1.4TC?

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@Red_E_Read

@Red_E_Read

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Hi, looking for input specifically on the follow combination if possible, or if not then general input.

I use Nikon D500 with Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens for wildlife. Most of the time I am at 600mm, manual setting on f6.3, shutter varies to suit and auto-ISO.

When I put the Sigma 1.4TC on the quality of the image drops (noise, sharpness) that I feel I am better off without the TC and cropping a little bit more in post.

I am looking for suggestion on how to get better results with this set-up. Changing gear is not a financial option.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Glass is what you pay for, and it has its limits. Sometimes, the subject is just too far away and you must decide to walk away or shoot 500 images you will not use in the end. I have 1000's such pictures. The anticipation pushes us, but the glass limits us. TC's work, on the right glass and distance. I used and had both the 400 f/2.8 and the 600 f/4 for years and shot them with a 2x & 1,4 TC. I nearly always shot the 200-400 F/4 with a 1,4 TC. That said, many of these images are still too small. So, my take is, make peace with what you have and the limits of the equipment. Even if you fork out for the pricey glass, you will still sit with your own anticipation of reach. I speak from shooting more than 30 years, and always there were and will be images out of reach, no matter what you shoot with.
So, shoot without the TC, you will get more keepers and less frustration. Your combination should give you 90% the keepers that more expensive glass may give you in most situations. Location, subject and light - if that is not there, no equipment can make the image. Use a tripod and gimbal type head or tripod base plate with gimbal when shooting from a hide, I think you guys call it a blind. Know your subject, anticipate it moves and you will get more keepers. Shoot a lot, it instills muscle memory.
trust this helps.
 
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I had that sigma TC 1.4 and it fell apart, about the worst built you could get. So I sent it back only to get another so badly built (everything loose in construction) I just binned it. My strong advice is to get a decent make and avoid this sigma version like the plague
 
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Callie said:
Glass is what you pay for, and it has its limits. Sometimes, the subject is just too far away and you must decide to walk away or shoot 500 images you will not use in the end. I have 1000's such pictures. The anticipation pushes us, but the glass limits us. TC's work, on the right glass and distance. I used and had both the 400 f/2.8 and the 600 f/4 for years and shot them with a 2x & 1,4 TC. I nearly always shot the 200-400 F/4 with a 1,4 TC. That said, many of these images are still too small. So, my take is, make peace with what you have and the limits of the equipment. Even if you fork out for the pricey glass, you will still sit with your own anticipation of reach. I speak from shooting more than 30 years, and always there were and will be images out of reach, no matter what you shoot with.
So, shoot without the TC, you will get more keepers and less frustration. Your combination should give you 90% the keepers that more expensive glass may give you in most situations. Location, subject and light - if that is not there, no equipment can make the image. Use a tripod and gimbal type head or tripod base plate with gimbal when shooting from a hide, I think you guys call it a blind. Know your subject, anticipate it moves and you will get more keepers. Shoot a lot, it instills muscle memory.
trust this helps.
Click to expand...
Thanks Callie
 
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I took the temptation several times to get a TC and each time , because it was newer and better, I was disappointed. I gave each a fair test and they all failed.

I would set up with bright sun on a brick wall. Take several photos with and several without the tc. Pick the best, if there was one, of each. Then I would enlarge both to the same "image size" Of course the magnification was greater on the version without the tc and with the newer model tc's they were virtually identical. This is assuming you had the pixels to enlarge the version without the tc to the same IMAGE SIZE as the one with the TC and still get the image size you wanted.

I still have a 1.4 sigma as I use it in the telephoto for macro / butterflies etc. Adding a TC increases the focal length but maintains the minimum focus distance which is an advantage.

As they say,,,Just my opinion
 
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Promapper said:
I took the temptation several times to get a TC and each time , because it was newer and better, I was disappointed. I gave each a fair test and they all failed.

I would set up with bright sun on a brick wall. Take several photos with and several without the tc. Pick the best, if there was one, of each. Then I would enlarge both to the same "image size" Of course the magnification was greater on the version without the tc and with the newer model tc's they were virtually identical. This is assuming you had the pixels to enlarge the version without the tc to the same IMAGE SIZE as the one with the TC and still get the image size you wanted.

I still have a 1.4 sigma as I use it in the telephoto for macro / butterflies etc. Adding a TC increases the focal length but maintains the minimum focus distance which is an advantage.

As they say,,,Just my opinion
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
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I've found that the Sigma 1.4 TC on my Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens gives me so little benefit, I probably haven't used it in at least a year. On the other hand I use a Nikkor 1.4 TC MKiii which is the best version, on a Nikkor 200-500mm lens.

In bright light the TC gives me quality images, very close to what I would get without one. First issue to contend with is the minimum aperture being increased to F8 but that's my goto F number anyway so no harm done. I find that acquiring and holding focus remains pretty quick. Occasionally on the slow side. As would be expected, poor light queers the pitch considerably so I wouldn't bother in those circumstances.

All in all I don't use it a great deal but when everything falls into place it's valuable to have.
 
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@Red_E_Read said:
Hi, looking for input specifically on the follow combination if possible, or if not then general input.

I use Nikon D500 with Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens for wildlife. Most of the time I am at 600mm, manual setting on f6.3, shutter varies to suit and auto-ISO.

When I put the Sigma 1.4TC on the quality of the image drops (noise, sharpness) that I feel I am better off without the TC and cropping a little bit more in post.

I am looking for suggestion on how to get better results with this set-up. Changing gear is not a financial option.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I bought the Sigma 150-600 Sport as a kit with a 1.4x TC. I was under the impression that this matching TC was specifically designed for use with the 150-600 Sport but it is marked (among other things) Made in Japan TC-1401 Designated Sigma Lenses Only. This is UK stock, I don't know if Sigma use different designations in other markets. Maybe the 150-600 Contemporary is a designated lens too, or is your TC this one? This TC is available separately in the UK for £299 - so more expensive than their other 1.4x TC, so maybe better?
I found this on the Sigma UK web site but it does not mention designated lenses:

Teleconverter TC-1401 – Sigma UK

www.sigma-imaging-uk.com www.sigma-imaging-uk.com
 
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gbodave said:
I've found that the Sigma 1.4 TC on my Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens gives me so little benefit, I probably haven't used it in at least a year. On the other hand I use a Nikkor 1.4 TC MKiii which is the best version, on a Nikkor 200-500mm lens.

In bright light the TC gives me quality images, very close to what I would get without one. First issue to contend with is the minimum aperture being increased to F8 but that's my goto F number anyway so no harm done. I find that acquiring and holding focus remains pretty quick. Occasionally on the slow side. As would be expected, poor light queers the pitch considerably so I wouldn't bother in those circumstances.

All in all I don't use it a great deal but when everything falls into place it's valuable to have.
Click to expand...
Thanks and very similar to my own thinking.
 
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dabhand16 said:
I bought the Sigma 150-600 Sport as a kit with a 1.4x TC. I was under the impression that this matching TC was specifically designed for use with the 150-600 Sport but it is marked (among other things) Made in Japan TC-1401 Designated Sigma Lenses Only. This is UK stock, I don't know if Sigma use different designations in other markets. Maybe the 150-600 Contemporary is a designated lens too, or is your TC this one? This TC is available separately in the UK for £299 - so more expensive than their other 1.4x TC, so maybe better?
I found this on the Sigma UK web site but it does not mention designated lenses:

Teleconverter TC-1401 – Sigma UK

www.sigma-imaging-uk.com www.sigma-imaging-uk.com
Click to expand...
Yep, mine is “designated Sigma lenses only” and purchased as a (UK) ‘package’ at the same time as the lens.
 
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Not to be defeated I took my D500 with Sigma 150-600C plus 1.4TC attached out this morning. Light was not great with auto-ISO coming in over 2000 most of the time f9 at 600+TC. Personally, I was quite pleased.
67112348-302B-4800-B459-85520E4E14A3.jpeg
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Agree with gbodave.
Your 2 issues are sharpness which is camera movement and/or focus related, and noise which is exposure/ISO related so what you need to do now is to do some experiments to see if you can isolate what is causing the issues.
You could use one location and start with camera on a tripod, good light and photograph some static things in different conditions - sun/shade/different background etc. Try mirror lock up too. If it is windy ensure you have shelter from the wind. Then you could return when the light is not so good and repeat what you took before. Use the same aperture and shutter speed and let the ISO float.
It is crucial that your tripod is solid and your long lens technique is good at these focal lengths.
When you have a couple of sets of images you can compare them, then if for instance you find in set 2 that the noise is high, repeat this set in the same light but with the exposure increased a bit then compare set 2 with set 3.
In your first post you don't mention what shutter speed you are using/getting. You might want to incorporate another test using the same subject at different shutter speeds starting with your normal setting then increasing it to the maximum you can go without underexposing too much and compare the results in this test for sharpness. This test will also be useful to look at the noise too.
 
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dabhand16 said:
Agree with gbodave.
Your 2 issues are sharpness which is camera movement and/or focus related, and noise which is exposure/ISO related so what you need to do now is to do some experiments to see if you can isolate what is causing the issues.
You could use one location and start with camera on a tripod, good light and photograph some static things in different conditions - sun/shade/different background etc. Try mirror lock up too. If it is windy ensure you have shelter from the wind. Then you could return when the light is not so good and repeat what you took before. Use the same aperture and shutter speed and let the ISO float.
It is crucial that your tripod is solid and your long lens technique is good at these focal lengths.
When you have a couple of sets of images you can compare them, then if for instance you find in set 2 that the noise is high, repeat this set in the same light but with the exposure increased a bit then compare set 2 with set 3.
In your first post you don't mention what shutter speed you are using/getting. You might want to incorporate another test using the same subject at different shutter speeds starting with your normal setting then increasing it to the maximum you can go without underexposing too much and compare the results in this test for sharpness. This test will also be useful to look at the noise too.
Click to expand...
Great advice, thank you. Come the weekend, if the weather is ok I will look into this in more detail.
 
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@Red_E_Read said:
Hi, looking for input specifically on the follow combination if possible, or if not then general input.

I use Nikon D500 with Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens for wildlife. Most of the time I am at 600mm, manual setting on f6.3, shutter varies to suit and auto-ISO.

When I put the Sigma 1.4TC on the quality of the image drops (noise, sharpness) that I feel I am better off without the TC and cropping a little bit more in post.

I am looking for suggestion on how to get better results with this set-up. Changing gear is not a financial option.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I tested the sigma 1.4 with the sigma 105 2.8. The results were about the same as above. see the attached link for the details and sample. I have also tried it with the nikon 200-500 with identical results...I am better without it assuming I have enough pixels to keep enlarging until I get the same image size had I used the TC
tc test results
 
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[QUOTE = "dabhand16, message: 3686, membre: 1973"]
J'ai acheté le Sigma 150-600 Sport en kit avec un 1.4x TC. J'avais l'impression que ce TC correspondant a été spécialement conçu pour être utilisé avec le 150-600 Sport mais il est marqué (entre autres) Made in Japan TC-1401 Designated Sigma Lenses Only. Il s'agit d'actions britanniques, je ne sais pas si Sigma utilise des désignations différentes sur d'autres marchés. Peut-être que le 150-600 Contemporary est également un objectif désigné, ou votre TC est-il celui-ci? Ce TC est disponible séparément au Royaume-Uni pour 299 £ - donc plus cher que leur autre 1,4x TC, alors peut-être mieux?
J'ai trouvé ceci sur le site Web de Sigma UK mais il ne mentionne pas les objectifs désignés:
[URL unfurl = "true"] https://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/product/teleconverter-apo-tc-1401/ [/ URL]
[/CITATION] je met le tc 1.4 sigma sur un 70-200 mm Tamron 2.8 et cela marche.Par contre,je n'ai jamais compris ce tandem 150-600mm + tc vu l'ouverture glissante
 
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[QUOTE = "dabhand16, message: 3686, member: 1973"]
I bought the Sigma 150-600 Sport as a kit with a 1.4x TC. I was under the impression that this corresponding TC was specially designed for use with the 150-600 Sport but it is marked (among others) Made in Japan TC-1401 Designated Sigma Lenses Only. These are UK stocks, I don't know if Sigma uses different designations in other markets. Maybe the 150-600 Contemporary is a designated lens as well, or is your TC this one? This TC is available separately in the UK for £ 299 - so more expensive than their other 1.4x TC, so maybe better?
I found this on the Sigma UK website but it doesn't mention the designated purposes:
[URL unfurl = "true"] https://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/product/teleconverter-apo-tc-1401/ [/ URL]
[/ QUOTE] I put the 1.4 sigma tc on a 70-200mm Tamron 2.8 and it works. On the other hand, I never understood this tandem 150-600mm + tc given the sliding opening
 
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