RF 100-500mm vs EF 100-400mm II vs 400mm DO II on R5

[AlanF]

Iv'e done the crops, and they are interesting. First, close up at 5.8m from a £10 note. I have cropped the left hand side with Britannia and upscaled the 500 1.4x with Gigapixel (500mm x 1.4) and compared with the 100-500+ 1.4xTC (700mm). The analog upscaling with the extender does eke out a little more detail, but loses acutance (edge sharpness), and I am not sure I would recommend it.

 

[AlanF]

At longer distances, it's a different story, using that damn chart. At 19m with the R5 again. Top, 100-500mm bare; next upscaled 1.4x with Topaz Gigapixel; then 1.4xTC on the 100-500mm TC at 700mm; bottom, the 700mm upscaled 1.4x. The extender allows the 2.8 circles to be resolved and finer spaced lines to be resolved. The extender could be worth it an a number of circumstances. You'll need to download to compare properly.

 

[usern4cr]

At longer distances, it's a different story, using that damn chart. At 19m with the R5 again. Top, 100-500mm bare; next upscaled 1.4x with Gigigapixel; then 1.4xTC on the 100-500mm TC at 700mm; bottom, the 700mm upscaled 1.4x. The extender allows the 2.8 circles to be resolved and finer spaced lines to be resolved. The extender could be worth it an a number of circumstances. You'll need to download to compare properly.

View attachment 194558 View attachment 194559 View attachment 194560 View attachment 194561

Thanks, AlanF. I was only able to download the bottom image, and not the top 3. I don't know why.

 

[AlanF]

Thanks, AlanF. I was only able to download the bottom image, and not the top 3. I don't know why.

Right click on the image on a Windows machine or Control click on a Mac and you should be able to download. If it doesn't work I'll PM you.

 

[usern4cr]

Right click on the image on a Windows machine or Control click on a Mac and you should be able to download. If it doesn't work I'll PM you.

Thanks - I got all 4 downloaded. It's pretty clear that the R5 & 100-500 at that distance doesn't have the pixels to resolve the smallest lines, and moire starts taking effect. Upsizing can't fix what's already gone moire. Adding the 1.4 TC gives it enough enlargement so moire doesn't happen much, and then the upsizing does a good job on it since it didn't moire out to start with.

So it looks like a very clear winner for using the RF 1.4X with the 100-500L lens over just cropping & upsizing. I guess I should consider a RF 1.4X TC now.

By the way, do you have a favorite Arca-Swiss adapter plate (with anti-rotation pin) for the 100-500K lens foot? I've been avoiding using the lens ring & foot, but with a 1.4X TC in line I think I'd be a lot safer using it. (It sure would have been nice if Canon had Arca-Swiss grooves in their lens foot like my Olympus 300mm f4 lens had)

 

[AlanF]

Thanks - I got all 4 downloaded. It's pretty clear that the R5 & 100-500 at that distance doesn't have the pixels to resolve the smallest lines, and moire starts taking effect. Upsizing can't fix what's already gone moire. Adding the 1.4 TC gives it enough enlargement so moire doesn't happen much, and then the upsizing does a good job on it since it didn't moire out to start with.

So it looks like a very clear winner for using the RF 1.4X with the 100-500L lens over just cropping & upsizing. I guess I should consider a RF 1.4X TC now.

By the way, do you have a favorite Arca-Swiss adapter plate (with anti-rotation pin) for the 100-500K lens foot? I've been avoiding using the lens ring & foot, but with a 1.4X TC in line I think I'd be a lot safer using it. (It sure would have been nice if Canon had Arca-Swiss grooves in their lens foot like my Olympus 300mm f4 lens had)

Sorry, I rarely use a tripod and carry my cameras on a BlackRapid strap with hooks into the camera base and tripod foot sockets.

 

[YuengLinger]

By the way, do you have a favorite Arca-Swiss adapter plate (with anti-rotation pin) for the 100-500K lens foot? I've been avoiding using the lens ring & foot, but with a 1.4X TC in line I think I'd be a lot safer using it. (It sure would have been nice if Canon had Arca-Swiss grooves in their lens foot like my Olympus 300mm f4 lens had)

Kirk has one, but maybe not with a pin: https://www.kirkphoto.com/rf-100-500mm-f-4-5-7-1-l-is-usm.html

I wonder if that front raised part, the stopping block, would interfere with using the lens photo as a handle.

 

[usern4cr]

Kirk has one, but maybe not with a pin: https://www.kirkphoto.com/rf-100-500mm-f-4-5-7-1-l-is-usm.html

Thanks, YuengLinger. The only one I know with a proper anti-rotate pin is the RRS B26, for $49. I'm really surprised that more of this type haven't been made.

 

[YuengLinger]

Thanks, YuengLinger. The only one I know with a proper anti-rotate pin is the RRS B26, for $49. I'm really surprised that more of this type haven't been made.

I never saw that one. Is the anti-rotation pin a standard distance from the bolt? Is that how you know it will fit?

On my 100-400, I used the B82. It has a ridge that helps prevent twisting. And I am using the same on my 70-200.

Do you know if the 100-500 has the same shape and size as the 70-200?

 

[usern4cr]

I never saw that one. Is the anti-rotation pin a standard distance from the bolt? Is that how you know it will fit?

On my 100-400, I used the B82. It has a ridge that helps prevent twisting. And I am using the same on my 70-200.

Do you know if the 100-500 has the same shape and size as the 70-200?

The RF 70-200L & and DO 800mm f11 have the same pin distance.
The RF 100-500L made it 1 mm longer to the pin for some unknown reason! - DOH!
I wouldn't have believed this if you hadn't asked, and I measured them with a micrometer.
Friggin' Canon - what were you thinking?!
I had assumed the RRS B26 would fit all 3, but now I know it can't and would have to ask for exact measurements before buying anything.

(and my previous Olympus 300mm f4 pro lens has the Arca-Swiss grooves on the tripod foot bottom and is just laughing at me now!)

 

[YuengLinger]

The RF 70-200L & and DO 800mm f11 have the same pin distance.
The RF 100-500L made it 1 mm longer to the pin for some unknown reason! - DOH!
I wouldn't have believed this if you hadn't asked, and I measured them with a micrometer.
Friggin' Canon - what were you thinking?!
I had assumed the RRS B26 would fit all 3, but now I know it can't and would have to ask for exact measurements before buying anything.

(and my previous Olympus 300mm f4 pro lens has the Arca-Swiss grooves on the tripod foot bottom and is just laughing at me now!)

Just to let you know, I am using the RRS B-82 plate on the rf 100-500mm. It feels very secure on the foot. I'm glad, because that plate was just sitting in a drawer since I sold my 100-400mm last year.

 

[usern4cr]

Just to let you know, I am using the RRS B-82 plate on the rf 100-500mm. It feels very secure on the foot. I'm glad, because that plate was just sitting in a drawer since I sold my 100-400mm last year.

Thanks for letting me know, YuengLinger!

 

[BadBird]

I did get the Kirk LP-71 for my RF 100-500, and the raised portion is curved around the toe of the foot so rotation is impossible. It works fine for me as a carrying handle and shooting grip when mounted (I have large hands), with the added benefit of a QD socket for a mil-spec sling. I did not get the Lens Support Bracket that mounts on the raised portion - seemed like overkill on such a light lens, and would foul the sleeve on my LensCoat. Thanks for the link.

 

[usern4cr]

I did get the Kirk LP-71 for my RF 100-500, and the raised portion is curved around the toe of the foot so rotation is impossible. It works fine for me as a carrying handle and shooting grip when mounted (I have large hands), with the added benefit of a QD socket for a mil-spec sling. I did not get the Lens Support Bracket that mounts on the raised portion - seemed like overkill on such a light lens, and would foul the sleeve on my LensCoat. Thanks for the link.

THANK YOU for the post, BadBird! I've been wanting to get a AS adapter for my 100-500, and now I can!
Question: What is the "lens support bracket" you're talking about?

 

[usern4cr]

I did get the Kirk LP-71 for my RF 100-500, and the raised portion is curved around the toe of the foot so rotation is impossible. It works fine for me as a carrying handle and shooting grip when mounted (I have large hands), with the added benefit of a QD socket for a mil-spec sling. I did not get the Lens Support Bracket that mounts on the raised portion - seemed like overkill on such a light lens, and would foul the sleeve on my LensCoat. Thanks for the link.

Do you know of a similar (cut to fit, or stop rotation somehow) AS adapter for the RF 800mm f11? I need to get one for it, too.

 

[BadBird]

Follow the link YuengLinger posted on 15 Dec and there is an "ad" for the Lens Support Bracket on the bottom of the page for the LP-71.

I don't have a great solution for the RF 800 yet; it really needs a mount with a rotation stop pin that will also provide a little bit of height. The mounting surface is hidden under the LensCoat section that protects the switches, and I want to keep all of the components of that on since the 800 isn't weather sealed. I just punched a hole in the neoprene over the screw hole and put a generic plate on it using loctite on the screw. It provides very low, but adequate support on a ball mount on my LensSack Pro. It works better on a Wimberley WH-200 where you can adjust height.

 

[usern4cr]

Follow the link YuengLinger posted on 15 Dec and there is an "ad" for the Lens Support Bracket on the bottom of the page for the LP-71.

I don't have a great solution for the RF 800 yet; it really needs a mount with a rotation stop pin that will also provide a little bit of height. The mounting surface is hidden under the LensCoat section that protects the switches, and I want to keep all of the components of that on since the 800 isn't weather sealed. I just punched a hole in the neoprene over the screw hole and put a generic plate on it using loctite on the screw. It provides very low, but adequate support on a ball mount on my LensSack Pro. It works better on a Wimberley WH-200 where you can adjust height.

I found out that there is a Kirk KLP-210 & 310 A.S. plate that will fit the RF 800 f11. I ordered the longer 310 one at B&H. I just wanted to let you all know about if if you have a RF 800 f11.