Critique Style: Standard
The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
There was some fog again this morning and I got a few bird shots. There was a question recently about the Canon 200-800 with the 2X, so here’s an example. I think this is one of the second batch who fledged about July 2.
Feedback Requested
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM + EXTENDER RF2x
Focal length: 1600mm
Shutter speed: 1/500s
Aperture: f/19
ISO: 1600
This is the raw file with a very slight boost in Shadows and decrease in Highlights, tiny bump in Clarity, LR Denoise at 50%, and LR Sharpening slider up a little. This is a crop to 40% of the original pixels. Cloudy-bright clearing morning fog.
A fine image and a great demonstration of the lens/teleconverter capabilities, Diane. I’m a bit curious as to how well the AF works with that setup. When I use the Sony 200-600 with the 2x I’ve notices that it’s not as good as with the 1.4, though part of that might be that the camera doesn’t support insect eye AF which is what I’ve been using it on primarily with the 2x. The largest view really shows off the image quality and looks excellent in that respect.
Thanks, @Dennis_Plank ! I think any TC will slow down AF due to lower light, and in this case with the 2X it is definitely slower, and limited to a smaller area in the center of the frame, but.quite usable for a tripod and a still subject.
Very cute, Diane, and impressive detail with a 2x converter. Too often we hear people say to avoid a 2x due to loss of detail, but you prove otherwise. Nice complementary background as well.
Thanks, @Allen_Brooks ! That was very true back in the last century, but it is much better now. There will always be a compromise, but it is manageable now. With both my 100-500 and 200-800 I have no hesitation to use the 2X if I need the reach.
Another cracker image, Diane! Such a cute little bird, with wonderful detail, great perch and a very pleasing background. There’s a couple of tiny white specks in theperch, I might consider removing?
I’m getting closer to upgrading…thinking this may be the way forward. I hope the saying about “old dogs and new tricks” doesn’t play out!
Hi Diane, thanks for posting this with the 2x at 800mm. What a cutie and well taken! He’s a little puff ball til you view the image large and see all the nice detail. Nice background too.
I shoot my 200-800 with the R7 and 1.6 crop factor so I haven’t explored TCs yet but I may try it with the 1.4x at least. I’m hoping the R7 mark II will be the nice upgrade that has been reported in the past once it is released.
Thanks, @Glenys_Passier and @Allen_Sparks ! Yes, with an APS-C sensor the 1.4 would be amazing! I haven’t been following upgrades lately – I’ll have to look into things. The R5 II was so geared to sports journalism it had little I needed. Pre-capture and 30 fps would have been nice but the sensor was not improved for the kind of things I shoot.
Glenys, what are you contemplating?
This is pretty impressive for 1600mm. Excellent sharpness and background.. Yes image quality does suffer a bit when one uses a 2x Telextender. I generally don’t shoot in APC mode but I might give it a try with the 1.4 extender and my 400 millimeter.
Still pondering my navel Diane. I’ve had the Canon 5D4 for what seems like forever. It’s been a great workhorse. I have all the lenses I need for that camera. I will have a crack at shooting anything; portraits, macro, landscapes, wildlife, ICM and still life. However, my favourite shootings are birds. I rarely change the Sigma 150-600 Sport for birds. But, it’s getting really heavy to cart around. I rarely use a tripod. Do I need to employ something different; as in mirrorless, lighter? And get the same, if not better image quality. The combination that you used for this image would not be much different in weight than the Sigma.
I suppose I just need to keep fit!
Most mirrorless aren’t significantly lighter. A friend has the Olympus 4/3 system which looks like it should be lighter, but I shot with hers recently and it isn’t significantly lighter. And that smaller sensor just isn’t up to my full frame for dynamic range and cropability. I still have my 5D4 for a backup and when I use it I’m never disappointed, but haven’t used it for birds in flight. It’s good to be thinking ahead, in case the 5D4 suddenly quits on you.
The big advantage for mirrorless is the eye detection. It works with hummingbirds hovering and works with the 200-800 with a 2X if the light is decent.
Staying fit is huge!!
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