Sony 200-600mm Lens and 1.4x Teleconverter: Perfect Wildlife Combo?

Рет қаралды 35,860

Күн бұрын

In this video, I test the Sony 200-600mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter paired with the Sony a7iv to see if it's the perfect combination for wildlife photography. I share my experiences of how this setup works in the field. I cover aspects like autofocus accuracy, photo detail, and minimum focusing distance to help you determine if this is the right setup for you. With this combo, you get more reach, but also lose one stop of light, so I also cover the best lighting conditions for optimal results, though this one is tricky.
Whether you're a beginner or a pro this video is for anyone interested in taking their wildlife photography to the next level. Join me as I share my tips, tricks, and insights for using the Sony 200-600mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter for wildlife photography.
Disclaimer: Some Photos in this video are processed in DXO Denoise. But regardless, the potential is there for this setup!
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed the video, leave a like comment and subscribe. I'll see you in the next one!
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Affiliate links to the equipment I use:
Sony a7iv: amzn.to/3wjTZai
Sony FE 200-600mm: amzn.to/3OOAnRQ
Sony FE 1.4x Tele-Converter: amzn.to/3uwdGLE
Sigma Art 24-70: amzn.to/3T4r69Z
GoPro Hero 11: amzn.to/3T2U9LX
DJI Mini 2: amzn.to/3T3a792
Other equipment:
Neewer Pro Backpack: amzn.to/48h8vNm
K&F Tripod: amzn.to/4bFQ6wy
Neewer Tripod Gimbal: amzn.to/3uCWHHo
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00:00 - Intro: Attaching 1.4x TC to 200-600mm
00:17 - The hunger for more reach
01:06 - First time out w/ 1.4x TC
02:04 - Important Information about 1.4 TC
02:23 - Autofocus Tests + Bird Eye Auto Focus!
04:11 - Photo Detail f/11 is the sharpest!
04:49 - POV Photography/Images/Birds in flight
07:15 - Minimum focusing distance does not change
07:31 - Back in the field
08:03 - Conclusion

Пікірлер: 85

@dipanpatel6808 Ай бұрын

man love that you got that carolina chickadee eating from your hands!

@CurtisSnapshot Ай бұрын

Thanks! We have black capped chickadees here and for the most part they’re pretty tame on busy trails. I was having a look at what the difference between a Carolina is, and it looks like they’re almost identical!

@robinsmith1956 4 ай бұрын

Excellent review. Thanks

@CurtisSnapshot 4 ай бұрын

Glad you found it helpful!

@allend6137 11 ай бұрын

Works just fine with my A7iv 👍🏾

@SuriyaNarayanan987 11 ай бұрын

Great hands-on review! I have been using one for a month. I find it useful for 2x magnification at closer distances as you mentioned rather than farther reach. Also works the best when the weather isn't be windy or hot. I usually notice a drop in contrast but thats fixable in post.

@CurtisSnapshot 11 ай бұрын

Exactly, It works well in the right conditions! Thanks for watching.

@-MrEVIL- 6 ай бұрын

What impresses me more is the a7iv man, that focusing capability is utterly insane man 😮😮😮

@CurtisSnapshot 6 ай бұрын

I know right? The a7iv is always stealing the show.

@assoftware2760 7 ай бұрын

Great review!!, I already have this lens with A7rIV, but I'm continuing to fight with the autofocus system. Do you have some tutorials for the right camera setup for birding? focus etc?. Thanks!. Federico Marenzi from Argentina.

@CurtisSnapshot 7 ай бұрын

Thank you! I do have a video explaining how I have my Sony a7iv setup. As well the autofocus settings I use for different wildlife situations, including birds. Focus settings start at 2:50, hopefully it’s helpful! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/geCSeayBvsjFm3k.htmlsi=2JmkqmxAj0CbvT8l

@zZIISCHWFFIIZz 6 ай бұрын

Hello Frederico! Currently Im hesitating between the a7iv and the a7riv, do you mind share your experiences? Thx in advance!

@MagnumGhandourOfficial Ай бұрын

I have an a7c and just got this lense, what do you think of the x2? Great video 👏

@CurtisSnapshot Ай бұрын

Hey there, sorry for the late reply! It’s really tough to say, I have read some seriously mixed reviews about using a 2x teleconverter with this lens in particular. I haven’t tried it myself, but the 2x can greatly degrade image quality in a lot of situations (which also happens with the 1.4x but I didn’t find the image degradation bad at all). That being said, for video work I’ve heard the 2x is usable in some situations to get closer without cropping. Thanks for commenting, glad you enjoyed the video!

@MagnumGhandourOfficial Ай бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot thank you for the feedback! Keep flying. 🚀

@DigitalInfinity 6 ай бұрын

How did you record your EVF in the pov segments? I thought it was a cool idea

@CurtisSnapshot 6 ай бұрын

I'm using Sony's "Creators' App". The app allows you to remote control the camera on your phone. The app gives you the EVF view and then I simply screen record the app. There are other apps that do the same thing I believe, for different camera models and companies. There are some other cheap work arounds as well, if the above doesn't work.

@KenToney 7 ай бұрын

My wife and I shoot a1 w/200-600 both with 1.4 when needed. I’ve never tried hand holding with 1.4 that’s amazing. Sharp handheld at 840?

@CurtisSnapshot 7 ай бұрын

Thanks to IBS and OSS in modern camera systems, it’s a lot easier to capture handheld photos at 840mm. It's all about finding that sweet spot with the shutter speed. I usually shoot above 1/800s depending on how still I can hold the camera. I can achieve slightly lower shutter speeds if I brace myself, but that’s starting to stretch it haha. Thanks for commenting!

@KenToney 7 ай бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot yes for perched handheld 800 is my min unless early morning on mono

@Karkawry1970 Жыл бұрын

More pixels on the bird at 840mm, bigger dof at f11. Works great at f9 too :)

@CurtisSnapshot Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! The setup works really well when it’s used correctly.

@riparianlife97701 2 ай бұрын

I find myself doing a lot of macro with my 200-600, especially butterflies.

@CurtisSnapshot 2 ай бұрын

It's amazing how versatile this lens can be, even for close-up shots like with butterflies. Thanks for sharing!

@hanifdaud8589 10 күн бұрын

Hi, do you think 200-600mm better than 70-200mm for the butterfly?

@riparianlife97701 10 күн бұрын

@@hanifdaud8589 Yeah, 200-600 for butterflies. They don't land for long, so great not to spook them.

@thegorn Ай бұрын

My next door neighbor sometimes sunbakes topless on the back lawn and I wonder if this setup would be good for that?

@thinkpadx60 7 ай бұрын

can you put a link to the backpack you used to keep the 200-600 lens

@CurtisSnapshot 7 ай бұрын

It’s the “Neewer Pro Camera Bag” on Amazon. www.amazon.ca/Neewer-Waterproof-Shockproof-Combination-Professional/dp/B072K3W4TW/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=neewer+camera+bag&qid=1684727129&sr=8-6

@thinkpadx60 7 ай бұрын

thanks @@CurtisSnapshot

@asbjrnhagennielsen6560 5 ай бұрын

Its a nice review. Only you forget to compare to not using the TC.. I did some tests, with, and without the TC -and it seems like there is no real gain. You come closer, but the image sharpness degree, so the end result is more or less the same.

@erod707 4 ай бұрын

Yeah I just got 1.4 teleconverter and don't think it's worth it

@nraraopefljke Жыл бұрын

Wish I had the 200-600

@CurtisSnapshot Жыл бұрын

This is definitely an expensive hobby 😅 Luckily there’s lots of starting options, such as sigma lenses.

@nraraopefljke Жыл бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot Yeah I've got a decent lens but as u said, There's always room for more length😅

@JG-od3xy 5 ай бұрын

Next: Sigma 500mm F4 with Canon Mount along with the Sigma MC-11 adapter

@CurtisSnapshot 5 ай бұрын

I would love to try out a prime telephoto, sounds amazing! Maybe some day soon🤞🏻

@pranaybanerjee7826 7 ай бұрын

Can you please do a bird photography tutorial?

@CurtisSnapshot 7 ай бұрын

I will add it to my list of video ideas!

@jws6181 7 ай бұрын

I have the 1.4x with the A9+200-600mm, works fine...

@CurtisSnapshot 6 ай бұрын

Great combo!

@mirrorlessny 3 ай бұрын

would this combo work with apsc camera? making it like 1260mm ?

@CurtisSnapshot 3 ай бұрын

In theory, yes, this combo would work with an APS-C camera. Effectively giving you a reach of around 1260mm. However, just note that teleconverters can often impact image quality under various conditions in the field. With the added crop factor, any image degradation becomes more noticeable. That said, I’ve personally used this setup while filming 4k, 60 fps, which switches the camera into APS-C mode and have achieved fantastic results. So it’s definitely possible!

@echoauxgen 8 ай бұрын

First no need for the 1.4x because APS-C mode is 1.5 and many ways to get back to original size but most crop anyway so you know about that! I have no problems zero problems with the 2X. And if your using a Sony and a A7iii and above with ISO Invariance you can bring any dark image back to normal. IF you also have the A7RV it also has an EV dial that goes up or down 5EV so on those very bright sunny days and get feather detail using -5. Also with 2X and APS-C you get a full frame moon so sharp and close you will you are about to land on it great for those lunar eclipses but advise to just do 600mm less edge blur and you will get the moon with stars you can always crop to get a closer. Look using the 2x at 200 yards of a nest of baby Egrets being feed it looked like I was standing right next to the and DOF is just the greatest if if using the medium square focus at center great eye focus as well focus close for and aft and with beautiful bokeh also. I have no idea what you have read, must have been another brand dumping on it.

@CurtisSnapshot 8 ай бұрын

That’s really interesting to hear, sounds like I might be missing out! I did see a lot of reviews that advised me to avoid the 2x teleconverter with the 200 - 600 in particular, as well as to out right avoid tele converters in general. Tons of negativity for them! Which is why I thought it would be safest to go with the 1.4x TC. But after reading your comment, I’m intrigued! I would love to try it out for myself, perhaps I can rent it next summer. Thank you for commenting!

@rghurst 6 ай бұрын

Using APS-C mode on a full-frame camera DOES NOT increase focal length. It crops the image in camera (and reduces your field of view) with the same results as if you crop the image later in post. If you think a TC and the crop mode do the same/similar things, you need to think harder 🙂 Pros of using APS-C mode ... - more shots before buffer is full - more shots on your memory card - takes up less space on your hard drive Cons of using APS-C mode ... - Harder to keep BIFs/action shots in frame because of the narrower field of view. - Narrow field of view gives you less flexibility for cropping in post.

@CurtisSnapshot 6 ай бұрын

@@rghurst I agree, I have never found a reason to shoot crop mode in my a7iv, as you said you can crop in post. Which is why I thought I would try out a 1.4x TC to increase magnification. Since owning it, I have had some good results with it. It’s definitely not always needed, especially as I learn new skills in wildlife photography. Using an apsc camera such as the a6000 series, there’s no loss of quality in terms of mega pixels. So of course that’s useful for some. Imagine the 1.4x + 600mm and the FOV of a crop sensor camera at, what is it a 1260mm equivalent now? Like you said BIF photos would be difficult! Haha

@rghurst 6 ай бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot I wish Sony would make a 33MP Crop Sensor body similar to the Canon R7 ... equivalent pixel density to an 83MP full frame. I am pretty sure the sensor is the Canon is made by Sony, but Sony doesn't seem to want to make a full-frame style body with the 33MP crop sensor.

@vojtamares9590 Ай бұрын

Is it possible to have clear picture at something 300-400 meters far away?

@CurtisSnapshot Ай бұрын

It really depends on what you're aiming to photograph and the atmospheric conditions, as this setup can significantly magnify effects like heat distortion. For wildlife, this combination allows me to identify animals from a distance, but capturing high-quality photos of them is more challenging. The results can vary widely based on what you intend to capture. For instance, it might be possible to create a compelling environmental shot of an animal at that distance, where the surroundings contribute to the image just as much as the wildlife itself. Hope that helps, thank you for commenting!

@asbjrnhagennielsen6560 5 ай бұрын

If you really want more reach -go for more pixel density -the Sony a7RIV /V

@CurtisSnapshot 4 ай бұрын

That is tempting! 😮‍💨

@k.w.lwildlifephotography9091 8 ай бұрын

What IS setting 1 2 or 3?

@CurtisSnapshot 8 ай бұрын

Which settings are you referring to? The 3 stabilization settings on the side of the lens, or the 3 settings on the dial of the camera?

@k.w.lwildlifephotography9091 8 ай бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot the lens settings,,

@CurtisSnapshot 8 ай бұрын

@@k.w.lwildlifephotography9091 oh okay! The 3 stabilization modes on the lens are, 1: compensates for normal shake 2: compensates for shake while panning 3: compensates for fast and irregularly moving subjects, such as birds in flight. (This mode also enhances stabilization within the view finder to make framing your subjects easier). And then the lens has various other switches for turning on stabilization, turning on autofocus, or setting how close or far the lens can focus. It’s pretty cool and a lot to pay attention too at times.

@k.w.lwildlifephotography9091 8 ай бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot thanks that great,,i mainly shoot birds inflight so i will use 3.

@borneoboii5776 Жыл бұрын

link for bag pls

@CurtisSnapshot Жыл бұрын

It’s the “Neewer Pro Camera Bag” on Amazon. www.amazon.ca/Neewer-Waterproof-Shockproof-Combination-Professional/dp/B072K3W4TW/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=neewer+camera+bag&qid=1684727129&sr=8-6

@gamerat30 9 ай бұрын

What is the difference between 1.4x converter and Apsc mode?

@CurtisSnapshot 9 ай бұрын

If your using APSC mode on a full frame camera, that’s essentially cropping into the image. So you end up loosing some mega pixels. A 1.4x converter magnifies your lens to get you closer to the subject without a loss of resolution and it also provides the flexibility to crop in further if needed.

@gamerat30 9 ай бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot Got it thank you bro...

@_jbflickz Жыл бұрын

How much more if you shoot in crop mode 😅

@CurtisSnapshot Жыл бұрын

If I remember correctly, it’s a 1.5x crop right? So 1,260mm! 😅😂

@_jbflickz Жыл бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot 😅

@asbjrnhagennielsen6560 5 ай бұрын

Crop mode do NOT give more mm -only crops. The x1,5 is marketing BS.

@thommyturtle29 Ай бұрын

Hey man, I like ur pics. Only thing is that for my taste ur a bit too much center focussed. Most of ur subjects find themselves right in the middle of the picture. Setting em off a bit might even add more excitement. Cheers.

@CurtisSnapshot Ай бұрын

Thank you! I’m always experimenting and learning, I really appreciate the feedback. I partially blame Instagram for my style of shooting centre focused as well as always choosing a 4x5 crop haha. Im finally starting to get away from these bad habits which feels really refreshing.

@thommyturtle29 Ай бұрын

@@CurtisSnapshot Thanks for your response. Big fan of your vids! :)

@Dehancer Жыл бұрын

Hi, we'd like to collaborate with you. How can we get in touch?

@CurtisSnapshot Жыл бұрын

I appreciate the opportunity! I will reply to your email later tonight for further details.

@Koh_SeJin 7 ай бұрын

It will be better if you either use softer background music or not use any background music.

@CurtisSnapshot 7 ай бұрын

Coming back to this video I can see the improvements needed with the music, I appreciate the feedback! Learning audio is a constant struggle haha

@CarstenBruhn Ай бұрын

Advise - dont use music track.

@MrFloris 8 ай бұрын

This is an expensive hobby. 😂. I love my a7rv though. Cant wait to have the money to getthe telelens

@CurtisSnapshot 8 ай бұрын

I have a hard time putting this lens down, it’s definitely a solid investment! Whenever I pickup a “normal” focal length, I feel incredibly rusty haha

@MrFloris 8 ай бұрын

Aaaah, i might have to go get it then. time to save up some money @@CurtisSnapshot

@UnluckyNewbie 9 ай бұрын

F11... R7 + "Cheap" RF 800 /F11 costs like Sony 200-600 + 1.4x alone. You get 1280 mm /33mp reach and a Kilo lighter than 200-600

@CurtisSnapshot 9 ай бұрын

Yeah, I really got sucked into this Sony ecosystem. I hear about all these other setups from other companies and admit I feel a little jealous. 😂

@scott5747 5 ай бұрын

Leave the music off your next video.

@CurtisSnapshot 5 ай бұрын

I appreciate the input, I have been working on dialing the music down and using it more appropriately haha Hopefully you still got some value out of the video!

@Nedvedhead 4 ай бұрын

Music didn't bother me at all for what it's worth

@liamfinch4129 2 ай бұрын

spoiled by intrusive background music - NOT cool, just noisey!

@CurtisSnapshot 2 ай бұрын

Totally fair, I appreciate the feedback. This used to be one of my biggest issues with videos, I have improved both at audio balancing and music placement since this video.

@whitevanbigmouth Ай бұрын

Yes same pissed me off with what sounded like water dripping.. Can't watch it Grrrrr