Full-Frame Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS + 2x TC Image Thread

[Doug Herr]

• ILCE-1
• FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS + 2X Teleconverter
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 800

 

[Doug Herr]

• ILCE-1
• FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS + 2X Teleconverter
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 200

 

[Amor Lucis]

OK, I took the 300GM out on a bouncy jolting bus through the savannah area of Werribee Zoo. First observation - the IBIS + OSS is genuinely effective at neutralising the bumps and jolts.

This is with the 2x teleconverter - you know, the one that people slam as decreasing image quality? There was mention in the 300GM announcement about it waking well with the teleeconverters. I had to try it, right?

This was shot at f/5.6 (wide open with the TC) ISO 800 1/2000 at an effective focal length of 600mm.

This combination is just a tad lighter than the 600 GM (1.67kg instead of 3kg). Also lighter than the 200-600 G (2.1kg), and f/5.6 instead of f/6.3, but lacking the zoom. I'm getting old enough that I'm struggling a bit with the 200-600 (weight and length) - no such problems with this.

Full frame as shot. No denoise. no output sharpening.

View attachment 55942

And now details at 100%

View attachment 55943

Note that they do not have a skin condition - they were in a mud wallow earlier, and clearly enjoyed it. These are Southern "White" rhinos.

Gosh - I have to admit - that is *impressively sharp*. I'd never use the 2x TC with my 200-600mm G because of the hit in image quality. Even my 1.4TC hardly ever gets used (and when it does it is usually on the 100-400mm), but this looks really sharp. Well done!
I'm still more tempted, to be honest, by the Sigma 500mm f5.6 at half the price and even less weight. I suspect that cropped on the a7Riv or v to match the extra 100mm it might still be a match for IQ. Granted, you lose some flexibility as well since you can't use TCs, but at least 95% of my shots with the 200-600mm (bird photography) are at 600mm anyway. And it will be interesting to see how sharp and pricey is the 400-800mm f6.3-8 G lens that is expected to be announced in February.

 

[AlphaWorld]

Gosh - I have to admit - that is *impressively sharp*. I'd never use the 2x TC with my 200-600mm G because of the hit in image quality. Even my 1.4TC hardly ever gets used (and when it does it is usually on the 100-400mm), but this looks really sharp. Well done!
I'm still more tempted, to be honest, by the Sigma 500mm f5.6 at half the price and even less weight. I suspect that cropped on the a7Riv or v to match the extra 100mm it might still be a match for IQ. Granted, you lose some flexibility as well since you can't use TCs, but at least 95% of my shots with the 200-600mm (bird photography) are at 600mm anyway. And it will be interesting to see how sharp and pricey is the 400-800mm f6.3-8 G lens that is expected to be announced in February.

I have come to the conclusion that the negative comments about the 2x TC are probably from people using it with zoom lenses, and fair enough, too - I have used the 2x with the 200-600, and there are two negatives: the largest aperture at 600mm x 2 is f/13; and yes, there is an impact on sharpness.

When they say that the large primes are built to work well with the teleconverters, I think that’s because it is possible to design a prime to do so; a zoom, maybe not.