Wondering what you think ???
I personally prefer to crop the image if I have to,
instead of using a 1.4 /1.7 / 2/0 - T.C.
I own all 3 and never use them since the quality of the sensors the last years is so good that a 50% crop gives you a great image (if sharp from the beginning).
I also prefer a little space around the object I am shooting.
Very interested to find out what you think of this and what your experiences are with the T.C.
In the photo Left full frame no crop
Right photo 40% crop
Thanks
Avi
Posted by Dennis Plank on April 7, 2018 at 8:02 AM
When I used a fixed focus lens, I usually used it in conjunction with a 1.4 teleconverter, Avi. But most of my photography was of small songbirds. However, I don't mind cropping at all, and have cropped down to as little as 10% of the original for presentation on NPN when I had a very sharp original. A couple of years ago, I switched to a zoom lens as my primary armament and, unfortunately, it doesn't play as well with teleconverters, so if the subject is too small in the frame for my taste, I just crop if I can.
I also use cropping over TC, unless I am using a tripod. But, am considering using a 300mm prime with either a 1.4 or 2.0 for small bird photography from a blind.
Avi, I'd say there are two main considerations.
1. A TC ALWAYS reduces the image quality relative to the original lens. From that point of view a crop will always provide better sharpness and contrast.
2. Cropping somewhat limits the maximum size of an enlargement, although there is software to increase the number of pixels in an image. If you'll never make more than say an 8.5" x 11" or 11" x 14" enlargement, you can crop down to 4 or 5 MB and get a high quality print.
I pretty much always crop. It just never seems like I have a TC on. I am generally using my 100-400, anyway. There have been times when I was planning on long-range wildlife photos, and I actually did have a TC on, but I have to admit that has been pretty rare. As others said, I generally crop, or try to get closer.......
Discussion
4 repliesI personally prefer to crop the image if I have to,
instead of using a 1.4 /1.7 / 2/0 - T.C.
I own all 3 and never use them since the quality of the sensors the last years is so good that a 50% crop gives you a great image (if sharp from the beginning).
I also prefer a little space around the object I am shooting.
Very interested to find out what you think of this and what your experiences are with the T.C.
In the photo Left full frame no crop
Right photo 40% crop
Thanks
Avi
1. A TC ALWAYS reduces the image quality relative to the original lens. From that point of view a crop will always provide better sharpness and contrast.
2. Cropping somewhat limits the maximum size of an enlargement, although there is software to increase the number of pixels in an image. If you'll never make more than say an 8.5" x 11" or 11" x 14" enlargement, you can crop down to 4 or 5 MB and get a high quality print.