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#1
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400mm f5.6 lens vs 200mm f2.8 lens with 2x teleconverter
Hi folks, I have a question about quality.
I have a Sigma 135-400mm f4.5-5.6 lens (it's 5.6 at over 200mm). I almost always only use this to shoot motorsports outdoors. I also have a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 lens. I'm considering selling the Sigma lens, and buying a Nikon TC-20E II teleconverter (the money should be comparible). This would, effectively, turn the Nikon lens to a 160-400mm f5.6 lens for those times I need a longer lens. One less heavy lens to schlump around the track, and from a strict numbers point of view, it should give me the same lens length and speed as the Sigma. But I'm wondering about quality or other detrimental effects of using the teleconverter. I've never used one before. Will the image sharpness, contrast, colour, etc. be comparible to the Sigma lens, or do I pay a cost besides the stops? Thanks in advance! Greg |
#2
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In article 3LpYc.251265$M95.155288@pd7tw1no, greg
wrote: I have a Sigma 135-400mm f4.5-5.6 lens (it's 5.6 at over 200mm). I almost always only use this to shoot motorsports outdoors. You have my deepest sympathy. I'm considering selling the Sigma lens, and buying a Nikon TC-20E II teleconverter (the money should be comparible). This would, effectively, turn the Nikon lens to a 160-400mm f5.6 lens for those times I need a longer lens. One less heavy lens to schlump around the track, and from a strict numbers point of view, it should give me the same lens length and speed as the Sigma. You're best to avoid converters with anybody's lens. |
#3
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In article 3LpYc.251265$M95.155288@pd7tw1no, greg
wrote: I have a Sigma 135-400mm f4.5-5.6 lens (it's 5.6 at over 200mm). I almost always only use this to shoot motorsports outdoors. You have my deepest sympathy. I'm considering selling the Sigma lens, and buying a Nikon TC-20E II teleconverter (the money should be comparible). This would, effectively, turn the Nikon lens to a 160-400mm f5.6 lens for those times I need a longer lens. One less heavy lens to schlump around the track, and from a strict numbers point of view, it should give me the same lens length and speed as the Sigma. You're best to avoid converters with anybody's lens. |
#4
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On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 15:01:50 -0700, Randall Ainsworth
wrote: You're best to avoid converters with anybody's lens. I disagree. Although, I will admit that less conversion is usually better. Anyway, a Nikon TC-14EII (1.4 conversion factor) with a Nikkor VR 70-200mm f/2.8G produces satisfactory results. For example: http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...e/bald_003.htm http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...golden_001.htm -Astro |
#5
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On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 15:01:50 -0700, Randall Ainsworth
wrote: You're best to avoid converters with anybody's lens. I disagree. Although, I will admit that less conversion is usually better. Anyway, a Nikon TC-14EII (1.4 conversion factor) with a Nikkor VR 70-200mm f/2.8G produces satisfactory results. For example: http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...e/bald_003.htm http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...golden_001.htm -Astro |
#6
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In message 3LpYc.251265$M95.155288@pd7tw1no,
"greg" wrote: But I'm wondering about quality or other detrimental effects of using the teleconverter. I've never used one before. Will the image sharpness, contrast, colour, etc. be comparible to the Sigma lens, or do I pay a cost besides the stops? Compare the MTF charts. If the nikon is about half as far as the sigma is from the top of the chart, then the combo should be about equally sharp. If the MTFs are about the same, then you will go much softer with the combo. -- John P Sheehy |
#7
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In message 3LpYc.251265$M95.155288@pd7tw1no,
"greg" wrote: But I'm wondering about quality or other detrimental effects of using the teleconverter. I've never used one before. Will the image sharpness, contrast, colour, etc. be comparible to the Sigma lens, or do I pay a cost besides the stops? Compare the MTF charts. If the nikon is about half as far as the sigma is from the top of the chart, then the combo should be about equally sharp. If the MTFs are about the same, then you will go much softer with the combo. -- John P Sheehy |
#8
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In message ,
AstroPax wrote: On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 15:01:50 -0700, Randall Ainsworth wrote: You're best to avoid converters with anybody's lens. I disagree. Although, I will admit that less conversion is usually better. Anyway, a Nikon TC-14EII (1.4 conversion factor) with a Nikkor VR 70-200mm f/2.8G produces satisfactory results. For example: http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...e/bald_003.htm http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...golden_001.htm Are those crops of original pixels? If not, we can't tell anything about your TC from a shrunk-down image. You've then shrunk away most of its effect! -- John P Sheehy |
#9
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In message ,
AstroPax wrote: On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 15:01:50 -0700, Randall Ainsworth wrote: You're best to avoid converters with anybody's lens. I disagree. Although, I will admit that less conversion is usually better. Anyway, a Nikon TC-14EII (1.4 conversion factor) with a Nikkor VR 70-200mm f/2.8G produces satisfactory results. For example: http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...e/bald_003.htm http://www.xmission.com/~hound/astro...golden_001.htm Are those crops of original pixels? If not, we can't tell anything about your TC from a shrunk-down image. You've then shrunk away most of its effect! -- John P Sheehy |
#10
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wrote in message
... Compare the MTF charts. If the nikon is about half as far as the sigma is from the top of the chart, then the combo should be about equally sharp. If the MTFs are about the same, then you will go much softer with the combo. Sorry... MTF charts? |
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