Post your best bird shots!

[bob williams]

I recently sold my version II 2X teleconverter and purchased version III after reading numerous reviews about how much better it was in terms of sharpness and IQ.

This Goldfinch was in a shaded spot in an oak tree in my front yard probably 50 feet away, to me, the image looks pretty darn good considering it was relatively poor light and slow SS, what say you all?

Well Joel, I can't compare to any of your previous shots because I don't ever recall you using the 2xII. But...Compared to shots with my 2xII, this is very impressive. Infact, I only used my 2xII a couple of times and since then it has only been used for a paper wait. So....Congrats---This looks like a good buy.--Love the shot of the Finch and the Bluebird as well. The bluebird is my favorite. As always NIce work.

[Joel Eade]

Well Joel, I can't compare to any of your previous shots because I don't ever recall you using the 2xII. But...Compared to shots with my 2xII, this is very impressive. Infact, I only used my 2xII a couple of times and since then it has only been used for a paper wait. So....Congrats---This looks like a good buy.--Love the shot of the Finch and the Bluebird as well. The bluebird is my favorite. As always NIce work.

Thanks Bob.....sell your version II paper weight and re-invest in the new one, with your 7D you will really see some detail on those skittish birds that won't let you get too close.

[HDNitehawk]

@Joel; I tried the 1.4 III versions a while back, and really didn’t see much difference in IQ. In sharpness the III version made the 500mm less sharp in the center and a just a shade sharper on the edges. Overall I didn’t think it was a worthy upgrade, in fact no upgrade at all, and I sent it back. I wasn’t completely convinced I had a good copy.

It looks like you have a good copy of the 2x III. You are right, Arthur Morris swears by the 70-200mm F/2.8 with 2x III extender combination; however he does put the sales pitch out for Canon. I might give it a try for the 70-200mm and if it works well with the 500mm it would just be a bonus.

[Joel Eade]

@Joel; I tried the 1.4 III versions a while back, and really didn’t see much difference in IQ. In sharpness the III version made the 500mm less sharp in the center and a just a shade sharper on the edges. Overall I didn’t think it was a worthy upgrade, in fact no upgrade at all, and I sent it back. I wasn’t completely convinced I had a good copy.

It looks like you have a good copy of the 2x III. You are right, Arthur Morris swears by the 70-200mm F/2.8 with 2x III extender combination; however he does put the sales pitch out for Canon. I might give it a try for the 70-200mm and if it works well with the 500mm it would just be a bonus.

You are right, Artie is a consumate salesman but there are many others who feel the Version III 2X is a big upgrade whereas the Version III 1.4X is not that much better than the Version II.

I have the original 70-200mm f/2.8L and the 300mm f/2.8L ...I have not yet tried the new teleconverter on them.

[conropl]

@Joel; I tried the 1.4 III versions a while back, and really didn’t see much difference in IQ. In sharpness the III version made the 500mm less sharp in the center and a just a shade sharper on the edges. Overall I didn’t think it was a worthy upgrade, in fact no upgrade at all, and I sent it back. I wasn’t completely convinced I had a good copy.

But doesn't that make sense? Reports are that a 1.4x produces acceptable IQ (it may be a little worse, but it is acceptable). Additionally, reports say that the IQ degradation of the 2x II is unacceptable. Therefore, you are not going to get much of an improvemnet on the 1.4X III since there was not that big of a hit on the IQ with the 1.4X II to begin with... so there was not as much room for improvement. But the oppisite is true of the 2X III, where the 2X II left a lot of room for improvement so it would be easier to see a difference if they brought the 2X III up to acceptable IQ.

[Joel Eade]

Another test image at 1000mm, this time in much better light the sharpness is really nice. No doubt in my mind the Version III 2X TC is much better!

[ddt0725]

Very nice, Joel! I have been considering selling my 100-400mm & 70-200mm f4 IS and getting the 70-200mm f2.8 II IS and the 2x III extender. Do you think it would work well for birding?

[Joel Eade]

Very nice, Joel! I have been considering selling my 100-400mm & 70-200mm f4 IS and getting the 70-200mm f2.8 II IS and the 2x III extender. Do you think it would work well for birding?

Yes, definitely...don't know if you follow Arthur Morris (BirdsAsArt.com) but he has been a big fan of that exact combo and has produced excellent results.

[Joel Eade]

Nesting Killdeer
1D MKIV
700mm
ISO 800
f/5.6
1/1600

[jrw]

When you put the 2x on the EF 300 you are going to like it. Focus is still really fast and while there is some softness wide open it gets better when stopped down.