Your experience with this lens and teleconverter may vary depending on the camera you use. I have been exclusively shooting with the Sony a7iv, and its autofocus features really help this setup excel. If you have any experiences with the 1.4x teleconverter and the 200 - 600, share them below. Good or bad, I would love to hear them and it might help someone else who's deciding on this combination.
I've been having really mixed experience with the 2.0 teleconverter. It's one of the only pieces of equipment that I possibly regret buying. I'm okay missing an image here and there, but what I've experienced so far make it useless. The jury is still out due to lack of reference, but time will tell. Even if it only works in best case situations, that will be fine, if it can be counted on. I'm secretly excited to see the zoom that will be accomplished in conjugation with 600mm.
One big issue found with the 1.4x was ghosting and haze when shooting through grass and small limbs. You photos also shows this issue. When photos are taken through grass is can make your subject hazy and look not in focus when you know it was dead on when you took it. Shoot through the same grass blades without the tele and there is no ghosting. Shooting through brush will cause loss of contrast with any lens, but the tele on the 200-600mm magnifies this more than any other combo i have used. I mostly just use the combo for video and just crop for photos. 👻👻
It definitely becomes more difficult to capture a clear image through foliage. I can see how this setup could be useful for video work, and how cropping might be a better option for photos. Thank you for sharing your experience!
I often use my 1.4x with my 200-600 on my A7R V with great results. The only thing I can say is that it takes practice and more patience with the 1.4x. Keep in mind that every little movement is multiplied and can quickly make your photos blurry. As a result, I always increase my shutter speed around 2x what I normally shoot without a teleconverter. And yes, watch out for those heat distortions. Even on a nice day, you may be surprised to see some heat distortions when looking through the viewfinder/screen with a teleconverter. It takes some practice. But you will figure out what works and what doesn't. Just like any gear you have.
Thank you for sharing your experience and tips! It's great to hear about your success with the 1.4x and the 200-600 on the A7R V. I was under the impression this combination didn't work so well on high-megapixel cameras.
Great review thanks, My main worry is, Does the teleconverter add another stress point to the lens? If I'm shooting handheld on my 200-600 do I have to be more careful not to stress the Emount?
I've used mine on and off for a year now, and it feels just as sturdy as without. The inner mounting points of the teleconverter are metal on both sides and are weather sealed. The Sony 200-600 is one of the official lenses that the teleconverters support, so it’s safe to say Sony’s got it covered! Thanks for commenting-glad you found the review helpful!
@@CurtisSnapshot Thanks for the reply Curtis, I shoot a lot of freehand and am worried about the undue stress on the mounting point. As you pointed out I'm sure Sony thought of that of that before releasing the product.
I have this combo, if I start at sunrise I only add the TC about 45 minutes after sunrise when the light is stronger. The key is to use it in good light. If you left the TC on all the time, I feel like it would only benefit you 1/4 of the time, where 3/4 it would almost negatively effect your images due to higher ISO. So it's a skill knowing when to use it 1/4 of the time. This is only advice for high resolution cameras though, teleconverters are more useful on lower resolution cameras like 30mp, also heaps useful for video. All I know is I don't use the TC much, but it's necessary I have the option available.
@@CurtisSnapshot Now I think about it, your shot of the great blue heron shows you don't need strong light to use the teleconverter, but it's not very often you can use shutter speeds that low. Amazing shots by the way!
@@KurtisPape that was a really unique moment! I was seeing just how low I could get the shutter speed, with the ultimate goal of smoothing out the water.
Thanks. I found your videos informative and helpful. I purchased the 1.4 Tele Converter at the same time that I purchased the 200-600 zoom, but because my results using the converter were pretty dismal, I never used it. After watching your videos and tempering my expectations a bit, I'm beginning to get some nice images from the combo. By the way, I'm using a Sony A7RV, which I'm quite happy with.
That’s awesome to hear! I’m glad the video helped. It definitely takes some getting used to and doesn’t work for every situation. It’s also good to hear it’s working on a high res camera such as the a7rv! Thanks for commenting!
I haven’t tried the 2x teleconverter with the 200-600 myself, largely because I couldn’t find many positive reviews on that combination. From what I’ve learned using the 1.4x TC, I think using a 2x TC would make capturing sharp photos unnecessarily difficult. That said, I’m open to other opinions-teleconverters can be very subjective, and it really comes down to what works for you and how you work with them.
Thanks for the video with these magnificent photos. Probably the problem with the duck was caused by air flickering. Especially if the lake had a different temperature than the air. As the photo is magnified so is the flickering. Also, if the subject is too distant for a photo without converter (more then 40m) with a lot of air between you and the subject, the converter will not help to take a clear picture as the problem of air flickering increases.
Thank you for watching and for your kind words! You’re definitely onto something with the air flickering-that’s a great way to explain it. It supports the reasoning behind this combination being better suited for already close subjects and why weather and temperature have such a big effect on the photos. I greatly appreciate your insights!
I use 1.4x with 100400gm on a a7rv and the experience is similar to yours. It's hit and miss, especially the subject is far away. If the subject is near, say within 5 meters then the focus is always spot on.
It's interesting that you have had similar experiences with the 100-400 GM lens. It's definitely something to keep in mind for photographers interested in trying to see further, when thats not exactly the case with how these setups work. Thank you for sharing!
The TC does NOT work properly from an AF perspective on anything other than an A7R V in my experience - the enhanced AF capabilities on the new body can help alleviate some of the tracking issues. Also, as pointed out in this video, unless you're shooting in full daylight, and not into heavy cover, it's probably best to keep it off as the compensation in ISO just isn't worth the extra reach. I've taken some great images with the 1.4 that I would have been unlikely to have got without it, but I have missed potentially some of the greatest pics of my shooting career due to heat-haze and unnatural bokeh. For me personally, the use of the TC is extremely subjective, and you need to be experienced enough with composition and reading light to be able to get the most out of it.
Hi Curtis, may I ask which Tripod you use at the 1:10 minute mark. Looks like the KF concept carbon tripod, but I am not sure which model. How is your experience with this tripod and the big 200-600 lens? I am trying to find a good travel tripod which can support this tele lens. Thanks!
Hey, in the video, that's a K&F aluminum tripod. I find it's light enough for hikes while still offering decent stability. Recently, I bought a K&F carbon model for my upcoming trip. While it’s incredibly lightweight and the legs seem to handle the weight of the 200-600 lens, the tripod is largely made of plastic (presumably to cut production costs), which has raised concerns about its longevity. Additionally, being lightweight, it experiences much more camera shake than the aluminum tripod. I've been having difficulties with it so far. I think they’re decent tripods for what they’re worth, but I wouldn’t have super high expectations. They get the job done for sure! Hope that helps, thank you for commenting!
I have found that combo to be extremely inconsistent. When the subject is closer the results are better. You can't use it to to make a far away subject closer and have a sharp outcome. You can use it to fill the frame with a close subject and will have better results. On the 300 2.8 the 2.0 TC and 1.4 TC are fantastic!
I completely agree! My best results come from using the 1.4x TC with subjects that are already close. I originally bought it to photograph migrating warblers in the spring. Thanks for sharing!
The crop factor of the a6700 would put the 200-600mm lens at an equivalent of 900mm, giving you more reach without the potential quality loss or loss of light associated with a teleconverter. I think that could be a really good setup.
I faced the same dilemma and was considering the Sony 6400. However, having a second camera probably wouldn't make my life easier. So, a week ago, I decided to buy a 1.4x teleconverter (TC) and only had one day to shoot birds with it (A7IV + 200-600). To be honest, I wasn’t very happy with the results, but the lighting conditions weren’t ideal either-bright sun and the middle of day. I started thinking about returning the TC, but after reading the comments here, I’m considering testing it a bit more.
Your solution is getting a second setup. Then you will have the best of both worlds and will capture the pictures you're ultimately expected to capture and possibly some you wouldn't, without the second setup, otherwise. I'm interested in setting the buttons on the lens to change to the APS-C format. What do you have your buttons set on? It's my understanding even though there are three, or four buttons, they will all only change the same function. So we might as well only have one button, apart from the convenience of multiple locations. Is this true? I just received this lens about a week ago. I've test driven it a couple of times for an hour, or two. I absolutely love the lens. I haven't seen any images apart from what one sees through the view finder, but based upon that experience alone, I'm blown away by the focusing speed, tracking and image perspective. I feel like a kid with a new toy. To have that feeling, by itself, the $2,500 was worth it. I thought the 70-200 was a new level. This lens gives the experience of having a PhD. You begin to believe all the claims were real after all. Next my teeth will return by putting a dollar under my pillow. 🧑🎄
I think the 1.4x and 2.0x are good for photos, but excellent for video due to the lower shutter requirements even for 120fps. Thanks for the amazing video! Subbed
I'm tempted from time to time to buy it, and then I see videos of people talking about it, and I don't want to buy it 😆 Have this lens paired with a7IV and it does a great job, but I think I'll wait for a1mII and it'll be easier to crop with almost double megapixels. Thanks for the video brother!
I bought the 1.4x TC for my 200-600 and A7r3 and returned it after one try in the field. The autofocus suffers terribly with jitters and focus breathing and as you said, the keeper rate is much lower due to lack of sharpness.
Oh definitely, and I can only imagine the pixel density of the A7R3 further showed any flaws in the teleconverter. The 1.4x has very specific use cases where it does perform well, but ultimately Sony teleconverters are designed for the GM lenses. Thanks for sharing!
I recently had the opportunity to get my hands on a 100-400 GM together with both 2x and the 1,4 TC. Best combo i ever had in my hands, superior IQ and great results! With 1,4 TC sharper than the 200-600 without TC!
Your experience with this lens and teleconverter may vary depending on the camera you use. I have been exclusively shooting with the Sony a7iv, and its autofocus features really help this setup excel. If you have any experiences with the 1.4x teleconverter and the 200 - 600, share them below. Good or bad, I would love to hear them and it might help someone else who's deciding on this combination.
What's it like on a sony a9
I've been having really mixed experience with the 2.0 teleconverter. It's one of the only pieces of equipment that I possibly regret buying. I'm okay missing an image here and there, but what I've experienced so far make it useless. The jury is still out due to lack of reference, but time will tell. Even if it only works in best case situations, that will be fine, if it can be counted on. I'm secretly excited to see the zoom that will be accomplished in conjugation with 600mm.
One big issue found with the 1.4x was ghosting and haze when shooting through grass and small limbs. You photos also shows this issue. When photos are taken through grass is can make your subject hazy and look not in focus when you know it was dead on when you took it. Shoot through the same grass blades without the tele and there is no ghosting. Shooting through brush will cause loss of contrast with any lens, but the tele on the 200-600mm magnifies this more than any other combo i have used. I mostly just use the combo for video and just crop for photos. 👻👻
It definitely becomes more difficult to capture a clear image through foliage. I can see how this setup could be useful for video work, and how cropping might be a better option for photos. Thank you for sharing your experience!
I never shoot below 1000 unless the subject is a rock. I use a flash extension in darker situations
I often use my 1.4x with my 200-600 on my A7R V with great results. The only thing I can say is that it takes practice and more patience with the 1.4x. Keep in mind that every little movement is multiplied and can quickly make your photos blurry. As a result, I always increase my shutter speed around 2x what I normally shoot without a teleconverter. And yes, watch out for those heat distortions. Even on a nice day, you may be surprised to see some heat distortions when looking through the viewfinder/screen with a teleconverter.
It takes some practice. But you will figure out what works and what doesn't. Just like any gear you have.
Thank you for sharing your experience and tips! It's great to hear about your success with the 1.4x and the 200-600 on the A7R V. I was under the impression this combination didn't work so well on high-megapixel cameras.
Great review thanks, My main worry is, Does the teleconverter add another stress point to the lens? If I'm shooting handheld on my 200-600 do I have to be more careful not to stress the Emount?
I've used mine on and off for a year now, and it feels just as sturdy as without. The inner mounting points of the teleconverter are metal on both sides and are weather sealed. The Sony 200-600 is one of the official lenses that the teleconverters support, so it’s safe to say Sony’s got it covered!
Thanks for commenting-glad you found the review helpful!
@@CurtisSnapshot Thanks for the reply Curtis, I shoot a lot of freehand and am worried about the undue stress on the mounting point.
As you pointed out I'm sure Sony thought of that of that before releasing the product.
I have this combo, if I start at sunrise I only add the TC about 45 minutes after sunrise when the light is stronger. The key is to use it in good light. If you left the TC on all the time, I feel like it would only benefit you 1/4 of the time, where 3/4 it would almost negatively effect your images due to higher ISO. So it's a skill knowing when to use it 1/4 of the time.
This is only advice for high resolution cameras though, teleconverters are more useful on lower resolution cameras like 30mp, also heaps useful for video. All I know is I don't use the TC much, but it's necessary I have the option available.
This is great advice, thank you for sharing!
@@CurtisSnapshot Now I think about it, your shot of the great blue heron shows you don't need strong light to use the teleconverter, but it's not very often you can use shutter speeds that low. Amazing shots by the way!
@@KurtisPape that was a really unique moment! I was seeing just how low I could get the shutter speed, with the ultimate goal of smoothing out the water.
nice vid
200-600 &1.4 is my fav setup on my A1
Thank you!
Great video, glad I have stumbled upon your channel, happy to subscribe!
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Thanks. I found your videos informative and helpful. I purchased the 1.4 Tele Converter at the same time that I purchased the 200-600 zoom, but because my results using the converter were pretty dismal, I never used it. After watching your videos and tempering my expectations a bit, I'm beginning to get some nice images from the combo. By the way, I'm using a Sony A7RV, which I'm quite happy with.
That’s awesome to hear! I’m glad the video helped. It definitely takes some getting used to and doesn’t work for every situation. It’s also good to hear it’s working on a high res camera such as the a7rv! Thanks for commenting!
What about x2 with 200-600, have you ever tried it? It's gonna be really bad?
I haven’t tried the 2x teleconverter with the 200-600 myself, largely because I couldn’t find many positive reviews on that combination.
From what I’ve learned using the 1.4x TC, I think using a 2x TC would make capturing sharp photos unnecessarily difficult.
That said, I’m open to other opinions-teleconverters can be very subjective, and it really comes down to what works for you and how you work with them.
Thanks for the video with these magnificent photos. Probably the problem with the duck was caused by air flickering. Especially if the lake had a different temperature than the air. As the photo is magnified so is the flickering. Also, if the subject is too distant for a photo without converter (more then 40m) with a lot of air between you and the subject, the converter will not help to take a clear picture as the problem of air flickering increases.
Thank you for watching and for your kind words! You’re definitely onto something with the air flickering-that’s a great way to explain it. It supports the reasoning behind this combination being better suited for already close subjects and why weather and temperature have such a big effect on the photos. I greatly appreciate your insights!
I use 1.4x with 100400gm on a a7rv and the experience is similar to yours. It's hit and miss, especially the subject is far away. If the subject is near, say within 5 meters then the focus is always spot on.
It's interesting that you have had similar experiences with the 100-400 GM lens. It's definitely something to keep in mind for photographers interested in trying to see further, when thats not exactly the case with how these setups work. Thank you for sharing!
The TC does NOT work properly from an AF perspective on anything other than an A7R V in my experience - the enhanced AF capabilities on the new body can help alleviate some of the tracking issues. Also, as pointed out in this video, unless you're shooting in full daylight, and not into heavy cover, it's probably best to keep it off as the compensation in ISO just isn't worth the extra reach. I've taken some great images with the 1.4 that I would have been unlikely to have got without it, but I have missed potentially some of the greatest pics of my shooting career due to heat-haze and unnatural bokeh. For me personally, the use of the TC is extremely subjective, and you need to be experienced enough with composition and reading light to be able to get the most out of it.
Great insights here, thank you for sharing!
Hi Curtis, may I ask which Tripod you use at the 1:10 minute mark. Looks like the KF concept carbon tripod, but I am not sure which model. How is your experience with this tripod and the big 200-600 lens? I am trying to find a good travel tripod which can support this tele lens. Thanks!
Hey, in the video, that's a K&F aluminum tripod. I find it's light enough for hikes while still offering decent stability. Recently, I bought a K&F carbon model for my upcoming trip. While it’s incredibly lightweight and the legs seem to handle the weight of the 200-600 lens, the tripod is largely made of plastic (presumably to cut production costs), which has raised concerns about its longevity. Additionally, being lightweight, it experiences much more camera shake than the aluminum tripod. I've been having difficulties with it so far.
I think they’re decent tripods for what they’re worth, but I wouldn’t have super high expectations. They get the job done for sure! Hope that helps, thank you for commenting!
I have found that combo to be extremely inconsistent. When the subject is closer the results are better. You can't use it to to make a far away subject closer and have a sharp outcome. You can use it to fill the frame with a close subject and will have better results. On the 300 2.8 the 2.0 TC and 1.4 TC are fantastic!
I completely agree! My best results come from using the 1.4x TC with subjects that are already close. I originally bought it to photograph migrating warblers in the spring.
Thanks for sharing!
I am thinking to get the 1.4x teleconverter or just get 6700 instead, any suggestions?
The crop factor of the a6700 would put the 200-600mm lens at an equivalent of 900mm, giving you more reach without the potential quality loss or loss of light associated with a teleconverter. I think that could be a really good setup.
I faced the same dilemma and was considering the Sony 6400. However, having a second camera probably wouldn't make my life easier. So, a week ago, I decided to buy a 1.4x teleconverter (TC) and only had one day to shoot birds with it (A7IV + 200-600). To be honest, I wasn’t very happy with the results, but the lighting conditions weren’t ideal either-bright sun and the middle of day. I started thinking about returning the TC, but after reading the comments here, I’m considering testing it a bit more.
The SS at 1/400sec with 840mm is the reason for a blurry photo ? i was thinking if you tried with 1/800 or 1/1200+ ?
That definitely could be the reason. I thought the wood duck was still enough, like the goose was, but I might be remembering wrong.
Nice...Thanks for the info.......I think I will pass on the TC with the 200-600.
I’m glad you found the video helpful, thanks for commenting!
Great video mate, something I'm looking to pair with my 200-600 in the near future!
Awesome, thank you for the comment! I hope the video gave you a good idea of what to expect.
Your solution is getting a second setup. Then you will have the best of both worlds and will capture the pictures you're ultimately expected to capture and possibly some you wouldn't, without the second setup, otherwise.
I'm interested in setting the buttons on the lens to change to the APS-C format. What do you have your buttons set on? It's my understanding even though there are three, or four buttons, they will all only change the same function. So we might as well only have one button, apart from the convenience of multiple locations. Is this true? I just received this lens about a week ago. I've test driven it a couple of times for an hour, or two. I absolutely love the lens. I haven't seen any images apart from what one sees through the view finder, but based upon that experience alone, I'm blown away by the focusing speed, tracking and image perspective. I feel like a kid with a new toy. To have that feeling, by itself, the $2,500 was worth it. I thought the 70-200 was a new level. This lens gives the experience of having a PhD. You begin to believe all the claims were real after all. Next my teeth will return by putting a dollar under my pillow. 🧑🎄
very good channel, good info! subscribed :)
Thank you, I appreciate it!
I think the 1.4x and 2.0x are good for photos, but excellent for video due to the lower shutter requirements even for 120fps. Thanks for the amazing video! Subbed
I totally forgot to mention its usefulness for video! I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and I appreciate the sub.
id rather shoot with an a6500 instead of the 1.4x
Totally fair, I imagine that would be a great combination!
ISO 12800 😍
Great video. Thanks for the info
I’m glad you found it helpful! Thanks for commenting.
I'm tempted from time to time to buy it, and then I see videos of people talking about it, and I don't want to buy it 😆
Have this lens paired with a7IV and it does a great job, but I think I'll wait for a1mII and it'll be easier to crop with almost double megapixels.
Thanks for the video brother!
I would wait for the a1mII, that’s going to be wicked! And I’m sure the crop would be much better. Thanks for commenting!
Good video dude, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for commenting.
I bought the 1.4x TC for my 200-600 and A7r3 and returned it after one try in the field. The autofocus suffers terribly with jitters and focus breathing and as you said, the keeper rate is much lower due to lack of sharpness.
Oh definitely, and I can only imagine the pixel density of the A7R3 further showed any flaws in the teleconverter.
The 1.4x has very specific use cases where it does perform well, but ultimately Sony teleconverters are designed for the GM lenses.
Thanks for sharing!
Alguien que lo usara con la 6700 y el 200/600 GM?, gracias
I recently had the opportunity to get my hands on a 100-400 GM together with both 2x and the 1,4 TC. Best combo i ever had in my hands, superior IQ and great results! With 1,4 TC sharper than the 200-600 without TC!
I have heard lots of good things about pairing teleconverters with GM glass, that sounds like a really awesome combination!