Sarlacc

Today I rented a Nikkor 2x converter for use with my 70-200VR.

It was a great help in getting that extra reach, but I must admit I was not terrible fond of it. Sure, it was great that I could still use autofocus. And because it was daylight the 2 stop light loss wasnt an issue.

But, I feel like I sacrificed too much sharpness...even if it was just a little. And even though having a minimum 5.6 is OK for these shots...I would much rather have at least a 4 and be able to use a faster shutter for the action.

In the end, it was fun and I got some cool shots. But I think primes or zooms for telephoto shots are the way to go...not teleconverters.

http://gallery.mac.com/davidspeck#10...or=black&sel=4

Here are a couple previews:

zguy95135

Nice. I agree with you, the 1.4x Nikon offers is much better. With the 2x you have to frame the subject dead center if you want it to be sharp at all.

moeronn

Cool shots. Did you get out there?

I've heard similar comments about the Canon 2X teleconverter.

Sarlacc

Me, no. I've only tried surfing 3x before...and that was the 3 consecutive weeks before I sprained my ankle.

I'd love to get out and try more...and actually get up on the board but this time of year the water is too cold, and I'm not dropping coin on a heavy wetsuit for something I'm not dead serious about.

I've just really wanted to get out and shoot my friends doing this, and get some good stuff and hopefully start building up more portfolio pieces.

zguy...yeah, you'll see most of my shots are dead center framing. YOu can see in some of the faces...even with sharpening...its just too soft for my tastes. and I was at a 1000 and 1250 shutter the whole time. I want to be able to shoot at a 4 and go higher on the shutter. I might even shoot a slighty faster ISO next time to help achieve this.

but mainly...I want to try shooting a 400/600 prime...or a really long zoom and see if I notice a big difference.

jupitersolo

Pretty nice considering that a 2x on anything other than a 2.8 prime just doesn't work as well as you'd like. I can't wait to see wait the 1.4 and 1.7 we do on the set that long ones I just got. Even would like to see what a 2x will do one the 300 2.8, but I'm not going to buy one. Will try the 1.4 and 1.7 first to see.

I'd love to be able to shoot people riding waves in Dec.

S14 n Tsx

Wow, nice pictures.

LKLD

Good shots, especially #'s 2 & 9

I was wondering if you cropped any of those or are they all WYSIWYG Either way I'm liking them.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

nice man but isn't there an issue bringing your camera to the beach or something.

salt water and moisture bad for lenses? how did you go about carrying it and such if you know?

Sarlacc

I had my D3 with a 70-200 with a 2x...tripod.

nothing except the tripod legs touched sand/water. It wasnt a windy day and I wasnt getting moisture spray. My body is also weather sealed.

Its perfectly fine.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Oh okay no cuz people scared me off that i shouldnt bring my camera to the beach...

well that was back when i had a d80.

knowing the d300 is weatherproof, and usually got a hoya filter on all the lenses i shouldn't have a problem?

Sarlacc

As long as you dont dump the camera into the ocean or set it down in the sand youre fine.

I didnt even have a filter on my lens.

Cameras are made to be used. I'm going to take the best care I can of my gear, but I'm not going to let it stop me from getting the shot either.

svtmike

Surprised you didn't use a CP to kill the glare off the water on some shots -- but that'd bring you down another stop or so.

The shots turned out pretty well as it is -- I wouldn't expect nearly that good from my D200 due to the difference in high ISO performance.

waTSX

The shots look plenty sharp to me at those sizes. The nice thing about the teleconverter is the cost savings over pricey telephoto lenses. That said, I probably wouldn't get anything stronger than a 1.4 myself.

Good shots. I'm gonna guess you didn't use a CP because that would've cost you an additional two stops of light...not good for action shots.

Sarlacc

I was at an effective ISO 50 on these shots.

I want to try and go to 400 and increase my shutter to like 2000.

I thought about renting a CP...but reality is aside from cutting glare...which I actually liked (helps the contrasty look I like) it would have, as you said, killed another stop. I was having a hard time actually getting their faces and not silhouettes. It also helped give the water a glassy look, when it really was murky yesterday.

Really...a really mattebox with ND grad filters would have been the way to for some of this...but I ended up really like the burnt out sky and everything.

Sarlacc

I have become a big fan of cropping.

There are a ton more shots in the link.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Oh i baby my d300 as well but i wouldn't agree with ya i've taken it into some rani to get the shot, jsut wondering if there was any extra steps you took while taking to the beach .

Sarlacc

Nope. The camera doesnt live at the beach everyday, nor do I shoot at the beach all the time, so its OK.

Get some active desilicant and put it in your camera case if you get nervous about moisture.

Sarlacc

Album got all messed up, had to redo it:

http://gallery.mac.com/davidspeck#10...lack&view=grid

ALl the pics are still there. 38 of them. did some minor reprocessing on a couple when I saw them with fresh eyes.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Cool, really diggin the surfing shots, makes me want to go.

leftride

iTrader: (1)

nice shots. i really liked your cropping.