I picked up a cheap (second-hand, of course) 2.0x Sigma Teleconverter recently for my Sigma 120-300. I had heard it reduced quality a bit but figured it was worth a try.
Was pretty cool, it has to be said. I've never shot with anything like that focal length before and it was amazing just how long 600mm really is. It did throw up a few issues though, it was only 15c outside yet I still had masses of heat haze in the shots, which really shot the sharpness to pieces for many pics. I wasn't expecting that, so I will be interested to see how that works out during the summer, if we get one. It also extended my lens by another 3 or 4 inches, so it's now ridiculously long and pretty hard to handle hand-held.
A few samples, you can quite clearly see the heat haze 'wobble' on parts of the car that would otherwise be sharp in the bigger versions (such as the subject car in the first pic). Otherwise they look reasonably acceptable to me, any thoughts?
550mm @ 1/800, f8. Static shot.
Bigger Version
600mm @ 1/250, f14. Panning shot.
Bigger Version
600mm @ 1/320, f18. Panning shot.
Bigger Version
A keeper, imo. Considering I was using it for the first time, in 20mph wind, and shooting handheld all day, there is clearly room for improvement. The panning shot is clearly the sharpest imo, so I think a reduction in shutter speeds will bring the best out of it. But it's a start anyhow. Now, what else can I try shooting with 600mm?
Was pretty cool, it has to be said. I've never shot with anything like that focal length before and it was amazing just how long 600mm really is. It did throw up a few issues though, it was only 15c outside yet I still had masses of heat haze in the shots, which really shot the sharpness to pieces for many pics. I wasn't expecting that, so I will be interested to see how that works out during the summer, if we get one. It also extended my lens by another 3 or 4 inches, so it's now ridiculously long and pretty hard to handle hand-held.
A few samples, you can quite clearly see the heat haze 'wobble' on parts of the car that would otherwise be sharp in the bigger versions (such as the subject car in the first pic). Otherwise they look reasonably acceptable to me, any thoughts?
550mm @ 1/800, f8. Static shot.
Bigger Version
600mm @ 1/250, f14. Panning shot.
Bigger Version
600mm @ 1/320, f18. Panning shot.
Bigger Version
A keeper, imo. Considering I was using it for the first time, in 20mph wind, and shooting handheld all day, there is clearly room for improvement. The panning shot is clearly the sharpest imo, so I think a reduction in shutter speeds will bring the best out of it. But it's a start anyhow. Now, what else can I try shooting with 600mm?
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