TESTING CANON KIT - (1DX + 2 X TC) Versus (7D + 1.4 X TC)

04-02-2018 TESTING KIT 

As I have been using my 2 X TC more and more these days I decided to compare my favourite set up - Canon 1DX, 500mm F4 mkii, 2 x TC against an alternative - Canon 7D, 500mm F4 mkii, 1.4 x TC.

Set up 1 - Canon 1DX, 500mm F4 mkii,  2 x TC  - Focal Length 1000mm, max Aperture F8.0

Set up 2 - Canon 7D, 500mm F4 mkii, 1.4 x TC - Focal Length 1120mm, max Aperture F5.6

I have been taking images in poor light recently and having to drop shutter speeds down to 1/200th to obtain ISO of 2000-4000 with set up 1. My thoughts were that the slightly better FL of set up 2 due to the 1.6 magnification of the cropped sensor (set up 1 has full frame therefore no magnification) along with the larger max aperture would improve my shutter and ISO options.

I set up a pretend Blue Tit in a tree at 10 metres with some distance behind to provide a nice dark bokeh (smooth background). I used a tripod with cable release and took images at max aperture for both set ups and generated images at ISOs of 160, 1000, 3200 & 5000.

Outcome  

Both set ups produced similar quality images and noise up to 1000 ISO although I believe set up 1 (1DX) was marginally sharper and has slightly better contrast.

At 3200 & 5000 ISO I believe set up 1 performed better, with lower noise and sharper images. 

Conclusion

In average to good lighting conditions set up 2 will provide more flexibility in terms of shutter speed if ISOs are kept to a reasonable level <2000.

In difficult conditions if large FL is required then the better option would be set up 1.


Postscript : The 7Dmki has a poor AF speed compared with 1DX so when taking images in difficult locations such as trees and bushes, the camera often and frustratingly can not track the subject.

Set up 1 - 160 ISO

                Set up 2 - 160 ISO

Set up 1 - 1000 ISO

Set up 2 - 1000 ISO

Set up 1 - 3200 ISO

Set up 2 - 3200 ISO

Set up 1 - 5000 ISO

Set up 2 - 5000 ISO

HAWFINCH

01-02-2018 St Helen's Church, Darley Dale

A flying, well, 2 hour flying visit at lunchtime to the Church in the sunshine. On arrival a few birders/photographers around and an old colleague who I had a nice chat with. There were a few birds in the Yew next to the church and after getting a few shots high up I relocated next to a friend and we soon had great views of 2 - 3 birds, although always in shade. Around 12+ birds amassed at one point but they were a bit flighty after that. Always the case, my set up of 500mm + 2 x TC, was limiting due to the light and high iso of up to 4000 and shutter speeds of 1/320th max resulted in soft and noisy shots. Still a pleasure to take these though.

HAWFINCH

29-01-2018 St Helen's Church, Darley Dale

Briefest of visit to the Church as we were returning from DFS after looking at dining room furniture. I spotted 3 birds initially in the top of a tree which then dropped into the Yews. They were in the shaded area of the tree so I tried some overexposure with very low shutter speed of 1/200th and with my 500mm plus 2 x TC on a monopod. Nice views of a male, would have liked to be a little closer and the ISO varied between 1,600 and 5,000 (mainly). Reasonable results though!

HAWFINCH

17-01-2018  Worsbrough Village

After a week of horrible weather with very poor light the sun came out and I popped into the village at lunchtime and staked out the Yew tree which was retaining the most berries. Three females were feeding from time to time however were difficult to pin down with the camera. Eventually I approached closer and wandered around the tree to get a few partially hidden shots but it was pleasing to have reasonable light and quite sharp images.