Fortunate to own the 300 GM which is an absolute fantastic lens with its only fault being that it’s a prime and not a zoom. I use this lens with a mix of no TC, 1.4x and 2x TCs for wildlife (everything from bison to foxes to eagles to very small birds) and some landscapes, but often run into situations where I’m either too zoomed in or too zoomed out. Switching teleconverters is not too difficult but still is a little tedious and may not be realistic with certain wildlife moments being as fleeting as they are. Lately I’ve been using it almost exclusively with the 2x TC but I’m definitely missing some shots with this as I’m often too zoomed in. Would like to mix it up a bit. Wondering people’s workflow with this lens and teleconverters? When do you decide to use it as a 300 vs 420 vs 600? Looking at the image thread people seem to be using it at 300, 420, and 600 often seemingly in the same outing. Wondering people’s workflows with this lens for this? Are you switching TCs frequently in the field? Going out with something in mind and just keeping it where it’s at?
I do also want to lean into cropping more as the lens is super super sharp, I have an A1ii, and I really don’t need 50 MP often. You can crop 2.25x and still have a 4K image with the A1. This video shows just how much you can crop even for bird photography with this lens at 300mm
I have the same setup as you and face similar challenges. For me, it really depends on the situation. For some sports events where I have easy access to more gear, I'll use a second body with 70-200 or 100-400. When I can only have one camera, I take my TCs (wildlife/birds), but try to think preplan which TC I will need. I occasionally switch the TCs in the field, but I find it cumbersome to go back and forth, especially when I'm trying to quickly remove one TC and replace it with another. It's just the limitation of not having the zoom, and I do end up missing shots. Recently, I've also programmed APC crop mode to a function button so I can instantly go back and forth. Being in crop mode when I need the longer FF is helpful for my framing/composition (obviously I could crop in post).
I will often swap TCs a couple times in a 4hr morning shoot. Sometimes more, sometimes not at all.
Most outings that is going between 1.4 and 2.0.
The few subjects/locations that I have that are perfect for the bare lens are ones where I never need a TC at. For example this morning I went to a forested creek where Barred Owls fish for crayfish. There is no need for anything longer than 300 in there and 2.8 was barely cutting it with the light this morning. There aren't any other good subjects in this area so I typically just leave the TCs back in the car.
But when I'm at a location where I will have subjects suitable for 420 and 600 then I just make a decision of which subjects are most important to me at that location and start out with that focal length. I'll switch TCs if I start to run into more subjects suitable for the different focal length.
I do wish I had a built-in TC in all my super-tele lenses but I'm not switching to Nikon to get there
I largely agree with avm8. I typically have two bodies, one with 100-400 and one with 300 GM with 2X TC. Both lenses have foot with QD socket as does my 70-200. The alternative is to carry one body with 2X TC always on it and carry a 70-200 with a QD socket on foot and just switch lenses on the TC and not ever removing the TC. That gives you 140-400 and 600 all at f5.6 with one body that never has the sensor exposed to elements.
billsnature wrote:
I largely agree with avm8. I typically have two bodies, one with 100-400 and one with 300 GM with 2X TC. Both lenses have foot with QD socket as does my 70-200. The alternative is to carry one body with 2X TC always on it and carry a 70-200 with a QD socket on foot and just switch lenses on the TC and not ever removing the TC. That gives you 140-400 and 600 all at f5.6 with one body that never has the sensor exposed to elements.
Same thing I do. I always take two bodies and usually have the 100-400, 70-200 or 100macro lens on the second body.
Since I mostly shoot birds I keep 2x TC on about 95% of the time. I have only used 1.4x TC two times, both times when I started out in the morning on overcast days with low light. If I start out early on a clear day i'll still have the 2x TC on. But I recently started using Lightroom Denoise which i think is better than my old Topaz denoise so i think the 2x TC will be glued on since I can shoot with higher ISO. Only think ill use the 1.4x if im in really low light places like costa rica rain forest. Patiently waiting for Sony to make a 500 4.5 or something.
I don't want to switch TC in the field, too paranoid but also don't want Sony to copy Nikon with built in TC shenanigans.
