1D mk iv (1.3x) vrs 1DX (1:1) w 1.4 extender - whch is better?

[airfilm]

A) 1d mk iv (1.3x frame) @ 16 mp using a 400mm 2.8 II = 520mm

VRS

1dx (full frame) @ 18.1 mp using a 1.4 extender with same lens = 560mm

Which one would produce better results (sharpness, reduced noise, all the good things) for large printing?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Scott

[HDNitehawk]

The 1D IV is going to be superior.
Not because of ISO charts or IQ, because when you put a 1.4x on your $11,000 400mm F/2.8 you turn it in to a 560mm F/4 with only slightly less IQ.

Sunshiny bright days it might be a fair comparison. Night time, indoors and low light situation when you are shooting at F/2.8 and need the speed there is no contest.

Fred Miranda has a review of the 1D X, I just read it today. It might give you some info as well. http://www.fredmiranda.com/1dx-review/

[Richard Lane]

Welcome to the Forums!

That's a great question. I posted some results with the 1DMKIV and 1.4X extender Vs. the 1DX and 1.4X or 2x extender in this thread:

http://community.the-digital-picture...ead.php?t=6256

My tests weren't very scientific, as it was more of a retrospective analysis. The 2x II isn't that great so don't be overly swayed by those results.

I'm actually going to try and do some more tests tomorrow and this time I'll try the MKIV vs. 1DX plus 1.4X extender like you have suggested, since that seems like a fairer test.

The 1DX has greater resolution than the MKIV.

The cropped sensor of the MKIV may be better than an extender, but the new 1.4X III is pretty good.

The FF 1DX, outputs very clean images.

For larger prints I would think the greater resolution of the 1DX plus the 1.4X extender would be better (more pixels on the target), plus the 1DX images are so clean they can handle further cropping and enlarging very well. You will probably have to stop down 1-stop with the 1.4X extender to increase sharpness.

We'll just have to wait and see won't we.

Rich

[HDNitehawk]

Rich,

Looking at the charts it appears to me that the 400mm F/2.8L II degrades more with the extender on it than other lens, like say the 500mm F/4
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=1&APIComp=0
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=1&APIComp=0

I wonder if that is just a anomaly in the testing of the 400mm.

If that is the case, the 1D X vs the 1D IV might be a lens by lens question.

Rick

[Richard Lane]

Yes, you're right Rick!

The 400mm II with 1.4X III doesn't look as impressive as the 500mm or 600mm with 1.4X III.

You definitely have to stop down to f/5.6 with the 300mm II or 400mm II when the 1.4X III is used.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=1&APIComp=3

Stopping down also reduces some vignetting with these super-telephotos on the 1DX FF while the 1.3X crop MKIV is less affected by the vignetting.

I haven't told you yet, but I rented the 500mm II for the week, so that's the lens that I will be testing tomorrow. I also picked up the 1.4xIII.

Any special requests for tomorrows tests from anyone?

[Joel Eade]

The answer will also depend an the situation: If you can move closer with 1DX so the subject is framed similar to the 1DMKIV then no doubt the 1DX will win.

If you are limited to shooting from one position and you have to crop the 1DX image at all then I would say the 1DMKIV would be better.

[HDNitehawk]

As Joel said, I think if you get the subject framed properly the 1D X is the way to go.
If you have to crop the 1D IV would be better.

But to put another spin on this, if you had to crop with a Full Frame camera at what point if any would the 5D III with its higher pixel density give you the better picture than the 1D X?

@Rich, have fun with the 500mm II. Sounds like a fun week.

[Richard Lane]

Here's some shots with the 500mm f/4L IS II comparing the 1Dx with the 1.4XIII vs. the bare MKIV

The last set of shots includes the 2XII plus 500mm@ 1000mm.

First here's the set-up after taking a nice hike with the Kata GDC-207 backpack, the 1D MKIV, 1DX, 500mmII, 1.4XIII and 2XII, extenders, Gitzo 3 series tripod, full Wimberley II head, and 24-70mm f/2.8L, to document everything. The weather was really windy and crappy as you can see in the photos, but since I rented the 500mmII, I guess I didn't have much of a choice.


BP1Q1233 by RL One Photography, on Flickr



BP1Q1231 by RL One Photography, on Flickr

Shown is the MKIV and 500mmII. The 1DX and 24-70mm f/2.8L fit on the other side of the 500mm and were used
to take this photo.

BP1Q1260 by RL One Photography, on Flickr


BP1Q1582 by RL One Photography, on Flickr

Below is the pole that I was shooting at with the birds on it. For reference the shot below was taken at 25mm FF,
so you'll have an idea how far it was.

BP1Q1579 by RL One Photography, on Flickr

[Richard Lane]

1DX with 500mm f/4L IS II + 1.4XIII @700mm f/7.1 1/1600sec, ISO 400

BP1Q1491 by RL One Photography, on Flickr


MKIV with 500mm f/4L IS II @650mm with 1.3 Crop f/7.1 1/1600sec ISO 400

CQ0H0342 by RL One Photography, on Flickr

[Richard Lane]

1DX with 500mm f/4L IS II + 1.4XIII @700mm f/7.1 1/1600sec ISO 500

BP1Q1497 by RL One Photography, on Flickr


MKIV with 500mm f/4L IS II @650mm f/6.3 1/1600sec ISO 500

CQ0H0371 by RL One Photography, on Flickr