Critical View of 70-200 f/2.8 mkii+2xTC III

[sagittariansrock]

I often hear people citing the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 Mark ii with the 2X TC III as a serious option as a wildlife lens and I don't quite agree.

I wonder who says that. Most people recommend and use the 70-200 + TC exclusively when rarely using the FLs over 200mm (such as myself).
Even if the IQ was exactly the same, the 70-200 + TC is an extremely cumbersome combination, as Neuro stated. I lugged it all day at a recent airshow, mostly pointing it upwards, and my arms were sore...
I do love the photos out of it, but then I am not a professional, and my standards are certainly lower than those using the great whites (and yours, most likely). The one below was shot with the combination at the airshow mentioned above, cropped 1:1 from the shot below it. I am happy with this level of IQ and resolution.

 

[meywd]

I got the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II yesterday along with a 2xTC II(the 2xTC III should be better), below is a test shot(just to show the performance) with the center and corner crops respectively:

400mm f/8.0 1/500 ISO400 (no PP only the default LR sharpness of 25 applied)

 

[meywd]

I did some more today, tbh i am not sure if its me, the lens or the camera, but i think there is an AF problem, anyway these are the best 2 out of 8, you will find each and a crop of the center below, all raw converted to JPEG with LR :

1. 350mm f/8.0 1/1250 ISO640
2. 342mm f/8.0 1/1250 ISO640

 

[meywd]

To compare, here is one without the 2X TC II:

200mm f/2.8 1/500 ISO 100

 

[Marsu42]

I did some more today, tbh i am not sure if its me, the lens or the camera, but i think there is an AF problem

Looks like a combination of backfocus (did you check for afma?) and motion blur to me. Getting an insect like this in focus with a tele lens is very difficult, and the result with a tc won't overwhelm you in any case. If you are interested in these scenes, think about getting a macro lens like the 100L or 180L (for more reach).

To compare, here is one without the 2X TC II:

Maybe or lens shake (did you wait a moment to let ths IS swing in?), or motion blur - 1/500s is not that fast on 200mm * 1,6x crop. But generally this is about what you get after heavy cropping like this, remember your crop sensor already uses only part of the lens' glass.

 

[Hjalmarg1]

the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 Mark ii with the 2X TC III combo is a serious option but the image quality is compromised. I tried with the 2X TC II and 2X TC III , and IQ is much better with the later.

The images are acceptable but those from the 400 f/5.6 are much better. What you get is more flexibility with the combo and save some money. If you want the ultimate image you have to go with the primes, the 200-400L or the latest versions of cheaper super telezooms (e.g. Sigma, Tamron or hopefully new 100-400L II)

 

[meywd]

I did some more today, tbh i am not sure if its me, the lens or the camera, but i think there is an AF problem

Looks like a combination of backfocus (did you check for afma?) and motion blur to me. Getting an insect like this in focus with a tele lens is very difficult, and the result with a tc won't overwhelm you in any case. If you are interested in these scenes, think about getting a macro lens like the 100L or 180L (for more reach).

To compare, here is one without the 2X TC II:

Maybe or lens shake (did you wait a moment to let ths IS swing in?), or motion blur - 1/500s is not that fast on 200mm * 1,6x crop. But generally this is about what you get after heavy cropping like this, remember your crop sensor already uses only part of the lens' glass.

i think there is some back focus, but i am using the 600D so no AFMA, motion blur maybe both are moving fast, i had the 100mm non L macro its a great lens, but i switched it for the 20-700 f2.8 IS II - along with other lenses - maybe will get the 100L or 180L later, i was searching for birds and found this fella near my feet.

as for lens shake, i found out that @ 1250 IS was working against me, the bird shot was with IS on, but the insect was with IS off, you are right about the speed and cropping, i only did this for a quality test, i don't see a huge difference in IQ, yes there is difference, but i see the 2x TC II usable with the 70-200 f2.8 IS II, and maybe on the 5D III it will be better.

 

[meywd]

the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 Mark ii with the 2X TC III combo is a serious option but the image quality is compromised. I tried with the 2X TC II and 2X TC III , and IQ is much better with the later.

The images are acceptable but those from the 400 f/5.6 are much better. What you get is more flexibility with the combo and save some money. If you want the ultimate image you have to go with the primes, the 200-400L or the latest versions of cheaper super telezooms (e.g. Sigma, Tamron or hopefully new 100-400L II)

you are right, unfortunately no budget for the primes, maybe later will add one of the cheap zooms, especially the 100-400L II if the IQ with TCs is good.

 

[AlanF]

maybe for indoor sports, if 200mm is not enough, instead of buying a new 100-400 and a 135 you can stretch your Budget to get a 300 2.8 IS, for maybe 3000-3500 this should be available used.

Thats a fantastic lens, with great AF and better you crop a Little than have 2 stops more ISO and worse AF on a 5.6 zoom. The newer 300 2.8 ii would bave even better IQ and AF, and most important better IS, but for sports when you can use a tripod this is maybe not woth 2x the price

It's worth twice the price! The IS and performance with TCs are worth every penny.

 

[infared]

How about getting the 1.4x as a compromise and positioning better. That is what I use with my 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II.
That will give you the option to get closer and retain a wider f/stop with better contrast and sharpness. I would want a prime tele at 400mm. So I would use the first combo and the save for a new or used prime in the future.

 

[meywd]

Here is one taken with the 5D III w/ 70-200 2.8 IS II + 2xTC II, import and export with no changes

360mm f/5.6 1/2000 ISO6400

 

[Marsu42]

Here is one taken with the 5D III w/ 70-200 2.8 IS II + 2xTC II, import and export with no changes

Ugh. That's about why I stopped "birding" with my inadequate gear, in lower light and/or when the animal is far away as the results have a distinctive "90s mobile phone" look to them :-\ ... it's important never to tell that this was made using €5000+ gear

 

[meywd]

Here is one taken with the 5D III w/ 70-200 2.8 IS II + 2xTC II, import and export with no changes

Ugh. That's about why I stopped "birding" with my inadequate gear, in lower light and/or when the animal is far away as the results have a distinctive "90s mobile phone" look to them :-\ ... it's important never to tell that this was made using €5000+ gear

hahahaha you are right, a 600mm f/4 would be great, but still i was hand-holding it and that's why i went to the 1/2000 shutter speed, plus i am not skilled enough to track the bird and was afraid it will fly away immediately, if i was setting and waiting i would have used 1/400-1/600 which would allow a lower ISO, and if i was hiding the bird would be closer to me, anyway i am still starting so though it might not be great i still like what i get, this one with same settings but edited, the flying one was not the one tracked so he is not in focus, but if i didn't have 1/2000 he would be blurry.

 

[Marsu42]

and if i was hiding the bird would be closer to me

"Birding" is indeed a bit like being lucky at hide and seek, and that's one problem: You can take an "ok" shot with your mighty expensive gear, and then the next guy with a Rebel kit lens happens to walk up right next to the bird, taking a better shot...

but if i didn't have 1/2000 he would be blurry.

... and that's the other problem: Even if you have a tracking camera (I wouldn't even bother with my 6d), "sitting duck" in lower light has an *entirely* different iso requirement than "in flight". With IS on and snapping a few frames, you can high iq shots w/o movement. When something starts moving at higher speed, you indeed need 1/1500 (horses) or at least 1/2000 (bif), and the iso value goes through the roof.

 

[meywd]

and if i was hiding the bird would be closer to me

"Birding" is indeed a bit like being lucky at hide and seek, and that's one problem: You can take an "ok" shot with your mighty expensive gear, and then the next guy with a Rebel kit lens happens to walk up right next to the bird, taking a better shot...

but if i didn't have 1/2000 he would be blurry.

... and that's the other problem: Even if you have a tracking camera (I wouldn't even bother with my 6d), "sitting duck" in lower light has an *entirely* different iso requirement than "in flight". With IS on and snapping a few frames, you can high iq shots w/o movement. When something starts moving at higher speed, you indeed need 1/1500 (horses) or at least 1/2000 (bif), and the iso value goes through the roof.

Yeah and 1/2000 is only the starting point , at least with better light the pictures are not bad, until i get a dream lens

260mm 1/2000 f/5.6 ISO 1000, cropped and processed