« on: August 13, 2012, 09:45:18 AM »

The 100-400 is not that sharp at 400mm, so adding TCs and losing 1 or 2 stops will hurt.  But I have seen people claiming that the 100-400 with the Kenko 1.4x is very useable in good light.  You just need to check it out yourself I guess.

38

Lenses / Re: How is the hand-holdability of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L II IS USM lens (+TC)?

« on: August 05, 2012, 02:55:49 PM »

here is a BIF shot of a black skimmer with 5d3, 300 f2.8 I IS, 2X II, 1/1600, f11, ISO 1000, cropped (forgot how much), handheld.  Its useable for sure, but the AF is slow and you need to give it time to acquire focus.  once focus is acquired, tracking seems fine.

39

Lenses / Re: How is the hand-holdability of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L II IS USM lens (+TC)?

« on: August 05, 2012, 12:52:33 PM »

I had the 100-400 in the past but sold it to get the 300 f2.8.  The AF of the 300 f2.8 is superb.  Adding 1.4x is no issue either.  Yes, cropping is just a fact of life for BIF at 400 mm even with a cropped sensor.  The 300f2.8 plus 1.4x is very sharp even at 100 percent.

40

Lenses / Re: How is the hand-holdability of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L II IS USM lens (+TC)?

« on: August 05, 2012, 12:27:54 PM »

I shoot with a 5D3, have not tested how many stops the IS is useable, but don't think the TC itself affects IS other than the increased focal length.  AF is noticeable slower with the combo 300 version 1 and 2x II, so The challenge for BIF is focus more than hold ability.  Dropping to the 1.4x solves the focus issue and since you are experienced with tracking BIF with the 100-400, I think you will be amazed at the quality of the 300 v2 plus 1.4x III.  When I have a chance I will post some BIF photos with either the 1.4x or 2x.

41

Lenses / Re: How is the hand-holdability of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L II IS USM lens (+TC)?

« on: August 05, 2012, 11:56:49 AM »

I have the 300 f2.8 I IS and regular shoot it with a 1.4x or 2X TC hand held.  Its a bit heavy if you have to walk a couple of miles with this combo, but it is doable for me.  The attachment is a portrait of a black bear in Yellowstone at 600mm, 1/200 sec, handheld.  The iS is great.  So the answer is it depends on your level of fitness, how far you need to walk, what tele photos you have used in the past, etc. In general, you will find many people amateur like me or pros who say this lens is very handholdable.

42

Lenses / Re: Going full frame and needing more reach. Suggestions please?

« on: June 02, 2012, 12:58:50 AM »

The 1.4x III should work just fine with your 70-200 f2.8 II.   I have the 5d3 and 300 mm f2.8 and French pair it with a 1.4x II ( I hear the 1.4x III will AF faster) and love the combo.  I shoot primarily wildlife.  IQ with the 1.4x is great and AF is fast enough for birds in flight.  The 2x would slow down the AF significantly and Useable for static or slow moving animals at a distance.

43

Lenses / Re: 100-400mm vs. 70-300L for basically the same exact price used? Which one?

« on: May 26, 2012, 07:28:42 PM »

I too had a100 -400 and I could get sharp pictures up to 300mm, but not at 400mm.  May be it is just me, but I traded it in for the 70-300 for a walk around teleconverter zoom and a 300 f2.8 plus 1.4x and 2x for longer focal lengths.  Just got back from 3 day at Yellowstone and these combos worked well for me.  Most of the time, I shot with the 300f2.8 and the 1.4x or 2x with images of bears, pronghorn, coyotes, birds, and a few wolves.  For closer range I used the 70-300.  The 70-300 is sharper than the 100-400 up to 300 mm and the 300mmf2.8 plus 1.4x is. Just a fantastic lens.  I could shoot handheld, from vehicle, or with a tripod for longer distance work.  Today I walked around the local park and shot a Northern Harriet at 25 yards with the 70-300 and was very pleased with it.  I had a harder time getting similar results with the 100-400 at the same distance.

44

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: May 20, 2012, 02:35:12 AM »

California Condor, Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, California, Canon 5D3, 300L f2.8 IS + 2X II @ f8, 1/1600, ISO 1000.  The California Condor is an endangered species with only about 250 birds in the wild.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5d Mark iii noise at 1600

« on: May 12, 2012, 04:51:23 PM »

I have been shooting at ISO in the 1000 - 3200 range and did not notice noise is a problem.

The Coyote photos were at ISO = 2000 and the Rabit at 100% crop was taken at ISO = 3200