D850 AF-C with 500 PF + 1.4 TC

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Jerry-M

Jerry-M

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I realize that the focus point(s) on a D850 are limited to the center when shooting at f/8, the widest possible with a 500PF + TC-14E III. I've used this combination for birds in flight with limited success.

Single-point AF is difficult to maintain on the bird, but would this be the best option since it's really only the center focus point that is active? Any advantage to using D9 or Group?

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
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Sorry I seem to have missed this post.

You're on the right track. The center is the only point that will retain cross-type functionality at F/8. However, there are a few other points nearby that will still work as line sensors. So, you may benefit form suing D9 or GRP and keeping it dead-center in the frame. I'd avoid going anywhere else, as the F/8 AF points are limited (they go straight out left and right and up and down from the center - but that's it - just 15 of 'em total if I recall).
 
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Steve, thanks for the information. Thern, you're right. I checked the image quality with the 1.4 TC, shooting a test target with the camera mounted on a tripod. It wasn't very good, so even if I got a BIF in focus, the detail would not be there.
 
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Jerry-M said:
Steve, thanks for the information. Thern, you're right. I checked the image quality with the 1.4 TC, shooting a test target with the camera mounted on a tripod. It wasn't very good, so even if I got a BIF in focus, the detail would not be there.
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Jerry-M...you should test your tripod mounted lens, if acceptable then IMO you have a poor copy of the TC-1.4. I regularly get excellent results with my 500 PF and TC-1.4 III.
 
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I would think you should get good image quality with the 500 mm PP plus 1.4x TCIII on a D850. Is it possible that your D850+500 mm PF+1.4x TCIII combination needs focus tuning? This could be the case even if the D850 and bare 500 mm PF do not. My 500 mm PF is quite good with the 1.4x TCIII. I use this combination mostly on my Z7 (with similar image quality to the D850) and I like the results.

I have used my 500 mm PF plus 1.4x TC III on a D500, D850 and Z7. I prefer to use the 500 mm PF on the Z7 if I am going to pair it with the 1.4x TCIII, because all of the focus points work and cover the frame. I have even used the Z7+500 mm PF+1.4x TCIII combination for birds in flight. It’s decent, although not as good for BIF as the bare 500 mm PF on either my D500 and D850.

It is also possible that my 500 mm PF plus 1.4x TCIII works better on my Z7 because the Z7 generally minimizes the need for focus tuning.
 
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