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Thread: Canon 2x III in the Field

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Default Canon 2x III in the Field

    Thought I'd take some time to post some field impressions of the new 2x III along with a couple of unsharpened (except for LR default) 100% crops. The images aren't exactly masterpieces, but they confirm my $20 test results. The new 2x is plenty usable wide open and really shines stopped down to f/11 when paired with the 500mm f/4. This first image is stopped down to f/11.

    Name:  WP-2x-100%.jpg
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    Canon 1D Mark IV, 500mm + 2x III, f/11, 1/1250, ISO 640, manual exposure, fill flash, tripod
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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Here's another stopped down frame.

    Name:  Oriole-2x-100%.jpg
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    Canon 1D Mark IV, 500mm + 2x III, f/11, 1/1000, ISO 1250, manual exposure, fill flash, tripod
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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    And here's a wide open frame. I should have bumped the ISO to get a little more shutter speed. Unfortunately the light was significantly lower when I used the 2x wide open. I think this would sharpen up quite well in post.

    Name:  Tanager-2x-100%.jpg
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    Canon 1D Mark IV, 500mm + 2x, f/8, 1/200, ISO 800, manual exposure, fill flash, tripod
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    Hi Doug,

    Thank you for posting your results. One thing, about how far were you from the birds in these shots?

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Korman View Post
    One thing, about how far were you from the birds in these shots?
    Hard to say exactly. Probably about 30 feet.
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  6. #6
    pradeep jain
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    Wow, Superb Images, and TC 2X results proves it worth, can u please also post images without any crop just to compare...
    Regards
    PJ

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pradeep jain View Post
    can u please also post images without any crop just to compare...
    Regards
    PJ
    Here you go Pradeep.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Number two.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Number three.

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  10. #10
    Winston Loong
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    It appears to be good enough to buy! Thanks for sharing - much appreciated!

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    Co-Founder James Shadle's Avatar
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    Doug,
    How much sharpening does LR3 apply?
    James

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    Thanks Doug. That works for me, I'm in.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by James Shadle View Post
    Doug,
    How much sharpening does LR3 apply?
    James
    The default settings are Amount: 25, Radius: 1.0, Detail: 25. Here is another photo; default sharpening on left, no sharpening on right.

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    Thanks Doug.

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    Doug,
    How do you compare it with the 2X II which I just bought used.
    I'm hoping your going to tell me I didn't waste my money.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stan Cunningham View Post
    Doug,
    How do you compare it with the 2X II which I just bought used.
    I'm hoping your going to tell me I didn't waste my money.
    Have a look at this thread Stan, and be sure to check out the link in my first post.

    You didn't waste your money, but the new 2x is a definite improvement over the old one.
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    I'm not sure which thread you are talking about? Could you repaste it?

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    Interesting stuff, Doug. Thanks for letting me use your new 2x here in Costa Rica. I agree that it is an improvement over the previous version, and I thought the AF also was a bit faster to lock on than the previous 2x on my 5D with the 300 f2.8.

    Cheers,
    Greg

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stan Cunningham View Post
    I'm not sure which thread you are talking about? Could you repaste it?
    Click on the word 'thread' in my above post Stan.
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    Doug,

    I concur. After using the new 2x w/ my 600 in YNP I can say without a doubt it is sharper than the previous version, especially when stopped down to f/11.

    Warm Regards from YNP

    Chas

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    Interesting Doug. I will have to get one (never did get the verson I).

    As light is precious in an f8 lens (say 500/4 with 2x tc), you may see an improvement at 1/3 or 2/3 stop below f8 rather than cutting the light in half to f11?

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    BPN Viewer Charles Glatzer's Avatar
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    John,

    Tried the .3 stop reduction...images appear visually sharper when stopped down f/11 or more.

    Chas

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    Hi Doug,

    This might seem redundant, in light of what you and others have said, but I will ask it anyway.

    I frequently rent the Canon 300 f2.8L and the 500 f4L to use with my 2X II and 1.4X II extenders respectively. I like to use a monopod with the 300 and in low light I often shoot wide open to get the fastest shutter speeds possible. My camera is the 5D MK II. Is it worth it in terms of IQ to replace one or both of my extenders with the newest versions? Maybe a bit faster AF would help too. I am leaning toward buying the 2X III first.

    Thanks!
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    I tried the 1.4x III and 2x III, compared them with the Canon II and the Kenko DG and DGX versions and noticed the following:

    AF did not seem to be quicker.
    Center sharpness and CA was similar.
    Corner sharpness and CA was better on the III (especially CA)

    I decided to sell them and stay with the Kenko versions for the moment as I mostly care about the centre of the frame.

    I will get the 1.4x III again in the future when prices drop.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Julie Brown View Post
    Hi Doug,

    This might seem redundant, in light of what you and others have said, but I will ask it anyway.

    I frequently rent the Canon 300 f2.8L and the 500 f4L to use with my 2X II and 1.4X II extenders respectively. I like to use a monopod with the 300 and in low light I often shoot wide open to get the fastest shutter speeds possible. My camera is the 5D MK II. Is it worth it in terms of IQ to replace one or both of my extenders with the newest versions? Maybe a bit faster AF would help too. I am leaning toward buying the 2X III first.

    Thanks!
    Hi Julie. I think that wide open, the new 2x is a significant upgrade over the old 2x. The same can't be said for the new 1.4x. I'd pull the trigger on the new 2x only for the time being.
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    thanks for posting these Doug...

    I am at the brink of having someone bring me a 300mm f2.8 over from B&H, and would love to see some results with this baby as I am thinking of adding it to the purchase?

    Seeing as I mostly do wildlife, the 300mm seems to be a good fit for me, and I want the 2x for long distances or when shooting birds. Will pair it with the 7D.

    I assume the 2.8 aperture will enable one to shoot very sharp shots with the 2x TC at f8??
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hi, given the interest in the 2x with the 300, I thought I'd share this link of a review I just did for my blog:

    http://www.deepgreenphotography.com/...arpening-tips/

    Cheers,
    Greg Basco

    PS -- Thanks, Doug, for letting me borrow your new 2x during our workshop!

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