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Canon 100-400 vs. 70-200 + 2x TC Anonymous
Which is better for image quality?

A Canon 100-400 or a 70-200 with a 2x TC?
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>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
If IQ at those focal lengths is all that matters to you then go for the 100-400.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>140758

I'll add that by that I mean at the 400mm end of it.

I would be more tempted to get a 70-200 and add a couple of 1.4x TC for flexibility, which is my own plan for the future.
>> Anonymous
70-200 f/4 IS = $1,000

70-200 f/2.8 IS = $1,700

100-400 IS = $1,300

It's got the most range for the smallest price.
>> Anonymous
>>140762I would be more tempted to get a 70-200 and add a couple of 1.4x TC for flexibility, which is my own plan for the future.

The 70-200 f/2.8 IS? With the 2x TC, it comes to $2,000 and it only matches the 100-400 at 400mm at f/11.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/400v400.shtml

1.4x gives 280 which is uh, kind of short.
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
Does Canon make a 300mm f4 that performs well with the 1.4x TC?

Thats what i'm doing for Nikon, 420mm F5.6 (That I feel confident for IQ and AF speed) cost me roughly 1100$ (Both were bought used, if new it would have cost me $1600ish
>> Anonymous
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>>140768

300mm with 1.4x

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>> Anonymous
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Another 300mm with 1.4x.

But uh, at this point, you can get the 400mm f/5.6 but you don't have IS.

Decisions.

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>> Anonymous
The new 5D II will not be released at Photokina, but instead will be a surprise announcement on April 22, according to a source I am unwilling to disclose.
The specs of the new camera are as follows (final name unavailable):

- 15.3 MP full frame CMOS sensor (vastly improved light-gathering capacity per pixel: improved micro lenses; miniaturized micro circuitry; enhanced signal/noise ratio)
- Weather sealing same as 1Ds Mark III

- Dual Digic III with all-new "CXR" NR system reported to best 3rd party NR software. Available as a C.F with 4 levels of customizable parameters.
14 bit A/D conversion

- ISO 12800 (C.F. up to 25600)

- Reported 1 2/3 stop sensitivity improvement

- All-new 29-point TTL CMOS sensor
with 12 cross-type for F/2.8 or faster lens
(35% faster than 40D)

- Micro lens fine adjustment for up to 14 lenses

- 300,000 exposure shutter durability

- 6.0 / 3.0 fps

- 3.0" LCD
922,000 pixels

- EOS Integrated Cleaning System

- Live View (improved from 450D; latest generation)

- 6/3 fps continuous shooting for up to 68 frames

- MSRP $3499, available June 2
>> Anonymous
>>140774

That's awesome but wrong thread.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
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>>140766

No, I said add a couple of 1.4x TCs. Not one. The IQ isn't really worse than the 100-400.

Picture related.

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>> Anonymous
70-200 2.8 + 1.4x + 1.4x?

Where is that test from?
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>140777

DPReview. There have been lots of tests along those lines. Great for technical info and shots of dollar bills and test charts, but I find it's not so good for the C&C and other things. I think a lot of the folk here go there for the technical stuff or gear threads.

The combo sounds very nice to me and the results shown look good enough for me too. Should be quite a flexible package. Slightly neater than a two-lens combo. Handy when I'm the one who has to carry all my crap around.

It's an odd choice, but one that is appealing for me.
>> Anonymous
Google says you can't stack 2*1.4x, only 2*2x or 1.4x+2x.

But stacking TCs just seems to make the images even worse.
>> Anonymous
>>140778

Link me to it.
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>140779
You can stack forever but you loose AF after a certain ammount iirc.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>140779

Google is wrong. It can be less reliable than Wikipedia at times. Get a Canon 1.4 and a Kenko 1.4 and it will work. Two Canon ones won't though. That's what you have to watch out for. I've seen the shots and other people have tried it to confirm this. It'd have to be a hoax of EPIC proportions if this was the case.

The combo of the two 1.4s works strangely well with that lens. I won't even pretend to know the specifics as I lack a doctorate in optics and the cutting edge-experience to go with it so any speculation would just be bullshit. All I know is that the pictures look okay when people tried it. Someone there claimed that the two were by chance well suited to combine optically or something. Whatever. It's beyond me. As long as it works then I will be happy.

>>140781

Go look for it yourself, lazy! I'm not your butler.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>140782

This is true. After a certain point it normally cuts off the AF.

You can tape some of the pins on TCs (and I think some TCs don't report all the info back so taping isn't needed) so that the camera will be forced into AF at narrower apertures. Sometimes it works quite well. I saw someone get some nice shots at an airshow doing that.
>> Anonymous
@400/420mm - 400mm f/5.6 > 300 f/4 IS + 1.4x TC > 100-400 IS > 70-200 f/4 IS + 2x TC > 70-200 f/2.8 IS + 2x TC

I couldn't find a reliable test with 2*1.4x TCs.

Why is a lens with stacked TCs more flexible for you?
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>140785

70-200 f/4 with a 2xTC? You'll lose autofocus on anything less than the pro model cameras and it will be much dimmer and harder to manual focus. Harder to use for those reasons than the 2.8. I wouldn't say it was better.


Imagine a soccer game and I'm shooting from the side or similar.

It works out nicely for me because I can use the two stacked TCs to get the reach and tighter shots, then as it gets darker I can take off one TC and I've got a brighter aperture to carry on (at the cost of reach, of course). Then as it gets darker still I take off another TC for the same again. It means I can have a 2.8 zoom when I need it. With one lens I can cover the match or shoot all day. When using it as 70-200 2.8 without the TCs it will also autofocus much better (and be a little nicer to use manually).

It should also work out nicely when I am out trekking over rough terrain for a day too. One lens to carry instead of two. The TCs are easy enough to stick in a pocket and very light.

It's a personal choice and probably not for everyone's tastes.
>> Anonymous
Okay, I guess if you really want the 2.8.

I'll take better image quality over it.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>140803

What do you mean?
>> Anonymous
If you use the 70-200 2.8 with TC, you can take it off and use the lens at 2.8. But quality is worse.

If you use the 100-400, quality is better. But you're stuck at whatever aperture it is all the time.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>140811

Ah, I understand what you mean.
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
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>>140771
>>140772
Nice, i've got nothing that good yet, but heres a shot i took today that I am happy with (Bird was mid jump, hence why I was happy)

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