2x Teleconverter + 500mm Lens = 1000mm Focal Length - Field Test, Which Do You Prefer?

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

I also like that you share the raw and the processed (esp. it helps us get a sense of the extent of the crop) plus the EXIF data and the pictures on your website. Thank you for your kindness and willingness to share.

[@Duade]

G'day Dimitris, my pleasure, I think people learn a lot from seeing the Raw to final image. I am always happy to share. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@MrRabbitTrick]

Finally someone who shows both the actual shot and the edited photo. Many thanks for this. As a hobby photographer who rarely edits photos, it is always very demotivating to see people filming themselves taking photos and then the final photo is shown. It suggests that the photo shown was shot that way.

[@denisbede3251]

Perfect demonstration! I wasn't expecting so much of a difference between the DOF with the same aperture, that was perfectly shown in the dragonfly photo comparison after cropping! Thanks for that :)

[@Duade]

G'day Denis, my pleasure, yes that extra focal length definitely reduces the depth of field even at the same aperture. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@noelchignell1048]

It's not the same aperture f/10 with 2x T.C is f/20 but it's the focal length that has most effect on DOF anyway

[@pedrova8058]

Tc just make a optical crop. DoF is a relative thing, it isn´t something fixed, or something inherent to the lens itself (because it's defined by an arbitrary, external reference value: CoC) So, Dof depends on relations between focal length, efective aperture , sensor/film size and viewing/printing size) The "relative DoF" is bigger with TC (due to the optical crop, or "efective" aperture) Look at the example es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profundidad_de_campo#C%C3%ADrculo_de_confusi%C3%B3n_m%C3%A1ximo_CCM

[@Jessehermansonphoto]

Wow, I wasn’t thinking the 2x shots would have that much detail.

[@Duade]

Thanks Jesse, yes it performs well with a 2x, Cheers, Duade

[@chrismorecroft1599]

Another great vid Duade . As you know I’ve been a fan of the 500mm + 2 x TC for a while , but I use it on a cropped sensor body giving me a monster 1400 focal length . A high shutter speed and good technic is a must with the 2 X TC but well worth the extra pixels achieved . Well done mate

[@Duade]

G'day mate, great to hear from you, yes the 2x is another tool in the kit bag that is for sure. Hope you are well and getting out there with the birds. Cheers, Duade

[@MasterBluspark]

Good video. My favourite photo out of these is probably the one at 6:43 (red eye and beak). It was also interesting to see the comparison of the dragonfly - with the teleconverter, it looked sharper but the area being quite a bit shallower

[@Duade]

Thanks for the comment, yes, the longer focal length does reduce the focal length which can be an issue at times. Cheers, Duade

[@MasterBluspark]

no problem :)

[@petertown9467]

Yet again these videos inspire me to get my lazy ass out with my gear. I've just bought a second hand 500mm ii so looking forward to trying it when it arrives.

[@woodygreen6826]

I was quite surprised by the sharpness with the teleconverter. Interesting, and thanks.

[@Duade]

G'day Woody, thanks for the comment, I suspect the lens quality has a lot to do with it. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@sreid1204]

Thanks for sharing. Always love watching your work.

[@Duade]

Thanks Stephen, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@verlenelewis9866]

Loved your pictures of the Dotteral and the last Grebe.

[@Duade]

Thanks Verlene, yes I was happy when the Dotterel turned up. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@haroldmassey5966]

Pictures are great Duade. Thanks for the video.

[@Duade]

G'day Harold, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@keithparr547]

I've just bought a 500 f4 and 2x converter, this has inspired me. Well done shots at 1000 look great.

[@Duade]

Ketih, congrats, just remember to try and stop down to f10 if you can, f8 is not quite as sharp. Cheers, Duade

[@lukasstilsonarstad4060]

1000mm f/8, that's sick!

[@Duade]

Thanks Lukas, yes it is nice to have that reach, Cheers, Duade

[@Technologyadvisor1]

@@Duade why shoot at f10 when you can shoot at f8?

[@Duade]

@@Technologyadvisor1 When using a 2x I find the sharpest setting is f10-f11 as most lenses are sharper stopped down. That is why you need a lot of light when using a 2x. Cheers, Duade

[@ernreeders1487]

@@Duade Isn't the TC having the same effect? Magnifying a cropped view so losing soft corners?

[@Duade]

@@ernreeders1487 G'day Ern, it is an interesting debate whether TC are worth it or if you should just crop in camera. I do find that the TC work very well with the superteles from Canon and I really don't notice any major drop in IQ and the benefit is the file size remains the same. If I were to crop an image to match the field of view I would have a much smaller file. I do plan on doing some tests in the future to see the difference. Cheers, Duade

[@paulwood3024]

I have been using the 400mm f/5.6 and love it. Some day hope to own a 500mm. It seemed the dragonfly was the best test and on my computer the cropped photo looked sharper. Nice video.

[@Duade]

G'day Paul, the 400 5.6 is a fantastic little lens that punches above its weight considering its cost. Cheers, Duade

[@paulinefollett3099]

I just loved the Australasian Grebe adult. The reflection was superb. I use the Canon 7D Mk 2 with the 100-400mm f/5.6 IS II. It is a good combo and gives me good results.

[@Duade]

G'day Pauline, thanks for you comment, you have a wonderful kit that I'm sure captures many wonderful shots. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@paulgreen758]

I purchased a 500 in March, then we went lockdown, ive only used it twice, and each time without extender, but judging from your images it seems to work better with extenders than my 600, hopefully ill get out soon to a wildlife area to put it into practice , thank you very much for this video

[@Duade]

Paul, I use an extender 95% of the time and have no issues. Whilst I forgot in this video stopping down is a good strategy, f11 with the 2x seems the best. Cheers, Duade

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

Great vlog as always! some fab shots there too, its always good to grab some shots even in unfavourable conditions or locations as sometimes you can come up trumps! 👍🏼😉

[@Duade]

JP, thanks for the comment, yes, it is funny how sometimes you land a shot you weren't expecting. Often is just being in the right place at the right time and if you are sitting at home you have no chance :-)

[@SkylarkFields]

Loved the dotterel and the dusky moorhen, and seeing the RAW images was interesting for me, as I don't shoot in RAW myself. I have a 100-400mm lens (not Canon) and a 1.4 converter but not had much chance to experiment with it as in UK it's getting on for winter, days are short and the light has been AWFUL!! Thoroughly enjoy your videos, thank you!!

[@Duade]

G'day and thanks for your comment, I would highly recommend shooting in RAW as it captures the most data and helps you to fix white balance, recover highlights etc. Good luck, Cheers, Duade 👍

[@SkylarkFields]

@@Duade Thank you, I will give it a try. :)

[@jjblackmore4818]

New to your channel, and this is the first video of yours I have watched. What was missing for me was a final debrief at home after you had processed the photos. Otherwise quite interesting.

[@Duade]

G'day, thanks for watching the video and the feedback, I appreciate it. Cheers, Duade

[@ceesnabuursfauna2115]

I use this already a while, togheter with the Canon R6. 500mm F4 type 1 and x2III extender. I am happy with the result. The R6 makes a real difference.

[@Duade]

Great to hear CN, I really do need to get a mirrorless as some stage. 🤔👍

[@frostybe3r]

@@Duade Since you can afford a EF 500 II, just get the 1DX R1 lol.

[@Duade]

@@frostybe3r Maybe one day I will get to test one, don't think I will be able to afford a new one somehow. Cheers, Duade

[@frostybe3r]

@@Duade Also just got confirmation from someone who uses currently unreleased calibration software that both the EF 600 II and EF 500 II have the same sharpness rating of 2100, which makes sense as Canon wouldn't release two prime lenses like that with completely different sharpness, especially not at that price point.

[@GRAYnomad]

The Dusky Moorhen chick at 11:45 is the best shot IMO. So you didn't stop down when using the 2x? I always found mine to need a stop to make it sharp but that takes the combo to f11, no good for my old cameras.

[@Duade]

G'day and thanks, yes I usually stop down to F11 so I have no idea why I shot at f8, I can only assume I forgot to change the settings after putting on the 2x. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@BRIONIDESIGN]

Well Duade for me intro video and beautifully captured landscapes of the lake with fog and really intricate music reminded me on Claude Monet and I was seeing water lilies in your pictures in my mind.I think you are born landscape photographer in the early morning and birds specialist when the sun go up and morning magic disappear.Have you consider wide 6x17 format I found it very pleasing ....

[@Duade]

Thanks Goran, I appreciate the comment, I really should look at doing more landscapes, I got so focused on birds I often overlook it. I will try the narrow ratio in the future, Cheers, Duade

[@robguyatt9602]

Re your settings mentioned at 4:00, may I ask why 1/400 when on such a stable mount? In my amateur mind, I would, in that situation have shot at 1/125 or even less. By the way, the "frisbee" base is a great idea. I'll 3d print one. :)

[@Duade]

Rob, I find if you shoot too much lower than 1/400 you will get a lot of motion blur from the bird or you. With long lenses it can be hard to get consistently sharp shots at lower SS. Also if the bird moves or flaps its wings you ideally want a SS above 1/800. Cheers, Duade

[@Mr48374837]

Wonderful comparison Duade, love to see more. May I know what is the stuff that's being used in place of the tripod to hold that gimbal, looks really handy especially how you can drag effortlessly. I struggle a lot to drag my tripod with the heavy lens when taking photos at low level.

[@Duade]

G'day, it is a skimmer ground pod, found here store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ They are very expensive for what they are and I know many people have adapted frying pans and similar. Cheers, Duade

[@Mr48374837]

@@Duade thanks a lot, I’m thinking I may order one soon.

[@808flyer8]

Very nice video - thank you! I will save my pennies for one of those extenders - what a difference it makes in reach and perspective. Stay safe. Mahalo and Aloha.

[@Duade]

G'day, yes they are helpful, the only issue is you need a fast lens for them to work unless you have mirrorless. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@LaytonParham]

I really like the Dotterel. I use the Canon R5, RF 100-500 F4.5-7.1L is lens, and RF 2X teleconverter. Although that combo at 1,000mm is F/14, i make some really sharp images. Photographed Hooded Mergansers for the first time this season. Love the reach.

[@Duade]

Thanks Layton, sounds like a dream setup, glad to hear it is working so well for you. I would love to photograph those Mergansers one day. Cheers, Duade

[@LaytonParham]

@@Duade Travel to Melbourne, Florida and I will take you there! From now till our spring time! We have many excellent bird photo opportunities here! Painted Buntings, White American Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Screech Owls, Barred Owls, Hooded Mergansers, Great Horned Owls, Stilts, Avocets, Bald Eagles, Snail Kites, Osprey Fishing, and more!

[@Duade]

@@LaytonParham Hopefully one day it can happen, sounds like an amazing place. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@albertjackson8468]

I found that using a 150-600 with a APS-C camera to be my best tool to get decent duck and bird photos. I have a 2x, but it isn't much use, too much image degradation for me. My usual rig is the Tamron 150-600 and a Nikon D500 for wildlife photos. The black chicks were great shots. Great expressions.

[@Duade]

G'day Albert, you have a fantastic setup for birds, the D500 is an excellent camera and you would have plenty of reach with the crop factor and 600mm. Cheers, Duade

[@RichardBirchett]

Really good video Duade, nice to see what you can get with the 2x Mk3 and at 1000mm on the D4 is looked very sharp indeed! Love the idea of RAW then processed image shown! Top stuff, new subscriber here, keep up the good work. R 👍

[@Duade]

Richard, welcome to the channel, the 2x does work well but you do lose a little bit of IQ. I usually use the 1.4x the majority of the time only reaching for the 2x if I really need the reach. Cheers, Duade

[@nitinb9202]

I am curious about that ground dish the gimbal is mounted on. It's not in your gear list too.

[@Duade]

You can make your own with a wok or frying pan from Ikea and a 3/8 bolt and mount. Or you can purchase the one I did which is a little expensive. store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ Cheers, Duade

[@toejamr1]

I use the economical setup. The rf 400mm 5.6 with the ef 1.4 ii teleconverter. That gives me 560mm at f8 for about $1,000 usd. Just got the R5 and it works even better now. I would love to have the $12k usd setup like yours but my wallet is already angry enough. I actually prefer your shots with the 500. I like having the context to go with the shot. The first one you showed was killer.

[@Duade]

Thanks Brad, great setup you have, I am trying to get out of the habit of photographing everything up close, I will continue to try and get more habitat in my shots. Cheers, Duade

[@PaulMoorePhotography]

Thanks for sharing ... have you done a video pairing this lens with the Canon R5? If not I'd be interested in you thoughts. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@Duade]

G'day, yes, I have used that combo extensively and it works very well. Recent video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnOZgaBpYr10bKc Cheers, Duade

[@chimpy9823]

Hi Duade, good video mate, to answer your question I much prefer the 1,000mm shots, the compression the lens and TC combination, gives the shots a 3D feel. I'm shooting with the Canon EOS R6 and the 800mm f11 and the 100-400mm IS L it's a great set up, the 800mm is a really useable lens as it is super sharp and hand holdable, you need to check the R6 or R5 out as the eye AF is a game changer for wildlife photography.

[@Duade]

G'day Ron, thanks for the feedback, congrats on the r6 and 800 f11, I really need to get hold of that setup to test. I plan to move to mirrorless at some stage, the R7 maybe a very interesting camera if I can wait that long. I'm sure once I have a play with the eye AF I will be wanting to switch straight away. Cheers, Duade

[@chimpy9823]

@@Duade Duade, I switched from a 1DX II and the R6 beats the 1DX hands down pretty much in every way apart from weather sealing and build, saying that the R6 isn't too shabby lol. The AF in the R6 is nothing short of stunning, I guarantee if you try a R5 or 6 you'll want one mate. Keep up the good work mate👍.

[@messylaura]

x2 with a the f4 is a great combo, if you look for vintage m42 mount teleconverters there are alot of x3's i got a takumar pentax one and converted it for my M mount canon

[@Duade]

G'day, sounds interesting, teleconverters can work well but you do need extra light which can be an issue at times. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@kriscu16]

crazy how much the landscape changed!

[@Duade]

G'day Kris, yes, we had a very wet winter which has filled up the lake nicely. Cheers, Duade

[@mynaturelens]

Thanks Duade for another video. I use Sony 200-600mm for my bird photography.

[@Duade]

Great to hear Prashant, appears to be a very popular lens. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

Very nice tnx for sharing. The dragon fly crop is a lot more noisy than the 2x equivalent. This is something I found in my own tests in the garden the teleconverter always wins compared to equivalent cropping for stationary subject. I usually go for leaves or tree-bark section as I want to be able to replicate the results. And stopping doing really helps. I do not know how it would appear with higher resolution bodies but my results are replicated in a crop body with high pixel density. Although I do not think crop sensors (in my 7DII) and 2x work particularly well together. Much happier with the results I obtain from my FF body (6D) when using the 2x. I find this strange as in theory the crop sensor should only make use of the centre part of the lens which is of higher quality. So I cannot explain it just a subjective assessment. Perhaps you could have a go with your crop body and tell us what you find.

[@Duade]

G'day Dimitris, thanks for sharing your experience it is very helpful. I do plan on doing further testing in the future. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@MannyScoot]

The Canon 2X Teleconverter version III is amazingly Tack Sharp..... and I mean Tack Sharp !!!! and when you use a teleconverter the F-stop doesn't change, the in camera TTL keeps the exposure correctly and the only thing that chages is your shutter speed.....so keep the F-stop at F4 and shoot at 500 shutter speed...... It's not a problem to use a TC !!!!!

[@Duade]

G'day, the 2x will change your aperture by a factor of 2x, so you won't be able to shoot at f4 but instead f8 will be your fastest aperture. Glad to hear it is working well for you. Cheers, Duade

[@shizenjapan]

Great video and photos. I do a lot of bird photography, both big and small birds. I use the sigma 150-600mm lens with a Nikon d5300 body, and as it is a crop sensor I am getting the equivalent to 225-900mm so some serious reach. It takes crystal clear photos and can get some lovely background blur too. For anyone interested you can check out some of my bird and dragonfly photos on my Shizen Japan Facebook page. I also have some landscape photos that I took using my wide angle lenses.

[@Duade]

Sounds like a great flexible kit you have, I would like to try out the Sigma and Tamron zooms at some stage. Cheers, Duade

[@tysonator5433]

My wildlife go to lens on my 7Dii is my sigma 150-600 contemporary.

[@Duade]

G'day Tyson, I would love to test the Tamron and Sigma zooms at some stage. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@robguyatt9602]

I do find myself wanting more reach. Looking at my past shots, it is clear I am looking to just shoot the bird and not bird in the environment. Till recently, I have mostly been shooting 500mm + 1.4x. I do have the 2.0x but it doesn't AF with the 200-500 zoom so difficult for birds. I have got some good shots with the 2.0x of Dragonflies though. Now I have gone mirrorless and to my pleasant surprise the Z 100-400mm with 2.0x works very well. Still waiting for the Z 800mm PF F6.3. I suspect I will not need more than 800mm for what I shoot but time will tell. I will give the converters a go on 800. :)

[@Duade]

Rob, congrats on the new lenses, the 800 looks amazing and I wish we had it for Canon. Good luck with it, Cheers, Duade

[@lukasstilsonarstad4060]

The Grey Teal photos are beautiful!

[@Duade]

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade

[@rogermullins7877]

i Prefer to use my Canon 600 f4. If necessary I put on the 1.4 TC. If really far off I will go to the x2 TC but always feel the images become a little soft when using it. I have spent hours fine tuning the various combinations but still not too happy using the x2.

[@Duade]

Thanks Roger, from what I have seen f11 looks sharpest when using a 2x, It is nice to have but like you the 1.4 is my default. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@blayral]

recently got a first gen canon 500mm. even if the focus is terribly slow with 2X teleconverter, the image quality is still there and the loss is marginal compared to the 150-600 with the same tele. that's without saying with the sigma you need to use live view while i can still use my af on my 5D

[@Duade]

That is great to hear, I am happy to hear you are enjoying it, Cheers, Duade

[@blayral]

@@Duade I enjoy it less when i have to crawl hand-holding it on the beach, 4 kilos start to be a tad heavy if you don't have a ground pod xD

[@shinysurfer]

Great video Duade. Love how you edit your photos and the fact that you show the raw/edited comparison. Such a clean and "no nonsense" style. I use a sony 200-600 on a A7RIV and it lives permanently at 600 plus the 1.5 crop (26Mpx) so a 900mm F6,3 (with the DOF conversion for APS-c of course). Amazing for small birds, but the trade off is tripod is a must. between the focal length equivalent, the pixel size of the A7RIV, the weight and the max aperture, hand holding is a luxury only available in the brightest of days., and I live in the UK, so. . ..yep 😂

[@Duade]

Gday, yes that lens sounds amazing and I would love to test it one day. Sounds like you have your ultimate setup, have fun with it. Cheers, Duade

[@kolapyellow7631]

Beautiful shots.

[@Duade]

Thanks Kolap, Cheers, Duade 👍

[@cyberdome]

i have the same setup, Thank you for Making this Video.

[@Duade]

My pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@robscotcher]

I'm currently using a Canon 100 - 400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS lens with a 1.4 extender and I'm looking at my options to gain greater focal length. I was interested to see the images of both the 500mm and 1000mm (2x extender), as I need the extra reach for the birds that live in the estuary habitat. I was wondering if there is a major difference between the 500mm mk1 and the 500mm mk2 used in this video, as price is always a factor?

[@cadmus777]

Awesome comparison, especially the dragonfly. Is the focus off a bit on the 500mm shot? It seems strange that it's sharper at 1000mm, and less noisy, so I'm thinking the focus is the big difference here. I shoot a Sony 500mm F4, and I've only just picked up a 1.4TC, but from 500 to 700 is nowhere near the difference a 2x will give. Thanks!

[@Duade]

Thanks, yes it could well be, the 500 is sharper than the 2x, which degrades the quality. Also I was shooting from the same position so the narrow DOF and bigger subject may also have something to do with it. Cheers, Duade

[@vetboyschmo6093]

Hey Duade - great video as always. I noticed that at the beginning, while you struggle with the low light, you didn't have your aperture open as far as possible (I think a couple of shots were 500mm f5.6 with iso 1600). Curious as to why not open all the way in lower light? Still relatively new and learning. Thanks

[@Duade]

G'day, yes, I probably should have shot at f4, I think out of habit I usually shoot at the lenses sharpest aperture which is usually stopped down by a stop or 2, So, 5.6-8 on the f4. Cheers, Duade

[@williamcinco2489]

Nice video Duade👍👍more please🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊

[@Duade]

Thanks William, I will try to keep the videos coming, Cheers, Duade

[@philipgowdy]

Would like to of seen a bit more from you on your opinion of the image quality. It looks like a miss focus on the Dragonfly with the 500mm as the teleconverter image seems sharper. Regards.

[@Duade]

Thanks Philip, I was pleasantly surprised with the IQ with the 2x. It is sharper stopped down to f10,f11 so you need a lot of light to be able to use it well. Here is the photos of the dragonfly at 500mm photos.duadepaton.com/KZbin/500mm-vs-1000mm-/i-hgh84K6/A Cheers, Duade

[@fenraven]

I always prefer getting as close as possible to wildlife, so here's my vote for 1000mm. :) I have a Sony mirrorless, and those cameras offer Clear Image Zoom, which is a superior digital zoom because blah blah (they give technical reasons why it's so great, but they're right; it's terrific if you're using a tripod. Handheld, never go past 50%). With my Sigma 150-600 lens, I can effectively double range to 1200mm. JPEG only, however, so if you're devoted to RAW, get a teleconverter instead.

[@Duade]

G'day Theo, sounds like an interesting feature to get more reach. We sure are lucky with the cameras we have these days. Cheers, Duade

[@naturalezainvisible4688]

Thanks for sharing your experience with 2x converter , I will go to buy a new one .I have a Ef-500mm + 5drs camera

[@Duade]

Hi Miguel, just make sure it is a version 3 teleconverter and you use an aperture of f11 -f13. Cheers, Duade

[@jamesljellison4884]

Outstanding demo of your techniques. The demo felt real, not staged. I enjoy your presentation style - low key and informative. How does the new RF 2x lens extender compare to the EF extender used in this demo? I'm and debating whether to add a RF 1.4x or RF 1.4x to use with my RF 100-500mm lens.

[@Duade]

James, the RF extenders will be better, the 1.4 is better suited to the 100-500 then the 2x IMO. With a 2x it becomes a 1000 f/14 I think which means you need a lot of light and the AF and IQ will still take a hit. Cheers, Duade

[@aryabandyopadhyay7399]

Great photos man ..... loved it.

[@Duade]

Thanks Arya, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade 👍

[@TwoTracksOutdoors]

Love your very informative and practical YT videos, Duade. Was wondering, when using this set up on your tripod, do you disable your lens IS setting and if not, what IS setting do you use? Always look fwd to your next video.

[@Duade]

Mike, thanks for your comment, I never turn off the IS as I am too forgetful and would forget to turn it back on. Pretty sure it is set to IS mode 1 on my 500. Cheers, Duade

[@andersonboy620]

Nice video Duade! Kind of surprising that the dragonfly looks sharper with the teleconverter on... I was thinking that prime fix lenses are ones good for the teleconverter, and looks like peoplo use mostly from 200 till 600 mm lenses with TCs. I guess that there more less is the sweet spot. Bigger lenses like 800 or more I would say start getting too dark with a TC, specially the 2x. What would you say about that?

[@Duade]

it might just have been that photo as overall the 2x does impact more than the 1.4 and I don't use it that often. Yes, you also need more light with the extenders as well. I find the 1.4 is great and use that almost all of the time. Cheers, Duade

[@briansbuildsandoutdoors4936]

The lake looks familiar. If it's where I think it is, I've walked around it a few times, I didn't have a camera with me though. All the best, Brian.

[@Duade]

G'day Brian, it is the town lake at Chiltern. A lovely spot. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@briansbuildsandoutdoors4936]

@@Duade Thought I recognised it. My Dad used to live in the caravan park there.

[@Duade]

Yeah it is a nice spot. 👍

[@user-ln8sm8vw9y_DavidPlumpton]

I am thinking of purchasing a 2 x extender for my 500 prime. Seams like you preferred it.

[@birddude9822]

Wow there are lots of baby birds in the lake! Great pictures as well :) I will have a easy time choosing between 2x or 500mm, my 500mm 5.6 can't take it. And also is that the Chiltern Town Lake? I will be visiting there this summer. Glad the drought is over!

[@Duade]

G'day mate, yes it was Chiltern, you could use a 2x if you use a mirrorless camera, not sure what that would be like but could be worth trying. Good luck this summer. Cheers, Duade

[@scalaacom]

Depending on your body, the 1.4 would work putting you at F8. Also assuming canon make a 1.4!

[@manashgonewild]

Great man.. Loved it

[@Duade]

Thanks for the ongoing support Manash. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@mikesmart3734]

Great video mate. Just came back from the Coorong and my x2 didn't come off my 600. One of your previous videos talked about shooting at f8 or higher, even though that's as open as I can go with a x2 it is definitely the lens sweet spot.

[@Duade]

Thanks Mike, would love to get down to the Coorong at some stage, I assume there is a good flow there at the moment. Yeah a 2x can come in very handy that is for sure. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@fotoemozioni76]

Hi Duade, thanx for the great video you always brought tu us 👍 What is that gimbal head plate? Is something that can be found in the shops or is it handmade by Yourself, I am interested in it but i cannot find it nowhere.

[@Duade]

It is called a Skimmer Ground Pod, it is expensive for what it is and many people make their own. I got it here. store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ Cheers, Duade

[@fotoemozioni76]

@@Duade thank you very much

[@eliadallari]

hello what is the name or your ground floor support for gimbal ??thanks

[@anniehuang4420]

I love the last photo you took. Would you talk more about the 2x extender? My camera has trouble focusing with the 2x on.

[@Duade]

Hi Annie, thank you, what lens and series 2x are you using? Cheers, Duade

[@anniehuang4420]

@@Duade Canon Extender EF 2x III. FYI. I am from PNW in the states, it is often cloudy or rainy.

[@anniehuang4420]

@@Duade Canon 600mm f/4 IS III USM and 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM EF.

[@Duade]

@@anniehuang4420 Hi Annie, lovely lenses you have, the 2x should work well on the 600 f4 but will not work on the 100-400 on a DSLR. Both should work on a mirrorless body. I would suggest using an aperture of f11 as lenses are sharpest stopped down, if I shoot at f8 my shots are not as sharp. I do find the 1.4 converter works very well on my 500 f4. So perhaps only use the 2x when the light is good. Cheers, Duade

[@anniehuang4420]

@@Duade thanks a lot for the tips. I have tried so many times with 2x with a little success, will again. On the other hand, 1.4x would have a higher rate of sharpness. I am almost certain that I have used f/8 or f/9 a lot since the lights are not always great.

[@zedlyfe]

Have you ever used the Sigma 500 f4? If so, how does it compare to the Canon?

[@wcbibb]

As an amateur photographer who rarely makes prints of bird photos, I use a Lumix G9 and a 100-400mm Panasonic-Leica lens (800mm equivalent because of smaller sensor). At 73 years old, I have problems carrying heavy lenses. The downsides are shooting in low light and making enlarged prints. It may be that I need full-frame for some occasions. That's okay with me except for spending the money. Most of my bird photos are for my own personal identification and study of birds. It is unlikely that I will decorate the house with bird photos. Friends constantly urge me to enter my photos in contests. Why? I have owned many cameras since 1967. But portability and relative light weight are huge pluses for me at this point.

[@Duade]

William, thank you for your comment, the new mirrorless cameras and RF lenses are very light and make a nice change from the heavy lenses. Competitions are an interesting thing, for me I want birds to have as much exposure as possible, if competitions do that then its a good thing. Cheers, Duade

[@petertown9467]

Your videos motivate me to get out and try different locations and types of birds. I'm trying to decide what lens to buy (second Hand) the Canon 500mm of 400mm prime of course. Any thoughts you may have would be gratefully appreciated.

[@Sashman077]

Glad that youtube recommended your video. Great contents. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to watch more. You certainly deserve more subscribers. What is the circular plate you’re fixing your gimbal on? I need this!

[@Duade]

Denis and welcome to the channel, I am happy you found it. The ground pod is pretty expensive for what it is and a number of people have made their own with frying pans etc. The one I use I got from here store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ Cheers, Duade

[@donaldouellette1969]

Question will the 2 x iii auto focus work well with a Canon 7D MKII and the 500mm f4 lens

[@lcador9]

First, I have the same question as others as to why you are taking shots at /1200, at high ISO and at f/5.6? These shots could have effectively been shot at f/4 and at twice the speed resulting in a much lower ISO. Secondly, the photos taken with a TC were noticeably less sharp. Alternative is to get yourself into or onto the water in order to fill the frame.

[@Duade]

I never shoot wide open at f4 if I can help it, the lens is sharper stopped down and I prefer the extra depth of field. ISO1600 to me is a starting ISO and is not high for the 5D4, I shoot at ISO3200 without issue and will shoot at ISO6400 with that camera. a 2x TC is always going to reduce the quality and is something I will only use when I really need the extra reach. I rarely use the 2x as I prefer to get close however some birds just won't let you get close. It's nice to have the option. Cheers, Duade

[@Carlos00123]

What kind of ground pod do you use? Curious to know if there’s any specific one you prefer

[@Duade]

Hi Carlos, I use a skimmer ground pod from naturescapes, it is expensive and many people make their own with frying pans and other things. Be sure to check out this video where I show it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKqUiKmDiNKee7M Cheers, Duade

[@chipootlee]

Thanks for vídeo, greetings from México

[@Duade]

G'day Salvador, greetings from Australia, Cheers, Duade

[@blisteringbooks2428]

As a pro motorsport photographer I usually carried something like a machete to prune vegetation that might spoil the shot [ close up off road ], maybe a pair of scissors in your bag to clip away annoying grass!

[@Duade]

Thanks for the tip, sounds like a fun type of photography if the Escort in your profile pic is anything to go by. Cheers, Duade

[@blisteringbooks2428]

@@Duade on one video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmGUYaWNZZZkgqM a car gets rather close, gave me a bit of a fright, but as you know, position is everything. Oh, I now have that R5!

[@Duade]

Oh very close, stay safe out there. Cheers, Duade

[@Mr_Coli]

Currently still creeping on 210mm APSC (a6000) with the worst imaginable sony lens haha 😅. But I am already saving up for a 600mm, but currently I am unsure about getting the Sigma 150-600 or the Sony 200-600, Sigma has the better price and the better minimum focus distance, but the Sony will work with Teleconverters, has a closed design and arguably better IQ. I will save up some money and see if the market developed until then 🙃. Great video, thanks!

[@Duade]

Pascal, the Sony 200-600 is incredible and well worth saving for. You also get full FPS with that lens, I think some non Sony lenses don't get full FPS. Cheers, Duade

[@Mr_Coli]

@@Duade The FPS thing is true. Did not even consider that.

[@gary_michael_flanagan_wildlife]

Thanks for the review Duade. I love my EF 600mm II lens. It works terrific with both TC III versions. And I am really picky and still very impressive! I do find that I sometimes miss my OLD EF 500mm f 4.5L lens because it was so light and easier to hand hold. Have you shot with any of the new RF lenses? Just curious if you think they are worth the price with the new mirrorless bodies. I have an R6 now that I love, and adapt the lenses to

[@kayhamilton5943]

Great video thanks for sharing can you please give some information on the camera stand and where they are available please

[@Duade]

G'day Kay, I got it from here store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ and I did a video reviewing it here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKqUiKmDiNKee7M Cheers, Duade

[@kayhamilton5943]

@@Duade thanks for info,very grateful

[@Duade]

@@kayhamilton5943 My pleasure Kay. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@wirawira2839]

Hello, how is the image quality with 500mm with the 2x etender ? and how about the AF ? is it still fast enough to focus ?

[@Duade]

Hi Wira Wira, the IQ does take a hit and AF slows down a touch but still works. It works much better on mirrorless in terms of AF. Cheers, Duade

[@revoland]

What is the name of this nice base bowl for your gimbal?

[@Duade]

G'day Yaniv, I got it from here store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ You could make your own from a frying pad or similar. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@koolkutz7]

Nice comparison Duade. The 1000mm set-up looked really good and pulls the birds up close. I like the dusky moorhen images. I currently use a Nikon D7500 & Sigma 150-600 C lens which is pretty decent for wildlife as it gives me the FF equiv. of 225mm-900mm at F6.3 max aperture. I've got some good results with it over the last couple of years.

[@Duade]

Steve, great to hear you are getting great shots with your kit. Cheers, Duade

[@alpinist3178]

I have a 55-250 lens with a canon 700d so what lens do I upgrade to? I thought a canon 300mm f2.8 or 400mm f5.6 and 70d?

[@Duade]

G'day Kabir, the 400 5.6 would be an upgrade over the 55-250 for sure, the latest 100-400 is also nice but expensive. Good luck, Cheers, Duade

[@alpinist3178]

@@Duade so I should go for the 400mm and a 70d it is used for $1000 on keh?

[@Duade]

@@alpinist3178 I would save for the Canon 100-400 version 2 and use that with your 700d. Then save for a 7dmk2 or 80d, I'm not sure the 70d is that much of an upgrade on your 700d. Good luck.

[@alpinist3178]

@@Duade ok thanks for the advice 👍 (Will u come to India?)

[@ingabasp]

Hello! What is the name of the base that hold the arm with lens?

[@Duade]

Gday Gabriel, it is called a skimmer ground pod, they are expensive for what they are and many people make their own with frying pans etc. store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ Cheers, Duade

[@ingabasp]

@@Duade thank you! have a good day :)

[@jrrockett]

What do you call that bowl you put the Gimbal on

[@Duade]

G'day Jered, it is called a skimmer ground pod. Got mine here store.naturescapes.net/skimmer-ground-pod-ii-camera-support-for-bird-and-wildlife-photography/ but you can make your own if you are handy, some people use a frying pan. I did a review of it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKqUiKmDiNKee7M Cheers, Duade

[@raadbtoush8114]

i use Nikon D500, Nikkor 600 mm F.4E and Nikon 1.4 mark 3 teleconverter combo ..it does make a huge difference especially when photographing small birds with no compromise as regards image quality.. never tried the 2 times teleconverter but my guess is that it works better on full frame than crop sensor bodies...very nice images Duade

[@Duade]

G'day Raad, sounds like an amazing setup you have with the additional 1.5 crop. I think the Nikon 2x has some issues with IQ from people I know who have used it. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@HollisRules]

Thanks for the video. Is there a noticeable sharpness trade off with the TC when you’re printing or viewing on your PC? Hard to tell on youtube and an iPad.

[@Duade]

G'day James, you really need to stop down to f11 for the sharpest shots. There is a slight drop in IQ but processing overcomes some of those issues. It's just nice to have the option. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@HollisRules]

@@Duade Thanks so much! I had a 400mm f2.8 USM II in the Ngorongoro Crater in September of ‘19 and I sporadically used the 2x and the 1.4x but I was stopping down to 5.6 or so. You really need reach in the crater as the Safari vehicles can’t go off road. I’ve upgraded to a 600mm usm iii. Where should I stop on the 600 plus the 2x for the sharpest pics?

[@Duade]

@@HollisRules g'day James, congrats on the lens. I suspect f11 will be the sharpest but that lens is such good quality that it is probably reasonably sharp at f8. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@HollisRules]

@@Duade Thanks for the insight!!!!!

[@lucasswart2987]

Great vid 👍, was considering buying a new lens however it doesn’t have autofocus and i was wondering how hard is it to use only manual focus for wildlife photography?

[@Duade]

G'day Lucas, it would be very difficult to photograph birds without autofocus. I have never tried myself, but birds and wildlife move so often it would be hard to track them unless they stood still. Good luck in your search for a lens. Cheers, Duade

[@lucasswart2987]

Thanks for the reply Duade and for all the great video’s 🙏

[@Duade]

@@lucasswart2987 My pleasure :-)

[@Anarki2U]

I will prefer a 1.4x teleconverter and a APSC camera :) Or a very high resolution "fullformat" sensor camera in crop-mode

[@Duade]

Yes the R7 if APSC will be interesting, Fuji seem to be doing very well with their sensors and video. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@AnandKumarnullRA]

Can we use teleconverters on crop sensor cameras?

[@Duade]

Hi Anand, yes you can, most newer DSLR cameras will allow autofocus up to a max aperture of f8. So if I have a 400 5.6 lens and put in a 1.4 converter it becomes a 560 f8 however I cannot use a 2x because it becomes an 800 f11. However if you have a mirrorless camera they will focus past f8. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@limvo1260]

Great video! Would be interested to know your thought re the sharpness or lack off when using the 2X convertor. I have the same 2x mark iii convertor and I have mixed feeling about it when using with my 300 f2.8 IS.

[@Duade]

Lim, there is no doubt a small IQ reduction but it works well for me. I suspect the converters work better with Version 2 and above lenses. I have used a 300 2.8 IS II with a 2x and it worked very well. Cheers, Duade

[@user-kk9cw]

Hi Duade, I'm using a Canon 300mm F4 with a1DX mkII as I'm on budget. I have considered using a x2 converter but I'm sure about the following: What the minimum apeture once the converter is on f6.3?, How much noise does the converter add is there still goof detailin the shots? I've heard the x2 converter really slows down the response time of the auto focus what was your experience?

[@Duade]

G'day, a 2x will lose 2 stops so your max aperture will go from f4 to f8. And yes AF and IQ will take a fair hit. The 1.4x converter will be a better option making your lens I think a 420 f5.6. just remember to shoot at around f8 for maximum sharpness. Also I would only get a version 3 extender. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@stampydragon2739]

Id say do this again using a 1.6x converter and see the difference would be good to know

[@rahulsahni3199]

nice video.. presentation is also very nice..

[@Duade]

Thanks Rahul, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade

[@jopezu]

wow, a ground tripod does exist! great session.

[@Duade]

G'day, yes the ground pod is very handy. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@frostybe3r]

I've noticed you hardly ever shoot at f4, why?

[@Duade]

G'day, I found the lens is sharper around 7.1-9 and I prefer more depth of field. If I have no light, I would use f4. Cheers, Duade

[@frostybe3r]

@@Duade Did you get a bad copy? Maybe it's your camera? It should be sharpest at f4, that's the whole point of this $9000 lens. Otherwise why not just use a $1000 one lol

[@Duade]

@@frostybe3r I think you will find all lenses are sharper stopped down from the max aperture, so 7.1-9. The f4 gives the camera more light to focus even when set to f8, you can also use extenders easily, plus the depth of field is just too narrow at f4 which causes part of your subject to be out of focus. I would always suggest using f8-f10 if you have the available light. Of course, if you want a really out of focus background or you have low light then f4 would be an advantage.

[@frostybe3r]

@@Duade I'll see how it does tomorrow, got one used for £5K, hopefully its in working order.

[@rsfox79]

Nice Video, thanks for sharing

[@Duade]

G'day Romel, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade 👍

[@1stSphinx]

Amazing Video again, like always. I couldnt find a Video about when you use the image stabilizer or not. Did you make already a vid about IS/VR/VC etc ? Ive got a 500mm f4 and sometimes i get sharper pictures with and sometimes without turned on stabilizer.(( Ive got a Nikon one) How do you handle it? Would be pretty interested in the proper use of stabilizers in various situations. Does it make sense to use it with fast shutter times? On a Tripod fully off? Maybe you can help me a bit with your experiences :) Greets, Marcus

[@Duade]

G'day Marcus, If I'm being honest I tend to be lazy at times so leave the IS on, the lens I have has very good IS and I don't notice any issues with it on. IS is only really helpful at slower SS anyway so most of the time you don't need it. My 400 5.6 does not have IS and I still get really nice shots with it, I just have to remember not to go under 1/400 if I can help it. I guess you could always leave it turned off and just turn on when your SS get low. I might have to do some tests. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@1stSphinx]

@@Duade thanks a lot! Hopefully we gonna get a nice video of your tests :)

[@farhatafza2739]

Is there really worth buying 500mm lense markii? or mark i is also beautiful to capture birds

[@Duade]

Farhat, version 2 is lighter, sharper, quicker AF and has a better MFD. I believe it adds up to be a much better lens. However version 1 will still take nice shots, it is just getting pretty heavy at 4kg. Cheers, Duade

[@farhatafza2739]

@@Duade Thank you Duade but version too is much pricey too haha

[@richardgifford3456]

Can I ask what processing software you use, the raw images look pretty soft but once you've processed, they are excellent.

[@Duade]

G'day, I have been using Lightroom to convert my Raw files and Photoshop for the final touches. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@richardgifford3456]

@@Duade Many thanks for the reply, I also use Lightroom but can't seem to get the images as crisp as yours. Maybe I need to update to the latest version but not keen on subscription. Keep up the great work :)

[@crispinmathew8379]

Awesome refreshing content!

[@Duade]

Thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade 👍

[@ruley74]

I'm still a bit mixed on using the 2x, if you can fill the frame and not after fine detail they seem ok, but they definately penalise IQ

[@Duade]

G'day Ruley, yes they can impact the IQ and really need good light to be useful. Cheers, Duade

[@ruley74]

@@Duade Thanks Duade. Agreed, I'm still carrying it with my 400/2.8 but seldom use it. (should add Nikon system, maybe not quite as good as the canon extenders)

[@Duade]

@@ruley74 G'day, yes, I have heard similar reports about the Nikon 2x. Cheers, Duade