Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: pjfitzpatrick on April 25, 2018, 10:32:25 pm
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I'm in the market for a telephoto lens for my A7ii in prep for some wildlife photographing excursions coming up. I'm someone who tends to purchase the best equipment, and so am drawn to the SONY FE 70-200MM F2.8 GM, but am not sure when I would use the extra stop and the cost difference is huge. Does anyone have experience moving from a telephoto F4 to 2.8 that could provide some insight?
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For wildlife I'd consider a 100–400mm instead. More reach! Note: I've never used Sony's 100–400 so I can't comment on it specifically.
-Dave-
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what kind of wildlife and where?
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The f2.8 zoom can take the teleconverter, the f4 does not.
But I would rather take the 100-400 lens.
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The f2.8 zoom can take the teleconverter, the f4 does not...
Is that something specific to Sony and that particular f/4 lens? I am using a 1.4x converter for my Canon 70-200/4.
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It is, Slobo. The Sony TC is not designed for the f/4 lens (but works very well on the f/2.8 which I have (the 1.4 TC - I don't have the 2).
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I have the Sony 70-200 f/4 and like it quite a lot. With past systems I had the f/2.8's (Nikon 70-200 and Fuji 50-140). I almost never used the f/2.8's wide open anyway so the f/4 seemed like a good idea to save weight and money. I also have the Sony 100-400 and initially thought I'd sell the 70-200 since the only "empty" space would be 70-100 but the 100-400 is pretty darn big though a lovely lens. The 70-200 is an all purpose lens, the 100-400 is a bit specialized. I'm keeping the 70-200 f/4, it's 840 grams vs the 100-400 at 1395 grams, a 555 gram (over a pound) difference. It all adds up in the pack.
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It is, Slobo. The Sony TC is not designed for the f/4 lens (but works very well on the f/2.8 which I have (the 1.4 TC - I don't have the 2).
You can use the 1.4 Sony TC with the Sony 100-400 without problem. It is more, checking in Fred Miranda forum the results, image with that combination has high quality. PDAF work even with that combination in Sony cameras.
Using the 100-400 with the 2x teleconverter you will need an A9 if you want to use PDAF... since the combination in aperture is higher than f8. A7/r III will be able to use the combination but using contrast detect AF that it is slower.
http://dgpfotografia.com
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Unless you specifically need f/2.8 in the 70-200mm range, there's probably not much reason to pick the 70-200/2.8 over the 100-400.
The 100-400 is a ridiculously sharp lens, even wide open, and with the 1.4x TC. The 70-200 just isn't all that sharp wide-open. Possibly not noticeable on a 24MP sensor, but definitely noticeable on a 42MP sensor. Fortunately, for the typical portrait subjects shot wide-open in that focal length range, that may not matter much. But, between 100-200mm, the 100-400 is sharper wide-open than the 70-200/2.8 stopped down to the same aperture.
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You can use the 1.4 Sony TC with the Sony 100-400 without problem. It is more, checking in Fred Miranda forum the results, image with that combination has high quality. PDAF work even with that combination in Sony cameras.
Using the 100-400 with the 2x teleconverter you will need an A9 if you want to use PDAF... since the combination in aperture is higher than f8. A7/r III will be able to use the combination but using contrast detect AF that it is slower.
Sure, but you can't use it with the 70-200 f/4 lens, which was the question :-)
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Is that something specific to Sony and that particular f/4 lens? I am using a 1.4x converter for my Canon 70-200/4.
The 1.4x Sony TC sticks too far into the lens to use it with the 70-200/4.
Jim
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For wildlife I'd consider a 100–400mm instead. More reach! Note: I've never used Sony's 100–400 so I can't comment on it specifically.
Since I've gotten the Sony 100-400, I've hardly used the 70-200/4. I like the Sony 100-400 a lot better than even the current generation Nikon 80-400. The difference is especially apparent at the short end of the range.
Jim