{"id":11205,"date":"2012-08-30T16:18:09","date_gmt":"2012-08-30T20:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=11205"},"modified":"2012-12-07T14:55:08","modified_gmt":"2012-12-07T18:55:08","slug":"mega-amazing-discovery-800-f5-6-1-4x-tc-canon-eos-1dx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2012\/08\/30\/mega-amazing-discovery-800-f5-6-1-4x-tc-canon-eos-1dx\/","title":{"rendered":"Mega-Amazing Discovery: 800 f\/5.6 + 1.4X TC + Canon EOS-1DX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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This juvenile Least Sandpiper image was created with the Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens<\/a>, the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, and the Canon EOS-1DX<\/a>. Mongoose M3.6<\/a> with the Skimmer II Ground Pod<\/a>. <\/p>\n

ISO 400: Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1\/640 sec. at f\/9. Why -1 stop??? The Canon system does not note the loss of one stop of light from the Kenko TC; I figured this out right from the start when my first few images were about a stop over-exposed…. <\/p>\n

AI Servo\/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Mega-Amazing Discovery: 800 f\/5.6 + 1.4X TC + Canon EOS-1DX<\/h3>\n

As I readied my gear I was a bit concerned about trying to photograph small sandpipers with only the 800 and a full frame body…. Man, I would miss having a 1.4X TC to use with my new camera and my favorite super-telephoto lens…. By design, the 1DX<\/a> focuses only to f\/5.6….<\/p>\n

I first purchased the the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a> in hopes that it would autofocus with the 800mm f\/5.6L IS and the EOS-5D Mark III. But that, as noted here<\/a>, was a no-go. With the Kenko TC in place the aperture read 00. <\/p>\n

I finally got my 1DX<\/a> from Canon through the Explorers of Light program on Tuesday and promptly headed out to the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge that afternoon. As I was gathering my gear I noticed the the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, in my ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V2.0<\/a> rolling bag. I grabbed it and mounted it between the 800 and my new camera body. Based on my experience with the 5D III I assumed that the 1DX<\/a> would not focus with the TC in place. Again, the 1DX<\/a>, by design, focuses only to f\/5.6. I raised the lens, pointed it at a sign in the parking lot, and pushed the star button which I use for rear focus. I was stunned. My new rig not only focused but it focused quickly. I was about half way to the turn onto Patterson Boulevard–there are few people in the world who know the name of that basalt-covered road–when I had another thought. I put my tripod down, raised the lens, pushed the grid button, pushed the M-Fn button and was again stunned; I was able to toggle through the various AF Area Selection Modes. Then I pressed the edge of the newly designed joystick; stunned times three. Not only did the 1DX<\/a> focus with the the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, I was able to move the active AF sensor. I felt like the proverbial kid in the candy store. <\/p>\n

Once I got down in the mud I discovered that AF with the the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a> was fast and sure and accurate. I have been out every morning and afternoon since then and have totally fallen in love with the 1DX. That first afternoon I managed to get a huge gob of black, sticky, gooey much all over my brand new camera :). It was a proper baptism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This adult Laughing Gull molting to winter plumage was photographed with the Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens<\/a>, the the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, and the Canon EOS-1DX<\/a>. Mongoose M3.6<\/a> with the Skimmer II Ground Pod<\/a>. <\/p>\n

ISO 800: Evaluative metering -1 1\/3 stops: 1\/1250 sec. at f\/9. Why -1 1\/3 stops? The Canon system does not note the loss of one stop of light from the Kenko TC; I figured this out right from the start when my first few images were about a stop over-exposed…. <\/p>\n

AI Servo\/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

When I got back to my Mom’s and reviewed my images I was thrilled with the sharpness and the image quality. Thrilled!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This worn juvenile Killdeer was photographed from my car at a local state park with my rig resting on a folded up sweatshirt on the lowered driver’s side window; oh how I wish that I had brought my travel BLUBB<\/a> to NY! With the Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens<\/a>, the the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, and the Canon EOS-1DX<\/a>. <\/p>\n

ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1\/800 sec. at f\/9. Why -1 stops???? The Canon system does not note the loss of one stop of light from the Kenko TC; I figured this out right from the start when my first few images were about a stop over-exposed…. <\/p>\n

AI Servo\/Rear Focus AF and recompose. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Sharpness and Image Quality with the 800 f\/5.6 + Kenko 1.4X TC + Canon EOS-1DX<\/h3>\n

Judge for yourself….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper with an invertebrate prey item was photographed will sitting behind my lowered tripod at a local state park with the Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens<\/a>, the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, and the Canon EOS-1DX<\/a>. <\/p>\n

ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1\/800 sec. at f\/9. Why -1 stops???? The Canon system does not note the loss of one stop of light from the Kenko TC; I figured this out right from the start when my first few images were about a stop over-exposed…. <\/p>\n

AI Servo\/Rear Focus AF and recompose. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The 1DX: Changing My Photography<\/h3>\n

I have spent a lot of time lately teaching folks to make at least a few images in rapid succession when everything is perfect. Though I have never been a hold the hammer down guy and though I have been using the 1DX for less than two days, it has already changed the way I do photography. The 12 frames per second frame rate allows me to capture moments that I never knew existed. When everything is perfect I simply hold the shutter button down and let the 1DX do its thing. I have been amazed at the results. All sharp, with many of the images revealing things and capturing poses that I never even saw. As with breakfast in the image above…. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper image was created pretty much in the pre-dawn darkness with the Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens<\/a>, the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, and the Canon EOS-1DX<\/a>. Mongoose M3.6<\/a> with the Skimmer II Ground Pod<\/a>. <\/p>\n

ISO 10000: Evaluative metering at zero: 1\/500 sec. at f\/8 in Tv Mode. <\/p>\n

AI Servo\/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

ISO 10000<\/h3>\n

The ISO setting for the image above is not a typo. I had heard great things about the high ISO performance of the 1DX and wanted to see for myself. Quite amazing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This bathing adult Laughing Gull molting to winter plumage was photographed with the Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens<\/a>, the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>, and the Canon EOS-1DX<\/a>. Mongoose M3.6<\/a> with the Skimmer II Ground Pod<\/a>. <\/p>\n

ISO 800: Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1\/800 sec. at f\/8. Why -1 stop? The Canon system does not note the loss of one stop of light from the Kenko TC; I figured this out right from the start when my first few images were about a stop over-exposed…. <\/p>\n

AI Servo\/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

ISO 800<\/h3>\n

As you can see in this image–be sure to click on the larger version, ISO 800 with the 1DX looks as good or better than ISO 400 on all previous Canon camera bodies. <\/p>\n

When asked about the 1DX I always replied, “It will be a 5D III on steroids. I have no idea…. One thing that I forgot to mention is that I am 100% convinced that the 1DX will be superb for flight photography, the best ever by far. As I was photographing the bathing gulls and sandpipers I said to buddy Tom Pfiefer nearby, this camera is so good that the birds have no chance; I feel guilty. <\/p>\n

Buying a 1DX?<\/h3>\n

Many of you have been waiting for my evaluation of the 1DX. I will do something more formal soon. In the meantime, as pretty much all of you know I have been working my butt off to make the blog interesting, informative, beautiful, and educational. All free to you. Please, please, pretty please use our main B&H affiliate link in the side column when making your B&H purchases. If you are gonna order a 1DX, please use this link: Canon EOS-1DX<\/a>. Click on the link and then complete your purchase to help us out. It’s that simple. <\/p>\n

Own an 800 and a 1DX?<\/h3>\n

If you already own a Canon 800mm f\/5.6L IS and a 1DX, you will want to click on the following link and get yourself a the Kenko 1.4X TC before B&H is out of stock: the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter<\/a>. Good friend Patrick Sparkman ordered his 1DX and his Kenko 1.4X TC using our links last night and was thrilled that both were in stock. But that was yesterday :). Me? I am headed out to make some more great images. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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This juvenile Least Sandpiper image was created with the Canon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens, the Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 DGX 1.4x AF Teleconverter, and the Canon EOS-1DX. Mongoose M3.6 with the Skimmer II Ground Pod. <\/p>\n

ISO 400: Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1\/640 sec. at f\/9. Why -1 stop??? The Canon system does […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[147],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-147","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11205\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}