5D, 70-200mm f/2-8 and 100%crop

[::John::]

Well, I'll start by saying I really like my 70-200mm lens. It hasn't let me down yet.

I was concerned when I bought the 5D that I wouldn't have the 'reach' any more and that cropping a picture may remove some of the quality.

Today I decided to experiment. The next picture is straight out of the camera and resized for 800x533. No other changes were made.

http://www.kiwi-in-oz.com/images/planes/IMG_1293.jpg

I then told PSCS2 to show at 100% and I set my Marquee Tool to take a single 800x533 selection. I copied that into a fresh file. Again, no noise, levels, brightness/contrast or USM adjustments made:

http://www.kiwi-in-oz.com/images/planes/IMG_1293_crop.jpg

I am delighted with this combination...


... but am also wondering how it would go with a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter.

Exif: f/9, 1/2500", ISO 400 (:oops: ooops - from last night), lens @ 200mm

[Dorman]

Wow great sharpness, saturation, and detail! (check out the pilot in the 100% crop!). 70-200 must be my next purchase. :)

[::John::]

Thanks. I must admit that I seem to be getting sharper pictures with all my lenses since I started using the 5D, even though I had increased the in-camera sharpness in the 350D.

It's a great lens, though. My one doesn't have IS - but, looking at that, I don't think it would have been needed in that shot.

[EOS_JD]

Go for the 1.4x. That seems to be the preferred combo. With the 2x you lose a lot of quality and light.

the 1.4x is close to my next purchase.

[Double Negative]

Well, I don't think you can complain about those!

I tried shooting some small Cesnas at a local airport a few weeks ago with the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS and a D30, but they were just too far away even at 200mm and resulted in teeny planes in a sea of blue.

The 1.4x is definitely preferred over the 2.0x. You lose much less light and IQ with the former. It's on my list as well.

[BillsBayou]

Great shot and sharpness.

The 100% crop is fantastic. However, I have a funny thought in my head on that crop. NOT THAT YOU HAD ANY INTENTION OF PRINTING IT AT THAT CROP, but being out of context, it looks like he's popping a wheelie or participating in a low-rider car-bounce.

But really, love the pic. Given that my 5D & 70-200 f/2.8 is on order, I can only hope to take pictures with the same clarity.

[::John::]

hmmm

$459 for the 1.4x, $485 for the 2x

I have used a friends 2x on the 350D - in bright enough conditions, losing a couple of stops isn't too much of a hassle - and the picture IQ didn't seem to degrade too much in that set of pictures (18 foot yacht racing on Sydney Harbour). I have to think about this a bit. Or buy a 100-400mm

Thanks for the comments.

[Double Negative]

FWIW, other manufacturers (Kenko, Sigma, Tamron) also make TCs. Pretty much the same IQ, just lacks the weathersealing.

[::John::]

Thanks for that, Double Negative. Actually finding a place with them in stock here in Sydney is the problem.

[Double Negative]

Ahh, that makes sense. Might also try eBay - I see a lot of vendors in Oz. There's one particular make that's not recommended, but I'm spacing the name. I'm in the same boat - looking to pick up a 1.4x TC myself.

[::John::]

Yeah, it's probably not helped by my 'old-fashioned' shopping sense, too. I like to go in, look at the product and make a decision then and there. Oh, and I always pay cash. Things I cannot do with internet purchasing.