CANON 2.8/300mm TC2 IQ

[Bill McCrystyn]

A friend of mine and myself are about to invest in the 2.8/300 for birds. The only thing stoping us is we heard from a local pro we would be dissapointed with the 2 TC IQ. The images I have seen here would tend to say otherwise and dollar value seems to be high. Can I get any candid opinions on this? Could I make up any lacking sharpness with CS3 smart sharpen? We print to 12x18.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I personally don't own this lens but know of many people who use it with a 2x TC. Since the 300/2.8 is one of the - if not even - the sharpest lens it takes TCs well and the results I have seen are very good. I went the 500f4 plus 1.4x TC route.

[D. Robert Franz]

The 300mmF2.8 is an amazing lens, one of the sharpest out there. It handles teleconverters extremely well. Will you loose some image quality with a 2x? Yes any lens does but the IQ of the 300mmF2.8 and the 2X yields professional results and I wouldn't hesitate to use the combo. Is is as sharp and contrasty as a straight 600mm? Not quite, but close and it's a smaller lighter package with excellent close focus ability. The AF is still very good as well. A 12x18 would be no sweat........

PS I do own the 300mmF2.8L IS.....

[Sid Garige]

I used 300mm 2.8 Non IS with 2x. Focusing speed was an issue with 30D but not with markII.
Image quality is not an issue at all.

[Maxis Gamez]

I used the 300mm IS with 2X II with the Mark II and the image quality is simply fantastic. Do it!!

[Bill McCrystyn]

WOW, A dream come true. Just what we wanted to hear. Thanks you guys, I really appreciate the help. It's a big move for me and I didn't want buyers remorse.

[Ben Page]

Also very useful for me as I've been thinking about getting a 2x TC to go with my 300mm and mk3 (already use the 1.4x TC with it a lot). Thanks guys! :)

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Would be nice to see some sample images with 300/2.8+2xTC.
Szimi

[Robert O'Toole]

The 300 is a super high IQ lens no doubt.
As with any lens Canon makes you do lose quality with the 2X no way around it. Are they sharp with a 2X? Yes but you can see a drop in IQ with the 2X for sure compared to the prime lens alone or with the 1.4X.

For me I would spend the money elsewhere, but then again I have already owned a 300/2.8.

Robert

[Alfred Forns]

I would go for a 500 f 4.0 IS rather than the 300 2.8

Not concerned with image quality it is great Would be concern with AF speed It probably does better than any other combo regarding speed but would not be as fast as the straight 500 Also you use a 2.0X on the 500 and have a 1000 Huge difference to 600

Most people that have used a 300 for birds end up using something else I would love owning the 300 in addition to not instead of a longer lens

[Bill McCrystyn]

Thanks Alfred I see what your saying but I will be mounting it on a 40D or the inevitable 50D 12.2 MPX if I have the patience to wait for it (which I do) dispite that I whine about 8MPX all the time. That way the 300 puts me at 960mm.

[Alfred Forns]

Bill regarding MPs I was talking to John Shaw last year and he was remembering making large prints from the original 1D I think it had 2.7 MP !!!!!!!

[Robert O'Toole]

Bill regarding MPs I was talking to John Shaw last year and he was remembering making large prints from the original 1D I think it had 2.7 MP !!!!!!!

Good story Alfred, I am with JS on that one.
I used to print 13x19s from my D30 files all the time in 2000 or 2001 and people, even camera shop staff thought they were 35mm or medium format prints (I think because of the lack or grain not sharpness).
IQ is more important than MP.

Robert

[Robert Amoruso]

I used to shoot the 300/2.8 with 1.4c and 2x TC. It worked well with both speed wise and IQ. I say do it.

Why used to? I sold it to buy a D300 and 200-400VR as I wanted to experience a Nikon to gain a better understanding Nikon systems and better help my students.

[Bill McCrystyn]

I'm sorry Robert, I will have to completly discount your recomendation and brand you a traitor. :)

[Robert Amoruso]

I'm sorry Robert, I will have to completly discount your recomendation and brand you a traitor. :)

Best of both worlds. I am still using a Canon 1D Mark IIN and Mark III, Canon lens 600mm, 70-200mm f/4 IS, 100-400mm, 28-105mm, fisheye, all three TS lens, TC's......

Not a traitor. According to James Shadle bi-polar.;)

[Bill McCrystyn]

Thanks Robert for clearing that up, now I can validate your recommendation. Just one more question however, do you use the Nikon in the South Pole or the North Pole? :)