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Green Heron Profile
I wanted this photo to be so much more, but it almost seems flat and boring to me. Angle is a little high also. Am I over-thinking this one, or am I on to something? Third trip using the TC-14E III and I have to say it's really disappointing me. Images seem to be softer than without it, feather detail isn't as sharp and with a string of shots I'm seeing more with missed focus. I've AF fine tuned it a few times now. I'll redo the fine tune and give it another shot this evening at sunset, but if this keeps up, I may just return it. Any tips? Am I doing something wrong perhaps?
Nikon D500 (Handheld)
Nikkor 600mm f/4E FL ED VR -w- TC 14E III
1/2000
f/8
ISO-400
Center Weighted Average
Cleveland, Ohio USA
July 2017
Warm and sunny 3 1/2 hours after sunrise.
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I like greenies, one of my favorite birds but so elusive. Your critique I think is correct. Try turning the autofocus fine tuning off. Most times it is not needed. If it is needed it must done with great precision, if not the adjustment will make things worse. Also remember that with a 600 and teleconverter there is a lot of atmosphere you are shooting through. Heat shimmer and refraction, especially on a hot day, can make an image soft. Another thing to keep in mind is that phase detect autofocus while being fast is not perfect. Capture several images and pick the best.
Joe Przybyla
"Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams
www.amazinglight.smugmug.com
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Originally Posted by
Joseph Przybyla
I like greenies, one of my favorite birds but so elusive. Your critique I think is correct. Try turning the autofocus fine tuning off. Most times it is not needed. If it is needed it must done with great precision, if not the adjustment will make things worse. Also remember that with a 600 and teleconverter there is a lot of atmosphere you are shooting through. Heat shimmer and refraction, especially on a hot day, can make an image soft. Another thing to keep in mind is that phase detect autofocus while being fast is not perfect. Capture several images and pick the best.
Same Joseph, I love Green Herons. Like you said, they are really elusive - you can only imagine how I felt when I saw him land on this tree. I got to watch him eat a frog he caught also! Took a few shots, but they're too busy to be worth anything. Great experience though.
Thanks for your input regarding the teleconverter. I'll disable the AF fine tune when I'm out shooting later and see if I get better results.
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Super Moderator
You got a nice head turn, and a good perch. It's the solid background that is having you question the "flatness" of the image. Strong light too, did you need to lessen the contrast? Not familiar with Nikon gear and their quirks, so can't help you there...but Joe has a point about heat haze/shimmer and atmospheric distortions from longer distances. It happens more than people realize...
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Publisher
What are you using to micro-adjust? The windblown ruffled feathers hurt because of the off sun-angle shadows. While I have seen many nice images with this lens none have been made with a TC ... Sometimes a given lens model just does not do well with TCs, especially those at bargain prices, i.e., this lens is super cheap by Nikon standards ...
with love, artie
ps: not to mention the historic problems with the various versions of the Nikon TCE 20s ...
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.
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BPN Member
Originally Posted by
Arthur Morris
What are you using to micro-adjust? The windblown ruffled feathers hurt because of the off sun-angle shadows. While I have seen many nice images with this lens none have been made with a TC ... Sometimes a given lens model just does not do well with TCs, especially those at bargain prices, i.e., this lens is super cheap by Nikon standards ...
with love, artie
Artie, that is not a cheap lens, that is the new 600mm F4 lens similar to the Canon Series 2. It is the lens I use extensively.
Glenn
ps: not to mention the historic problems with the various versions of the Nikon TCE 20s ...
The Nikon TCE 2 is junk but the new 1.4III is great
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Post a Thank You. - 1 Thanks
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BPN Member
Daniel, I have the same lens and teleconverter, using it with a D5 and occasionally with a D500. I have not experienced a problem with either. Have never had a reason to fine tune the setup so I have not. The atmospheric conditions referred to by others can be a problem with any camera and lens.
Glenn
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Originally Posted by
Daniel Cadieux
You got a nice head turn, and a good perch. It's the solid background that is having you question the "flatness" of the image. Strong light too, did you need to lessen the contrast? Not familiar with Nikon gear and their quirks, so can't help you there...but Joe has a point about heat haze/shimmer and atmospheric distortions from longer distances. It happens more than people realize...
Good eye Daniel, I did reduce the contrast actually (-15). I think it's the second time I've ever done it. Light was high and strong. I'll keep fooling around with this combo - perhaps it's shooting technique or settings...
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Originally Posted by
Arthur Morris
What are you using to micro-adjust? The windblown ruffled feathers hurt because of the off sun-angle shadows. While I have seen many nice images with this lens none have been made with a TC ... Sometimes a given lens model just does not do well with TCs, especially those at bargain prices, i.e., this lens is super cheap by Nikon standards ...
with love, artie
ps: not to mention the historic problems with the various versions of the Nikon TCE 20s ...
Thanks for the input Arthur! I'm not using any software or specialized equipment for the micro adjust. Just focusing on a high-contrast object in my backyard and saving values. I've had great results in the past doing it that way, I'm thinking it's time to look into software, LensAlign etc. The 600mm f/4E + TC-14E III combo is pretty popular and plenty of people are getting great results with the two. Unlike many of you in here, I'm far from professional and have much less experience. Perhaps I need to look into a mirror to find the problem. If this lens is super-cheap by Nikon's standards by the way... I was thoroughly ripped off ha ha.
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Originally Posted by
Glenn Conlan
Daniel, I have the same lens and teleconverter, using it with a D5 and occasionally with a D500. I have not experienced a problem with either. Have never had a reason to fine tune the setup so I have not. The atmospheric conditions referred to by others can be a problem with any camera and lens.
Glenn
I'm going to keep working with this combo, perhaps it's simply technique or settings. I'm going to look through your posts for this combo and the results you're getting.
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Originally Posted by
Glenn Conlan
Daniel, I have the same lens and teleconverter, using it with a D5 and occasionally with a D500. I have not experienced a problem with either. Have never had a reason to fine tune the setup so I have not. The atmospheric conditions referred to by others can be a problem with any camera and lens.
Glenn
Any particular D500 + TC-14E III + 600 f/4E photos on your page I should look for?
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Originally Posted by
Arthur Morris
What are you using to micro-adjust? The windblown ruffled feathers hurt because of the off sun-angle shadows. While I have seen many nice images with this lens none have been made with a TC ... Sometimes a given lens model just does not do well with TCs, especially those at bargain prices, i.e., this lens is super cheap by Nikon standards ...
with love, artie
ps: not to mention the historic problems with the various versions of the Nikon TCE 20s ...
Weird timing on this - I'm on break at work watching one of your B&H videos from a few years back. More than a handful of times you said "you need to learn how to effectively use a teleconverter." Perhaps a lot of this is technique...
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Publisher
Originally Posted by
Daniel Grossi
Thanks for the input Arthur! I'm not using any software or specialized equipment for the micro adjust. Just focusing on a high-contrast object in my backyard and saving values. I've had great results in the past doing it that way, I'm thinking it's time to look into software, LensAlign etc. The 600mm f/4E + TC-14E III combo is pretty popular and plenty of people are getting great results with the two. Unlike many of you in here, I'm far from professional and have much less experience. Perhaps I need to look into a mirror to find the problem. If this lens is super-cheap by Nikon's standards by the way... I was thoroughly ripped off ha ha.
YAW. My LensAlign/FocusTune Micro-adjusting Tutorial e-Guide should be available by mid-August the latest. See the blog or here to purchase LensAlign/FocusTune.
with love, artie
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.