BIF Beginner

[Downrigger]

A pair of Red Wing Blackbirds

C&C please. Should be sharper but at one to one crop wonder if I am at limits of sensor and software, or simply missed on the focus a bit. Should I get a 1.4 or 1.7 extender for my 70-200 f4, or just keep trying to get closer, (or luckier).

[John 2]

Seems reasonably sharp to me Mark but there seems to be a bit of noise around. Have you cropped it much? What ISO were you using?

I have a 1.4 converter that I occasionally use with a 70- 300 Nikkor. The success rate is not high. You lose at least a stop but more significantly, on a Nikon at least, the auto focus is degraded and I get a lot of hunting.

[Downrigger]

Seems reasonably sharp to me Mark but there seems to be a bit of noise around. Have you cropped it much? What ISO were you using?

I have a 1.4 converter that I occasionally use with a 70- 300 Nikkor. The success rate is not high. You lose at least a stop but more significantly, on a Nikon at least, the auto focus is degraded and I get a lot of hunting.

Helpful on the converter. Thanks. Yes, I think the noise is in the crop - the size of the crop is about the same a one to one view. This is f5.6 at 1/4000 with ISO 500, so my understanding that the ISO shouldn't be the source.

[NorthernFocus]

200mm isn't much lens for shooting birds, Mark. You should do OK with a 1.4x on that lens. What body are you shooting? If it is one of the current gen bodies that focus to f8 you could even try a 2x. I've used a 2x on a 70-200 2.8 with decent results.

[Downrigger]

Thanks Dan. A D600. I'll talk to the folks at the place I shop. Would be nice not to have to do so much cropping.