EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-03-28 01:11:33
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Conclusions
The Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS is capable of very sharp results, but there are a host of gremlins that will degrade the potential quality— don’t expect to start using this lens and instantly get great results (unless you already know how to operate a super telephoto).
The factors that will affect results include at least the following:
- Shutter speed— A handheld speed of 1/2000 second should be considered the minimum speed to reliably produce sharp images in a handheld or similar situation. Dropping to 1/1000 second or lower drops those odds. Part of the issue is that it’s not easy to support the lens without a tripod, due to its bulk and weight.
- Focus — Extremely shallow depth of field makes focus a serious challenge. Trying to focus on an eye for wildlife is pretty tough when the subject doesn’t stay still for more than a moment. The camera must not have any error whatsoever, because even at 100 feet (33 meters), there are only inches of sharpness.
- Tripod and head— plan on getting a gimbal-type head for any lens 400mm or longer especially this 800mm; it should be considered a mandatory accessory. Other solutions are possible, but they are awkward. Whenever possible, use
- Image stabilization — definitely a win in some circumstances, but it can produce blur on a tripod, and possibly in other situations. It can also drive you nuts in a handheld situation, as it “jumps”, which throws off the focus point.
- Technique — it’s best not to assume anything; test your own technique with your own equipment and see what actually works best.
- Wind — wind vibrates a tripod and the lens like crazy. A little wind = blurred images. Get the lens low fully supported front to back (eg a big beanbag). To see this, just put the camera into Live View mode, magnify, then gape at just how much things jiggle.
- Atmosphere — haze can lower contrast by a huge amount, and disturbed air can produce alternating blur and sharpness for very strange-looking effects.
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Diglloyd DAP is DSLR-oriented, but also contains workflow and other topics. Much of the focus is on Canon and Nikon but also Pentax and Pentax medium format.
Special emphasis is placed on lens evaluation, focusing on Canon and Nikon and Sigma lenses, but with a few others like Rokinon/Samyang.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
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- Workflow discusses image organization, raw conversion and post processing. Many examples show processing parameters for direct insight into how the image was converted.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
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