300mm 2.8 + 2 X TC + 1.4 X TC

[willing to learn]

Went to Carsington today despite the forcast for rain. I listened to the wife instead she said it seemed a nice morning and it would be a nice day. Arrived at Carsington and sure enough the skys opened
So we went to a hide I decided to read the Camera instructions and set
preferences in the menus to what I would find useful. I also tried putting the 2 converters on and practiced on some Lapwings feeding on a sand bank. The light was poor and the shutter speed was around 1/40 sec. But I was suprised with the results. Though if the lapwings moved the shot blurred. The camera was held freehand though I was leaning on the window cill. All photos have gone through neat image and perhaps lost a bit of crispness, but it helped reduce the noise. I will learn to do the background only someday. I will try this setup up again on a day with good light I think I will get some passable shots. The king fisher also made an appearence
cast a pellet, and shot off. Again any movement and the shot blurred. Auto focus worked, but slow. In the information it only noted the 2 X TC and quotes 600mm. So I am not sure what the total overall mag was.
Regards
Colin









100% crop

[John D]

Hi Colin ,
The shots you have taken with the combination of a 300mm lens plus a 2x and 1.4x tc are very impressive.
With both TCs attached your lens combination would be 840mm and around 1344mm equivalent on say a Canon 40D or similar. To have obtained such good images in 'poor light' is excellent.
As matter of interest what camera did you have and did you apply any sharpening via software ??
Your combination is certainly worth trying with better lighting conditions. Maybe you could post examples again sometime.

Happy shooting

John D

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by John D

Hi Colin ,
The shots you have taken with the combination of a 300mm lens plus a 2x and 1.4x tc are very impressive.
With both TCs attached your lens combination would be 840mm and around 1344mm equivalent on say a Canon 40D or similar. To have obtained such good images in 'poor light' is excellent.
As matter of interest what camera did you have and did you apply any sharpening via software ??
Your combination is certainly worth trying with better lighting conditions. Maybe you could post examples again sometime.

Happy shooting

John D

Thanks John
The Camera was a 1d M2 N I will try it on the 40D. They all went through neat image to help with noise. Some of the Photos the subject lost detail but some faired better like the ones posted. I set the custom settings on the camera to reduce noise at high ISO, quick focus selection focus point, plus quick switch back to centre focus, Plus I expanded the focus activation points to 7 or 13 points from centre focus. How ever with both extenders fitted I think this only works on the horizontal. I want to try this setting with in flight shots as it should help focus lock quicker. Though as I understand it to work to its full potential (both horizontal and vertical) The 1.4 X TC would be the limit not sure how it would work with the 2 X TC instructions seem a little vague, or more than likely I just can not grasp the jargon. Sharpness and saturation was also increased in the camera settings. I will post more bright day permitting.
Regards
Colin

[PMG]

Those are awsome Colin - what on earth are you going to produce on a good day with decent light and a tripod ......... I can't wait - get out there again - please - fast!!! By the way I don't know how to reduce noise in the background either and I'm a bit dim with written instructions no matter how well written the explanation is ........ but I get around it if I'm really trying to rescue a shot (and these have been worth the effort believe me) by selecting just the bird when it comes back from neat image and slightly resharpening - but you have to watch it - it can be overedone!!!! Keep up the good work

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by PMG

By the way I don't know how to reduce noise in the background either and I'm a bit dim with written instructions no matter how well written the explanation is ........ but I get around it if I'm really trying to rescue a shot (and these have been worth the effort believe me) by selecting just the bird when it comes back from neat image and slightly resharpening - but you have to watch it - it can be overedone!!!! Keep up the good work

Excellent stuff Colin especially with a tc attached and such slow shutter speeds.

To just remove the background noise without affecting the main subject mask around the subject with the lasso tool assuming you are using PS Elements or photoshop itself. I have the feather setting for the lasso tool set at 5 pix. Then inverse the selection so the background rather than the subject is selected. Then run it through Neat Image and the noise reduction will be applied to the background only.

Again this is assuming you are using the paid for version of Neat Image that works as a plugin in PS Elements or photoshop and then shows up in the filters menu.

I think the free version of Neat Image works just the same though except you probably have to save the image before putting it through the Neat Image process.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Excellent stuff Colin especially with a tc attached and such slow shutter speeds.

To just remove the background noise without affecting the main subject mask around the subject with the lasso tool assuming you are using PS Elements or photoshop itself. I have the feather setting for the lasso tool set at 5 pix. Then inverse the selection so the background rather than the subject is selected. Then run it through Neat Image and the noise reduction will be applied to the background only.

Again this is assuming you are using the paid for version of Neat Image that works as a plugin in PS Elements or photoshop and then shows up in the filters menu.

I think the free version of Neat Image works just the same though except you probably have to save the image before putting it through the Neat Image process.

Thats brilliant Roger! Thanks so much for that - I hadn't realised you could take a pic with a selection already on it to Neat Image - I shall give that a try - ta muchly

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by PMG

Thats brilliant Roger! Thanks so much for that - I hadn't realised you could take a pic with a selection already on it to Neat Image - I shall give that a try - ta muchly

No problem Pauline. That's how I do it anyway and it always works for me.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Ollie

No problem Pauline. That's how I do it anyway and it always works for me.

Back to the drawing board - I'm using Neat Image stand alone not as a plug in so this idea won't work for me ...... ah well - it was nice to know - I may get around to addressing it later sometime but at the min am having quite a lot of bother with computer being just too full and have removed quite a lot of progs as C drive is floundering and I just don't want to go to the shop and begin a big upheaval at the min - I will buy an external hard drive and remove some things across to that as a partial solve shortly ......... sorry I'm taking this thread off topic now ........

[Tobyh]

Considering the conditions I think you managed some excellent shots. A little softness is a worthy trade against not getting a picture at all.

I have a Sigma 300mm F2.8 and both the Sigma converters. Seeing this makes me want to give it a try with both converters attached.

Is there any preferable way round for the converters? What ISO were you shooting at also?

Thanks

TobyH

[Richard G.]

Originally Posted by PMG

Back to the drawing board

Another option Pauline.
Apply Neat Image NR to the whole image and save as a 2nd file. Add this as a 2nd layer to the original, non-NR image (Layer->New and then Copy/Paste should do it). Then just use the Eraser Tool on selected areas of the top layer to reveal the layer underneath.

[Richard G.]

Oh, and by the way, fabulous shots Colin.
Hard to believe there are two TC's in use there.. amazing!

[John D]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Thanks John
I will post more bright day permitting.
Regards
Colin

OK Colin, I now look forward to seeing some of your images taken on a bright day.

John D


Zenfolio | John D's Wild World

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Richard G.

Another option Pauline.
Apply Neat Image NR to the whole image and save as a 2nd file. Add this as a 2nd layer to the original, non-NR image (Layer->New and then Copy/Paste should do it). Then just use the Eraser Tool on selected areas of the top layer to reveal the layer underneath.

Thanks Richard - I will save this advice somewhere (what am I saying its saving stuff thats landed me with a full computer ) but still thank you!

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Considering the conditions I think you managed some excellent shots. A little softness is a worthy trade against not getting a picture at all.

I have a Sigma 300mm F2.8 and both the Sigma converters. Seeing this makes me want to give it a try with both converters attached.

Is there any preferable way round for the converters? What ISO were you shooting at also?

Thanks

TobyH

It was ISO 640 the 1.4 X TC is the first into the camera body. The converters no not seem to fit each other when the 2.0 X TC is fitted to the camera first.
Regards
Colin

[willing to learn]

Roger I have elements 2 and have neat image (the free one) its not a plug in.
I am waiting on a photoshop profesional and a computer. I need to be able have some sort of system to store pics, in some sort of order. Been waiting a while but don't want to push as its a freebie Its about time you did a master class in photo editing Roger, I am pretty dense at grasping these programs, but if shown a view times I could be on my way
Regards
Colin

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

The Camera was a 1d M2 N I will try it on the 40D.

i suspect that on the 40D you will have af issues except in bright light - with both tcs fitted the lense is an effective max app f8 - the 1D series af module requires a minimum max app of f8 to focus , whereas the 40D module requires a minimum f5.6

that said a number of members here (boddie, john and others) regularly use the pump with a 1.4 attached on 30 and 40 D and the af still works most of the time tho not in poor light.

course the other option is to turn the af off and focus manually - I do that sometimes on my 170-500mm with a 2xtc fitted and still get good shots so long as the subject is static - brighter light so you can have a smaller apperture and thus a greater dof is useful if using this technique.

[Bruce Williams]

Very impressive results Colin!

Up till now I've been reluctant to use teleconverters, however your images have made me think again.

Bruce