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Moderately better image and other benefits

Started Apr 10, 2021 | User reviews thread
John Crowe
John Crowe Veteran Member • Posts: 3,476
Re: Moderately better image and other benefits
1

Fair enough.  I did love my much less expensive 400/2.8 for 14 years so I did not mind only using it for 2 months of the year.  It certainly is not a lens you pull out for the heck of it.

I have noticed a lot of conversation about sharpness.  For the record 400/2.8 lenses are much sharper than 300/2.8 but they are also much heavier and much more expensive and as you say much more limited use.

When you can, I have found it is worthwhile to stop the lens down one additional stop when using teleconverters, even if it means nudging up the ISO by one stop.  You essentially get the lens back to its bare sharpness while losing a bit in ISO.  When doing so the 300/2.8 becomes a 420/5.6 or 600/8 depending on teleconverter.  Even without teleconverters I try to stop down one stop if I can shoot at the same ISO, since these supertelephotos do get even sharper when closed a bit.

While the ultimate test on how useful a lens is, is in actual use and seeing real world comparable results, the best way to test for sharpness is of static subjects under good light and from a tripod with confirmed manual focus.  I always test first and then look for improved results in real use.

I am sure you will enjoy putting the newer 300/2.8 to good use!

 John Crowe's gear list:John Crowe's gear list
Canon EOS 5DS R Canon EF 70-200mm F4L USM Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 AF 1.4x Venus Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D +15 more
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