M50ii + EF-S 55-250mm STM + Kenko SHQ 1.5x Teleconverter

Tomsop wrote:

I came across this thread researching a replacement to my ef-s 55-250 but not the stm version.

As I read the posts it seems the use of the teleconverter adds issues to the images that have to be addressed with two different types of software. Do the TC’s that do not need the EF-s lens back mod also avoid the extra image processing requirements?

I know that my 55-250 ef-s just does not add enough reach that I need to capture hawks that land in a tall tree next to my backyard. a TC may do it but then I am not sure I want to process photos beyond lightroom. I would like to get a longer lens but then from my research I would be spending a lot more money than this solution.

I am impressed by all the pictues posted- just wondering if there is an easier solution. Thanks.

The Kenko 1.5x SHQ teleconverter may get us a little closer to having a wildlife lens in the EF-S 55-250 - at 375mm and f8 on the M6ii you can eek out just enough image quality if the birds aren't too far away. It's when you start pushing the ISO above about 1600 that DxO Deep Prime de-noise becomes quite desirable to use, to clean up images. At f8 and the fast shutter speeds used especially for BIF, you blow past ISO 1600 real quick.

After all I've posted on the TC combo, I finally sprang for the Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 lens just before Christmas when B&H had a one-day sale at $699. Since using that lens for birding, I've stopped using the 55-250 & 1.5x for birding, although I still take the 55-250 & 1.5x TC along for its great reach and very light weight and size for other kinds of shooting.

Even though the Siggy 150-160 C is a LOT bigger and heavier (But I am finding it's not too heavy or big to hand-hold with the M cameras) --- it's a 'real' wildlife lens.... that 600mm reach and a quite sharp f6.3 really make it a lot easier. With the 55-250 I had to get much closer to the birds, which is really tricky and not always possible, it tends to make the birds take off.

I may get around to doing a direct comparison between the Canon EF-S 55-250 IS STM and the Siggy 150-600 at some point, but from my experience with both, the Sigma has better IQ than the Canon (raw lens). The Siggy has a sharp, clean, more contrasty look, like the Sigma 16mm and 56mm f1.4 lenses, by comparison the older Canon 55-250 looks less crisp and just a tad washed out.

And as expected, The Sigma 150-600 C has noticeably better IQ from 250mm to 375mm than the 55-250 + TC combo - plus of course the Siggy keeps going all the way to 600mm- still staying below f8. I've used the Siggy with the 1.5x TC as well --- and as expected the IQ isn't as good as the raw lens. But it's a fantastic, sharp combo for extreme telephoto 4k video!