Great Crested Grebe - first use of 2x extender

[Tom Rambaut]

The first use of the new 2x (3) extender with my 500mm. I went to a local lake to test it for the first time on the tame ducks. Not expecting anything out of the ordinary I was suprised to see this Great Crested Grebe - I have not seen them here before. This is a fare crop but IQ seems to hold up well. I cleaned up small water specs on the face and body but left the others. Going back there today.

1dMK4, 500mm + 2x ext (1000mm), 1/1000 @ 8. 500 ISO, EV -2/3.

Thanks Tom

[Mital Patel]

Tom,
Well use of 2x.
Like the blue water which is really complimenting the fireball. lovely low level and nice HA as well.

Have you ever used 2x II before and if you can tell me the diff of 2xIII with 500 ?

[Tom Rambaut]

Sorry Mital I have not. First 2x extender for me and they only had the series 3 in stock. So I can shead no light on a comparison between the two I my own experience. I'm pleased so far with it. I was unsure about the blues at first, I have another version with darker blues. I Could not find him today.

[Mital Patel]

Well tom its all about the trust to your equipments capabilities and i know how far the 1D MkIV can go along 2x with 500mm even at f/8. I've tried stacking 1.4 and 2x and it really did great job giving still f/8 as it didnt understood 1.4 and still focusing (very slowly but doing its job fine).

[jack williamson]

Tom the 2x along with your long lens technique worked out perfect. This is very sharp, I asume you were on a tripod.

Jack

[Stu Bowie]

Tom, the IQ looks pretty good to me, sharp, and I like the perspective here. I also like the colour of the water. Maybe a little off the bottom and RHS.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Tom, terrific bird, low angle, colors.....very good IQ.

[Tom Rambaut]

Well tom its all about the trust to your equipments capabilities and i know how far the 1D MkIV can go along 2x with 500mm even at f/8. I've tried stacking 1.4 and 2x and it really did great job giving still f/8 as it didnt understood 1.4 and still focusing (very slowly but doing its job fine).

Hey Mital - I may try stacking the extenders to see what happens. I realised yesterday that I had only centre point focus. I spent ten minutes going throught the settings of the camera trying to work out what was wrong with the camera.

[Tom Rambaut]

Tom the 2x along with your long lens technique worked out perfect. This is very sharp, I asume you were on a tripod.

Jack

Yes Jack a tripod was used - with a mongoose head.

[Ofer Levy]

Pretty image Tom!!! Lovely pose, colours and shooting angle.

[Jim Crosswell]

Beautiful image Tom! I like the low angle, HA, water droplets and complimentary colours.