ANNI RE-TESTS THE 300 F/4L IS !

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Annika1980 - 05 Mar 2007 22:35 GMT

Not happy with the findings of my previous test, I did another test
today under more controlled conditions. All shots were tripod mounted
using mirror lockup and a remote shutter release cable. Focusing was
AF and was monitored using my Canon Right Angle "C" 2x viewfinder.

The subject of the test was my neighbor's mailbox.
Here are the combos I tested:

Canon 70-200 f/2.8L @200 w/2x TC (EFL = 400mm)
Canon 400 f/5.6L (400mm)
Canon 300 f/4L IS w/1.4x TC (EFL = 420mm)
Canon 300 f/4L IS (300mm)

And here are the results of my testing:
http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/75248379/original

One thing that keeps being revealed in these tests is just how good
the Forgotten 400 f/5.6L is. It mauls any combination of prime (or
zoom) lens + TeleConverters I've tried.
Someday I'd love to see how it matches up against the awesome Canon
400 f/2.8L IS. Anybody got one of those they wanna lend me?

I also did some further testing using the 400 f/5.6L with the Hoya UV
filter.
The filter I was using is the Hoya HMC model. It noticeably degraded
every image shot through it. What a piece of junk. Do not take pics
through this UV filter!
(Or any other UV filter for that matter.)

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Smeegles - 06 Mar 2007 00:42 GMT

> Not happy with the findings of my previous test, I did another test
> today under more controlled conditions. All shots were tripod mounted
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> through this UV filter!
> (Or any other UV filter for that matter.)

That last shot with the 1.4 tc looks like it has been shaken.
the 300 f4 is a much sharper lens than that.

I have a 1.4 tc and never get such bad results
even with my 400mm f 5.6 Tokina lens
Here's a few samples of the tokina 400 f5.6 with a tamron 1.4 sp pro tc
taken with a 300D
The exif will not reveal the focal length but it is a 400mm f 5.6 tokina
atx pro lens with the Tamron Sp pro teleconverter all non IS

http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_0029.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_0039.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_9959.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_9966.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_9974.jpg

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Annika1980 - 06 Mar 2007 01:33 GMT

> > Not happy with the findings of my previous test, I did another test
> > today under more controlled conditions. All shots were tripod mounted
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> The exif will not reveal the focal length but it is a 400mm f 5.6 tokina
> atx pro lens with the Tamron Sp pro teleconverter all non IS

http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_0029.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_0039.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_9959.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_9966.jpg
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~smeegles/sandown/CRW_9974.jpg

Are these full size crops? If not, then assessments of quality are
next to impossible. Nice pics though.

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Smeegles - 06 Mar 2007 03:05 GMT

>>> Not happy with the findings of my previous test, I did another test
>>> today under more controlled conditions. All shots were tripod mounted
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> Are these full size crops? If not, then assessments of quality are
> next to impossible. Nice pics though.

some of them have been cropped but the sharpness is definitely there.
Grain is an issue of the camera unfortunately rather than the lens in my
case.
I still contend that your last shot even at full crop should have been
sharper.
You either have a bad lens or the shot was moved on taking.
either way keep up the tests I love to see what I'm gonna purchase next
cheers.

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Mr.T - 06 Mar 2007 07:54 GMT

> I still contend that your last shot even at full crop should have been
> sharper.
> You either have a bad lens or the shot was moved on taking.

Must be the lens I think. Both 300mm shots are soft, with and without the
teleconverter.
The 400mm looks far better than the 300mm even without the TC.

Interesting exercise though.

MrT.

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