Extender EF 2X III & Sigma APO 120-300 EX HSM

I purchased the EF 2X III to use on my 70-200 f2.8 IS USM, but tried it on my sigma 120-300mm tonight, just before dark. My kids had the German Shorthaired Pointer puppies out in the front yard (for sale by the way). I was hand holding it, so I had to keep the shutter speed at 1/250 to have a chance at any shots. I'm pleasantly surprised. Of course, if I had some decent light and had been able to drop the ISO down, I think they would have been much more usable pictures. #1 is cropped about 30% & #2 abut 20%. NR & some exposure correction applied. I'm very impressed with the 2X III.

#1 600mm f5.6 1/250 6400

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Is that the new OS version or the non-OS?

Would be interested in seeing some shots in good light (i.e. faster shutter speed, lower ISO) when you get a chance.

Non-OS, EX version (non-DG). I will get some shots up on Friday or Saturday with good light, etc.

So noisy .. and not really sharp

newworld666 wrote in post #12602463
So noisy .. and not really sharp

Probably has a good deal to do with 6400 ISO OP, when you do take more pictures, 100 ISO to 400 ISO would be nice

I am just learning to use an old 1D MKIII with an 19 years old 300L2.8 and a TC2XII ....

Results are not really good, but at least better than this zoom ..

http://photos.corbi.eu …28-TC2XII/17479501_JFzdBC

(I limited my shots at 1600iso with 1D MKIII, I even limit at 3200iso with 5DMKII).
After a few weeks with a 1D MKIII, I won't use it over 1/1250 anymore ...

newworld666 wrote in post #12602477
I am just learning to use an old 1D MKIII with an 19 years old 300L2.8 and a TC2XII ....

Results are not really good, but at least better than this zoom ..

http://photos.corbi.eu …28-TC2XII/17479501_JFzdBC

(I limited my shots at 1600iso with 1D MKIII, I even limit at 3200iso with 5DMKII).
After a few weeks with a 1D MKIII, I won't use it over 1/1250 anymore ...

Comparing apples to oranges. Comparing a prime to a zoom & 1600 ISO to 6400 ISO, hand held, almost dark, no additional lighting.

... not exactly .. I was hesitating before bying that old 300L2.8nonIS => same body, same TC, same length, same weight around 3kg, same price range and both are hand-held.
A lot of people is comparing zooms to primes, but that's true that on 1dMKIII, I am still wondering what iso over 1600 are made for .

5 factors are nearly identical, so we don't know what's the worst factor ISO or ZOOM or both ...

newworld666 wrote in post #12602882
A lot of people is comparing zooms to primes, but that's true that on 1dMKIII, I am still wondering what iso over 1600 are made for .

5 factors are nearly identical, so we don't know what's the worst factor ISO or ZOOM or both ...

points of consideration:
1. ef 300 f2.8 USM will always perform better than a fast zoom, all other things being equal, i.e. ISO, FL, lighting, tripod or hand held.
2. the zoom is more versatile, understanding that other things are sacrificed, i.e. sharpness, IQ, etc.
3. the zoom gives more bang for the buck, good glass, w/o paying L prices, even on the used market

With that understanding, I never expected the 120-300 to work at all with the 2X III extender, so the point of my post is to start looking at pics under different circumstances (ISO, handheld v. monopod v. tripod, aperture, shutter speed, etc.) I probably posted a little too soon, since I don't have a lot of different pics yet, but those will come later. I was just excited that I got anything at all at dusk with no artificial light source, so I went ahead and started the thread. That being said, I'm still interested in comparing to the prime, but not realistic to expect the same results, all else being equal.

As far as ISO beyond 1600, it is extremely useful. I use it all the time without an extender & with artificial light (stadium, etc.) and get very nice results with the MKIII. I probably shouldn't have posted anything at ISO 6400 under these conditions, however, I'll get some better pics posted tomorrow.

jdnan wrote in post #12603482
As far as ISO beyond 1600, it is extremely useful. I use it all the time without an extender & with artificial light (stadium, etc.) and get very nice results with the MKIII. I probably shouldn't have posted anything at ISO 6400 under these conditions, however, I'll get some better pics posted tomorrow.

Jerry, under decent ambient lighting conditions try shooting no higher then ISO800 keeping your SS at 1/250 mininum and bear in mind when using any 2x extender on a f2.8 lens the optimum IQ will be attained at F8.0 and not F5.6 regardless of the body format or sensor used.

Thanks for your time & efforts.

Regards,

Silverfox1 wrote in post #12603592
Jerry, under decent ambient lighting conditions try shooting no higher then ISO800 keeping your SS at 1/250 miminum and bear in mind when using any 2x extender on a f2.8 lens the optimum IQ will be attained at F8.0 and not F5.6 regardless of the body format or sensor used.

Thanks for your time & efforts.

Regards,

Excellent suggestions, I will definitely keep ISO at a minimum & keep the shutter speed at least at 1/250. One of the problems last night was that I really needed to slow the shutter under those light conditions, but couldn't because of the fact that I was hand holding & new I wouldn't be able to hold that behemoth steady enough for slower shutter speeds. My next efforts will be on a tripod, maybe some with a monopod, but definitely no hand holding attempts. I have tried the extender on the 70-200 2.8 IS as well, stopped down to 7.1, but not all the way down to f8. Thanks for that advice, I'll definitely go to f8 on the next efforts with the 120-300. This is why I love this forum: great advice from folks like SF1 who actually know their stuff without the condescending tone I find on so many other forums. THANKS!

additional image:

#1, 548mm, f8, 1/500, iso 320, 25 yards, 50% crop

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