Nightheron- Bigma + Tamron 1.4X test

Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
edited January 31, 2005 in Wildlife
Hello all,
I received the Tamron 1.4X $80 TC, from B&H last week. The weather finally cooperated and I was able to see how this TC worked on the Bigma. I left it wide open (F5.6 reported, F9 actual exposure).

The good news is that it AF's fairly acurately (nowhere near as good as without the TC) and that I don't see much/any image degradation. The bad news is that the AF is pretty slow and it does hunt alot :cry No biggie, I expected this kind of result when using this combo. I'll be trying it (the TC) on my 70-200mm, today. Judging by my first experiences, the combo works much better. Much faster AF (aperture set to F5.6).

Anyhow here's the nightheron (at least I think it's a nightheron....lol) Full zoom, about 20 feet away, aperture wide open.

15019131-L.jpg


Thanks for taking the time to look :-)

Steve
SmugMug Support Hero

Comments

  • NirNir Registered Users Posts: 1,400 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2005
    Full frame Steve?

    Beautiful results!
    __________________

    Nir Alon

    images of my thoughts
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited January 30, 2005
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Hello all,
    I received the Tamron 1.4X $80 TC, from B&H last week. The weather finally cooperated and I was able to see how this TC worked on the Bigma. I left it wide open (F5.6 reported, F9 actual exposure).

    The good news is that it AF's fairly acurately (nowhere near as good as without the TC) and that I don't see much/any image degradation. The bad news is that the AF is pretty slow and it does hunt alot :cry No biggie, I expected this kind of result when using this combo. I'll be trying it (the TC) on my 70-200mm, today. Judging by my first experiences, the combo works much better. Much faster AF (aperture set to F5.6).

    Anyhow here's the nightheron (at least I think it's a nightheron....lol) Full zoom, about 20 feet away, aperture wide open.

    15019131-S.jpg


    Thanks for taking the time to look :-)

    Steve

    Are you shotting this long, heavy combo hand held or from a tripod? This looks pretty crisp to me.
    thumb.gif
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • GREAPERGREAPER Registered Users Posts: 3,113 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2005
    Excellent Shot... WOW
    http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2005
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Hello all,
    I received the Tamron 1.4X $80 TC, from B&H last week. The weather finally cooperated and I was able to see how this TC worked on the Bigma. I left it wide open (F5.6 reported, F9 actual exposure).

    The good news is that it AF's fairly acurately (nowhere near as good as without the TC) and that I don't see much/any image degradation. The bad news is that the AF is pretty slow and it does hunt alot :cry No biggie, I expected this kind of result when using this combo. I'll be trying it (the TC) on my 70-200mm, today. Judging by my first experiences, the combo works much better. Much faster AF (aperture set to F5.6).

    Anyhow here's the nightheron (at least I think it's a nightheron....lol) Full zoom, about 20 feet away, aperture wide open.




    Thanks for taking the time to look :-)

    Steve
    Hey Steve,

    Thats a good capture of a Green Heron. They are one of the smallest herons (the night herons are the only ones smaller). They can be hard to capture. The shot looks to be about a 1/3 to 1/2 of a stop over exposed.

    Harry
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • John MuellerJohn Mueller Registered Users Posts: 2,555 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2005
    Ahhh yes that bigma,nice sharp capture with ths combo.
    Im hoping to pick up a 1.4 next week for my 400 5.6
    My Smuggy

    Cincinnati Smug Leader
  • GREAPERGREAPER Registered Users Posts: 3,113 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Hey Steve,

    Thats a good capture of a Green Heron. They are one of the smallest herons (the night herons are the only ones smaller). They can be hard to capture. The shot looks to be about a 1/3 to 1/2 of a stop over exposed.

    Harry

    Good call Harry, I didn't think it was a night heron. It was a different angle than I have ever seen a green from and I wasn't sure.

    This guy is a Black Crowned Night Heron


    6578119-M.jpg
    http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/

  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited January 30, 2005
    Nir wrote:
    Full frame Steve?

    Beautiful results!
    Thanks Nir :D Even with all this focal length (somewhere around 100mm's) he still only filled about 10% of the frame ne_nau.gif But, I was able to lay enough pixels on him to get some nice detail.


    Thanks for your comments and for taking the time,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited January 30, 2005
    pathfinder wrote:
    Are you shotting this long, heavy combo hand held or from a tripod? This looks pretty crisp to me.
    thumb.gif
    PF,
    Handheld. The speed is usually high enough that I don't get much, if any, motion blur.

    Thanks for the nice comment and for looking,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited January 30, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Hey Steve,

    Thats a good capture of a Green Heron. They are one of the smallest herons (the night herons are the only ones smaller). They can be hard to capture. The shot looks to be about a 1/3 to 1/2 of a stop over exposed.

    Harry
    Harry,
    I thought it might be a Green. But, it didn't look quite like the pics either....lol
    I knew it wasn't a black crowned nightheron, but I figured it might be some other type. I need to get a book rolleyes1.gif

    You are also right about the exposure. He was facing the setting Sun, so the light was tough and he landed and took off again, within about 5 seconds. So no chance to even dial in enough EV comp. No time to chimp, for sure.

    This any better?
    15081416-L.jpg

    Thanks for the comments and for taking time to look :-)

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2005
    I was able to lay enough pixels on him


    I like that term. may i borrow it?
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited January 31, 2005
    Ya know...I think shooting birds is probably more difficult than shooting macros. DOF is always an issue, and it's a constant battle between good bokeh and full body DOF. At least in my experience.


    Oh btw steve, one of your friends wanted me to say "hello" for him.


    clickity on image for exif data.
    15085112-L.jpg
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited January 31, 2005
    GREAPER wrote:
    Good call Harry, I didn't think it was a night heron. It was a different angle than I have ever seen a green from and I wasn't sure.

    This guy is a Black Crowned Night Heron


    6578119-M.jpg
    Greaper,
    Thanks for the comments :D Yeah, I was unsure myself, which is why I added the "I think" to my description. I looked all over the web. Bitterns, tricolor and green herons. Nothing really matched.

    I guess if I shoot long enough and capture enough different birds, I'll get to know em all :lol Or, I guess I could break down and buy a book :uhoh


    Thanks for responding,
    Steve

    BTW, really nice Black Crowned Nightheron clap.gifthumb.gif
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited January 31, 2005
    MHJS wrote:
    Ahhh yes that bigma,nice sharp capture with ths combo.
    Im hoping to pick up a 1.4 next week for my 400 5.6
    Thanks for the nice words and I hope you are satisfied with the 400 F5.6 + 1.4X TC combo. I'll need to do a bit more experimenting before I'm convinced the Bigma + TC combo will work well enough in AI Servo.


    Thanks for responding and good luck next week :-)

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited January 31, 2005
    fish wrote:
    Ya know...I think shooting birds is probably more difficult than shooting macros. DOF is always an issue, and it's a constant battle between good bokeh and full body DOF. At least in my experience.


    Oh btw steve, one of your friends wanted me to say "hello" for him.


    clickity on image for exif data.
    15085112-L.jpg
    Laughing.gif Fish,
    Feel free to use any of the things I write. When under oath I will deny ever writing them lol3.gif

    I agree about shooting birds. It's tough.

    Funny you should mention my buddy above. I just saw him this afternoon. He saw me packin my new 1.4X on my 70-200 and asked me to shoot his girlfriend rolleyes1.gif


    15081415-L.jpg

    Thanks for looking,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited January 31, 2005
    she's got purty eyes, steve. iloveyou.gif
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
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