In all honesty I wouldn't bother with the 2x not only do you lose 2 stops but also you lose detail.
I think I would say if the only way to get a shot was to use the 2x then go for it but I doubt it'll make it onto your wall.
I did some comparison tests at the time and was that dismayed that I had actually shelled out good money for the 2x only to see results that were at best rubbish, I put it on ebay and took the loss like a man.
Which brings me to another point with regard to purchasing kit, its so very frustrating not being able to try before you buy ! you can do all the research you like, hours of it, but until you get the item in your hand and try it you don't know if your wasting your hard earned cash, its a minefield.
Anyway as for the 1.4x extender it is my weapon of choice I use it nearly all the time and always have it in my pocket, I find that birds have what it known in the trade as "the circle of fear" (COF) the COF seems to differ some species are happy to let you get up pretty close others no way soon as they see you they are gone.
I find using my 500mm f4 L IS + the 1.4x gives the best of both worlds, it enables me to stay outside the birds COF but be close enough for a detailed capture all things being equal that is.
Ok enough said lets test, for this comparison test I am going to use a bank note, namely a 1000 drachma note.
The test is carried out indoors under reasonably consistent lighting I used a portable flood light to make it as consistent as possible, but natural light via windows still alters exposure a little between shots.
Kit is Canon 5dmk4 plus Canon 500mm f4 L IS sitting on my sturdy Benro Tripod, I am also using a remote release.
OK so first up we are just using the 500mm with no extender. Click on the "500mm" link to see full size, both shots are @ f7 and iso 200.
F7 is the sharpest aperture for my 500 f4 hence the test is conducted at this f stop distance to target is 10m give or take a few cm's.
I have also cropped the images to approx the same size other than that they are as shot.
Next up we introduce the Canon 1.4x mk3 extender to the mix which gives us a focal length of 700mm again click on the "700mm" link below to see full size.
I use FastStone Image Viewer it is a fantastic viewer for all formats of images, using this and using the compare images tool @100% I have looked all over these two images and quite honestly I am hard pressed to see any degradation on the 700mm image, if I was being really picky I would say the 500 has slightly better contrast.
To me its a no brainer the Canon 1.4x mk3 is a good investment and I shall continue to use it as my go to setup for birding.
Please feel free to leave comments etc.
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