[Roy C]

For those that are interested The Digital Picture now have the new 300/2.8 II up in the lens comparison section - see HERE. With the MkIII 2x tc the new lens looks significantly better than the MK I lens to me. Will be interesting to see some bird shots in the field at 600/5.6.
I was always happy with the 300/2.8 MkI + 2x tc (MkII) but I did like to stop down one to f8 and use a tripod - It looks like the new lens/tc combo with its 4 stop I.S. is going to be well usable as a hand holdable 600/5.6 even wide open.

[Hor Kee]

Originally Posted by Roy C

For those that are interested The Digital Picture now have the new 300/2.8 II up in the lens comparison section - see HERE. With the MkII 2x tc the new lens looks significantly better than the MK I lens to me. Will be interesting to see some bird shots in the field at 600/5.6.
I was always happy with the 300/2.8 MkI + 2x tc (MkII) but I did like to stop down one to f8 and use a tripod - It looks like the new lens/tc combo with its 4 stop I.S. is going to be well usable as a hand holdable 600/5.6 even wide open.

Great one!

I suppose you mean Mark III TCs. Missing your former setup now? The new lens is 500g lighter than its predecessor but it still weighs in at 2.4kg. Not quite as light as many had hoped for, but it is the same weight as the Sigma 300mm F2.8 (with an advanced IS to boot).

By the way, what compromises did your Mark I lens have that forced you to step it down to F8? I've read that its IS was of an earlier generation type, not that more advanced than the 300 F4. Is this true?

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by Hor Kee

By the way, what compromises did your Mark I lens have that forced you to step it down to F8? I've read that its IS was of an earlier generation type, not that more advanced than the 300 F4. Is this true?

I did not have to to stop down to f8 but preferred it to get back some of the inevitable sharpness loss when using a 2x tc.
The 300/2.8 I.S. was more advanced than the 300/4 (and 100-400) as it had tripod sensing - in fact it was positively beneficial to keep I.S. on whereas it has to be turned off on the first generation I.S.

BTW I am not missing my former set-up as I am not doing much bird photography these days - If I do ever get back into it I would definitely look at the 300/2.8 MkII (with MkIII tx)

[GYRob]

it is an intresting setp but i just clicked and conpared the new 300+new tc 600mm with a 500f4 at f4 and the diffrence is about the same, so far better with the 500 f4 and that did suprise me as the 500f4 is a old lens .
Rob.

[HokkaidoStu]

Sorry Rob I didn't quite follow your last point.

What were you comparing, an older 500 f4 and a new 300 f2.8 (with new T/C)?

I don't understand when you say the difference is about the same then the 500 f4 is better.

Forgive my ignorance!

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by GYRob

it is an intresting setp but i just clicked and conpared the new 300+new tc 600mm with a 500f4 at f4 and the diffrence is about the same, so far better with the 500 f4 and that did suprise me as the 500f4 is a old lens .
Rob.

I am not quite following you Rob when you say the 'difference is about the same' but if you are saying that the 300/2.8 + 2x tc is as good as the bare 500/4 or even with + 1.4tc then that is remarkable IMO as you would expect the 500/4 to be better even though it is an old lens (there is a world of difference between shooting with a 1.4x tc and a 2x tc). The reason why folks go for the 300 over the 500 is mostly to do with weight and hand hold-ability I would have thought and the new 300 is 40% lighter than the old 500. If weight were no problem I would go for either a 600/4 or 800/5.6 myself.

[GYRob]

sorry Roy
no im saying the 500f4 at f4 is better than the ALL new 300 + new 2xtc by quite a margin -given the the new 300 +tc is said to be so good i thought it might be closer in IQ.
Rob.

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by GYRob

sorry Roy
no im saying the 500f4 at f4 is better than the ALL new 300 + new 2xtc by quite a margin -given the the new 300 +tc is said to be so good i thought it might be closer in IQ.
Rob.

I would fully expect the bare 500 to be far better than anything with a 2x tc attached Rob, new lens or not.. What is remarkable is that the new 300 with a 2x looks around the same as the old 500 with a 1.4x from what I can see.
EDIT: If you compare the new 300 and the old 500 both with a new 2xtc then the difference is enormous - I know it is comparing Apples and oranges because of the difference in f stop and focal lengths (600/5.6 v 1000/8) but none the lens I reckon it shows just how well the new 300 takes a 2x.

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by GYRob

sorry Roy
no im saying the 500f4 at f4 is better than the ALL new 300 + new 2xtc by quite a margin -given the the new 300 +tc is said to be so good i thought it might be closer in IQ.
Rob.

I would fully expect the bare 500 to be far better than anything with a 2x tc attached Rob. What is remarkable is that the new 300 with a 2x is around the same as the old 500 with a 1.4x from what I can see.

If you compare the new 300 and the 500 both with a 2x tc then the difference is enormous. I know that 600/5.6 and 1000/8 is apples and oranges but it does show just how well the new 300 takes a 2x tc.

[GYRob]

the thing is the 500mm is old in tech terms so i was expecting the new 300 combo to be just about as good as a bare 500
It shows that getting better optics is very hard to do even for canon .
Rob.

[Jaff]

I fully agree with Roy here. I would expect the bare 500mm to be a great deal sharper too.

Don't forget Rob that the way glass is made and ground down hasn't changed much in the last I don't know how many years. Some lenses that were made 20 odd years ago are still as sharp as some of the modern day lenses and in some cases I believe actually sharper. What does change quite significantly is the coatings for glass that can be made and I think fluorite crystal elements are quite new to the scene which Canon produces and puts in it's top end glass.

There is a useful page of PDF files on Canon's website that contains interesting info about the technology that goes into making lenses and optics, if you have some spare time it's a fascinating read http://www.canon-europe.com/Support/...ork_iii_en.asp