Anyone have experience with Sigma's

[John Mueller]

2X extender?
TIA

[Harryb]

2X extender?
TIA
Yep. I have used one with my Sigma 70-200. Didn't like it and haven't used it again. Just slowed down the lens too much for me.

[limbik]

2X extender?
TIA
I am currently testing the DG version on the 70-200 EX DG. f5.6 is fine in sunlight, but it seems to do something odd to the background, I will post some tests soon.

[limbik]

OK, see if this link works for you:

http://limbik.smugmug.com/gallery/765894/1/33840345

[Nikolai]

OK, see if this link works for you:

http://limbik.smugmug.com/gallery/765894/1/33840345
... this TC screws up the bokeh pretty hard.:scratch

Thanks for taking the efforts testing and sharing!:thumb
Cheers!:1drink

[limbik]

... this TC screws up the bokeh pretty hard.:scratch

Thanks for taking the efforts testing and sharing!:thumb
Cheers!:1drink You bet! :1drink
It is rather dissapointing. It almost makes it look crosshatched or something in the background, very distracting. I'm still waiting to get my hands on a 1.4x DG and I will post those results, but at the moment I'm debating if I really want to keep the 2x.

[John Mueller]

Hmmmmmm
thanks guys.
Maybe Ill go with another Canon 1.4 and try stacking them.:dunno

[limbik]

Hmmmmmm
thanks guys.
Maybe Ill go with another Canon 1.4 and try stacking them.:dunno
Woah, now there's an idea :huh
What lens are you using John?

[John Mueller]

Woah, now there's an idea :huh
What lens are you using John? 300L f4.0 IS and I would like to try with my 135L f2.0

[limbik]

If anybody has the Canon EF 2x II TC, I'd love to see similar tests with the Canon lens.

[DoctorIt]

Just as a note, I have the 1.4x DG and I don't think it does nearly the ruining that the 2x does. If it ever stops pouring out, I'll try to run a quick sample for you with my 100-300mm.

I have a friend who has both and he only pulls out the 2x when he needs real reach.

[limbik]

Does the sigma 2x TC work on the Canon 70-200? I would test it if i had one, as I am now wondering if it is the TC distorting the bokeh or if this lens just has particularly unpleasant bokeh and magnified by the 2x is more obvious. :scratch

-update-

I took a few good looks at the raw images again and realized two things:

First, yes it seems that this TC does do strange things to the bokeh and I tried to formulate exactly what is happening to cause this, but alas I am no engineer.

Then I realized that I have serious doubts about Adobe Camera Raw as it seems to bring out or create those large cross-hatches in the image. Originally I attributed it to the jpg compression, but that should be minimal at the settings I use and as I suspected I could see it pre-compression.
I am new to the raw format, and may be totally wrong, but is the software converting the raw file the most likely source for this problem? Any ideas, or tips for getting the best output from my raw files?

[DoctorIt]

Then I realized that I have serious doubts about Adobe Camera Raw as it seems to bring out or create those large cross-hatches in the image. Originally I attributed it to the jpg compression, but that should be minimal at the settings I use and as I suspected I could see it pre-compression.
I am new to the raw format, and may be totally wrong, but is the software converting the raw file the most likely source for this problem? Any ideas, or tips for getting the best output from my raw files?Now that is something I've never heard before.

:scratch

The only time I've seen noise or something bad introduced when converting from RAW is when you push a little too hard. Like +2 stops in exposure, that will bring out some serious noise. But this cross-hatching, I've never heard of it. Can you post a sample somehow? Take the same photo jpg and raw, then show us the raw result?

[limbik]

The link that I posted earlier contains 2 images that were both taken RAW and converted to jpg. I thought it had something to do with the jpg, but when I looked at those same images via adobe camera raw, the effect is visible in the background. I am currently testing Capture One to see if it comes out any different, but it is a lot to digest.

[JamesJWeg]

Yep. I have used one with my Sigma 70-200. Didn't like it and haven't used it again. Just slowed down the lens too much for me.
PM me if you want to sell it, I have need for it in a high light situation.

James.

[limbik]

Will Canon's EF II 2x TC work on the Sigma 70-200 f2.8?

[gluwater]

If anybody has the Canon EF 2x II TC, I'd love to see similar tests with the Canon lens.
This thread has all the pictures except the last one taken with a Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS with a Canon 2x II TC on a 20D shot in RAW and processed with ACR then sharpened in CS2.

I have never noticed any wierd background effects like you have. The only negatives about the 2x TC are that it is slow to AF in low light and it greatly reduces the sharpness of your shots. Besides that it works well.

Nick

[limbik]

This thread has all the pictures except the last one taken with a Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS with a Canon 2x II TC on a 20D shot in RAW and processed with ACR then sharpened in CS2.

Nick
Thanks! Nice shots, thats exactly what I was looking for :thumb
I'm still trying to get to the bottom of my raw conversion issue, I'll post those questions in the software forum.