canon 300f4L IS with keno 1.4x TC

[wickidwombat]

this guy didn't want his picture taken

[TexPhoto]

Congratulations on shooting 420. (mm)

[pwp]

That's fantastic. It looks like one of my uncles. He didn't want his picture taken either.  Nice result with a 1.4X.

If we still had Karma I'd give you +1.4

Really, the f/4 300is is one of the true sleepers in the Canon L range. It's an absolute bargain.
I regret selling mine when I upgraded to the f/2.8 300is. The f/4 takes up as much room in the bag as a 70-200 f/2.8 and weighs a LOT less. So you tend to take the f/4 with you more often.

There's a solid argument for having both Canon 300's.  Most f/4 300's are pin sharp wide open. I want another one!

Paul Wright

[Wild]

That's some spot on focus right there!  I could've tried that shot 20 times with my T1i and unless I got incredibly lucky, would never have walked away with a photo so sharp and clean.  Time for some new glass I guess (Ignoring my serious 5d mark iii lust)

Anyways just out of curiosity, was body was this on?  And were you using AI Servo? Great shot btw 

[Marsu42]

this guy didn't want his picture taken

Since we're beyond karma and "my gear is better" I hope we can discuss this in cool blood :-) ... so: For this image size, I think the sharpness of the best zone (the hairs) is like than my 70-300L = 480mm without tc. But it's hard to say due to motion blur because 1/500s is the absolute minimum for 420mm, I try to have at least 1/1000 for shots of this kind - for this reason and if I'd have shot this one I'd have scrapped it for bad iq.

Which makes me want to point out again: A very good or even the best tc at lest at decent iso seems to be an aps-c sensor, and even if I ever upgrade to ff I'm likely to keep my crop camera for tele shots.

[wickidwombat]

this guy didn't want his picture taken

Since we're beyond karma and "my gear is better" I hope we can discuss this in cool blood :-) ... so: For this image size, I think the sharpness of the best zone (the hairs) is like than my 70-300L = 480mm without tc. But it's hard to say due to motion blur because 1/500s is the absolute minimum for 420mm, I try to have at least 1/1000 for shots of this kind - for this reason and if I'd have shot this one I'd have scrapped it for bad iq.

Which makes me want to point out again: A very good or even the best tc at lest at decent iso seems to be an aps-c sensor, and even if I ever upgrade to ff I'm likely to keep my crop camera for tele shots.

yeah i hear ya but to clarify a bit
its a crop, not resized.
I didnt scrap it because its still a funny shot
I was shooting mainly with the 600 on a gimbal and the 1D
i just had the 5D2 and the 300+tc on a strap at my side to grab periferal stuff like this
i should have had a higher shutter speed you are absolutely correct

I wish they would release a new version of this lens with the new hybrid 4 stop IS
you can notice the older IS is quite slow and clunky
it's compact size and weight make it awesome and I love the built in lens hood.

[Marsu42]

I didnt scrap it because its still a funny shot

I didn't want to annoy you - but looking at the galleries its interesting to know if the people themselves thinks its a great shot so I can get some comparison for my own shots and gear - thus the questions. Too many "great" pictures of doors or model cars shot with a 5d3 floating around these days :-o

[Caps18]

I'll have to post a picture I took last week of a Koala Bear with my 300mm F/4 with Canon 1.4x (5Dm2) to see how they compare.

[wickidwombat]

That's some spot on focus right there!  I could've tried that shot 20 times with my T1i and unless I got incredibly lucky, would never have walked away with a photo so sharp and clean.  Time for some new glass I guess (Ignoring my serious 5d mark iii lust)

Anyways just out of curiosity, was body was this on?  And were you using AI Servo? Great shot btw 

hehe thanks, it was on a 5Dmk2 center point spot focus just single shot no servo action

[wickidwombat]

I'll have to post a picture I took last week of a Koala Bear with my 300mm F/4 with Canon 1.4x (5Dm2) to see how they compare.

i got some koala ones but the beast was asleep so not the most interesting subject i'll dig one out and post it up for a koala comparison

[Marsu42]

That's some spot on focus right there!  I could've tried that shot 20 times with my T1i and unless I got incredibly lucky, would never have walked away with a photo so sharp and clean.  Time for some new glass I guess (Ignoring my serious 5d mark iii lust)

Fyi: I don't know the t1i af, but I can say that the good ol' 60d af is precise, too (unless your lens if off and you'd need af micro adjustment). The center spot on the 60d is the most sensitive one for lenses of faster than f2.8 - so no real need for ff or 7d bodies just to get a working af on a static object.

[DJL329]

I wish they would release a new version of this lens with the new hybrid 4 stop IS
you can notice the older IS is quite slow and clunky
it's compact size and weight make it awesome and I love the built in lens hood.

+1  When they do release an EF 300mm f/4L IS II, it better still have the built-in hood! 


Here's a wide-open shot from last March, right from my kitchen window:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/43086792@N03/5569715692/#

[wickidwombat]

what I find really strange is people seem prepared to sell this lens for half of what they are new.
I quite often see them for sale between $800 and $1000
I only paid $800 for mine second hand and for the cost there is no cheaper way to hit 300mm or 420mm with TC keep AF and high image quality.

[TexPhoto]

I loaned mine to a friend who took it on a Safari. Called me from Africa to say the lens was broken and would not zoom.

[Marsu42]

I loaned mine to a friend who took it on a Safari. Called me from Africa to say the lens was broken and would not zoom.

... which proves that contrary to popular opinion, even L lenses (or metal bodies) are not indestructible and it's a good idea to have some kind of backup available if your safari relies on it - or you can take three Tamron lenses for the same price and weight of one Canon and have one overrun by your truck, the next one eaten by a lion and still go on shooting :-p