E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

[Olybirder]

I tried using the E-M1 with my 50-200 SWD and EC-14 converter today for the first time. The only victims available were the usual Sparrows in my garden, so apologies for posting them again. These are JPEGs, straight from the camera with no post processing, just cropped and resized for web viewing, so I make to claim to any intrinsic merit in them. I was just interested in seeing how the lens and converter worked with the E-M1.

Generally, focusing was quite fast, although it did stutter a few times. It is probably not quite as fast as the E-30 but not far behind. It definitely doesn't like focusing on horizontal lines, like the fence top. I have to say it feels incredibly heavy after the 75-300 II, especially with the HLD-7 grip attached.

Ron

[timd1230]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

But as for the quality - pretty impressive

[David Morison]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

But do you feel it is better than the 75-300mm?

David

[DavyG]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

Nice examples Ron.

Have you tried removing the EC-14 and using the E-M1's digital teleconverter or trying the 50-200 with both?

I tried my 50-200, with the EC-20 and the digital teleconverter today, I think this equates to a 200-800 lens, I'll test this with the Bigma if we get some decent weather tomorrow.

Dave

[Gwyver]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

Ron,
These show perfectly what a wonderful optical combination the 50-200 + EC14 are.

However I found it too heavy to comfortably take on walkabouts, and when the AF seemed so unsatisfactory on the E-M5 I decided to sell the lens.

I have some regrets about parting with the 50-200, but console myself with the thought that it's fairly pointless keeping a lens that is seldom used. Whether I'll still feel the same when I get an E-M1.....

[banjukes]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

Superb shots, the sparrows look like they're going to jump out of the screen. I'm blown away by the E-M1.

[Olybirder]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

Thanks for the comments. I have only used this combination for about half-an-hour so I don't really know how it compares to the 75-300. The maximum aperture of the 75-300 at full zoom is 6.7, whereas with the 50-200 and EC-14 it is 4.9. That might be a slight advantage in poor light. The 50-200 is also splash proof, whereas the 75-300 isn't.

However, the 75-300 is so light and the focusing is lightning fast and that makes it a very attractive proposition. I will have to use both of them for a while before I know which is the more useful for me.

Ron

[bilbo]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

Looking good Ron!

[TonyR]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

Nice examples Ron.

Have you tried removing the EC-14 and using the E-M1's digital teleconverter or trying the 50-200 with both?

I tried my 50-200, with the EC-20 and the digital teleconverter today, I think this equates to a 200-800 lens, I'll test this with the Bigma if we get some decent weather tomorrow.

Dave

I have never used an Oly digital teleconverter before. What happens to the focus point when using it? Do you just see a smaller array of larger points? Or do you see the full array with each covering a smaller area?

[David Morison]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

I have never used an Oly digital teleconverter before. What happens to the focus point when using it? Do you just see a smaller array of larger points? Or do you see the full array with each covering a smaller area?

Larger points.

David

[photo_owl]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

I tried my 50-200, with the EC-20 and the digital teleconverter today, I think this equates to a 200-800 lens, I'll test this with the Bigma if we get some decent weather tomorrow.

Dave

not trying to be 'picky' but the digital tele-convertor is just a digital zoom and doesn't change the lens in use at all ie it's still a 100-400; just viewed at 2x in the viewfinder, or on the monitor (exactly as if you turned the dial to 2x).

the dof, compression etc will all be as for a 100-400

[dogsbody]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

great images, I am looking forward to giving mine a whirl.

[David Morison]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

not trying to be 'picky' but the digital tele-convertor is just a digital zoom and doesn't change the lens in use at all ie it's still a 100-400; just viewed at 2x in the viewfinder, or on the monitor (exactly as if you turned the dial to 2x).

the dof, compression etc will all be as for a 100-400

If you turn the dial to 2x you effectively get half the pixels, with the DTC you still get the full number - so something else is going on! And DavyG only said "equates" to 200-800mm in terms of magnification.

David

[photo_owl]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

... DavyG only said "equates" to 200-800mm in terms of magnification.

David

I missed that bit......

[raichea]

Re: E-M1, 50-200 SWD, EC-14 and Sparrows

- so something else is going on!
David

The something else is upscaling... so 3 out of 4 pixels (2x in horizontal and vertical directions) are invented by the cameras CPU.... based on existing data, for sure, but you can do all that on your computer. I really don't see the point of this for still photography.

Steve.