Smart-Teleconverter question (Sony): I'm expecting a new (used) a99ii tomorrow (early birthday present to myself) to compliment my a77. Some years back I tried to use the ST button to...

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I'm expecting a new (used) a99ii tomorrow (early birthday present to myself) to compliment my a77. Some years back I tried to use the ST button to take pics of eagles in the STL suburbs near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers (annual stopping point during southern migration) but the few birds I saw were so far away they were mere specks in the frame. When I tried to crop them the images were so pixelated as to be completely unusable. Will I have the same problem with the a99ii or will the extra resolution solve the issue (24.3 vs 42 MP). I supposed I might have been using my a330 at the time, but don't recall.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

planepics wrote:

I'm expecting a new (used) a99ii tomorrow (early b... (show quote)

Chances are if they are just specks even a higher resolution sensor might not help too much.
Not sure how long your lens is but a longer one or a tele converter might help.
Or were you just so far away.
But the higher resolution will make a large difference when cropping but again not sure how much you will be doing but it will allow for much more cropping than your a77.
Have fun with a great camera and post some pics.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Architect1776 wrote:

Chances are if they are just specks even a higher resolution sensor might not help too much.
Not sure how long your lens is but a longer one or a tele converter might help.
Or were you just so far away.
But the higher resolution will make a large difference when cropping but again not sure how much you will be doing but it will allow for much more cropping than your a77.
Have fun with a great camera and post some pics.

I think I was using a 70-300 on a tripod. I still have one (maybe an upgraded model). Since then I've added a Tamron 150-600 G2 that I gave a workout last year at Oshkosh (after I did my first ever micro-adjustment using a LensAlign that came in the kit). Can you say FUN?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

planepics wrote:

I think I was using a 70-300 on a tripod. I still have one (maybe an upgraded model). Since then I've added a Tamron 150-600 G2 that I gave a workout last year at Oshkosh (after I did my first ever micro-adjustment using a LensAlign that came in the kit). Can you say FUN?

Be fore getting a TC have you tried the 150-600mm on those birds
Bet that will do what you need and the reach will be more than the 300mm with the 1.4.

Looks like you are having fun, and that is the point for us non-pros.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Some people (acquaintances) said I could sell some of my pics and I've gotten published in on-line aviation newsletters and/or websites (total rewards = 2 baseball caps). The TC I was talking about was the Smart Teleconverter button on the back of the camera (digital in-camera enlargement). I've never used an optical behind-the-lens unit. I've dabbled in macro or landscape, but 95-98% of my annual images are from aviation-related activities. If you like, check out my Oshkosh albums on my FB page.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

planepics wrote:

I'm expecting a new (used) a99ii tomorrow (early b... (show quote)

You want/should be using Clear Image Zoom, 1.1-2X adjustable Sony proprietary AI pixel enlargement software executed IN CAMERA, only available in JPEG and buried DEEP in the menus !

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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

planepics wrote:

I'm expecting a new (used) a99ii tomorrow (early b... (show quote)

If the birds you are trying to take photo's of continue to be mere specks in the frame, then yes, you will continue to get completely unusable results.
You must also learn techniques to get closer. Begin by finding out areas near you where you CAN get closer to the specks in the sky.

rhadams824 Loc: Arkansas

planepics wrote:

Some people (acquaintances) said I could sell some... (show quote)

Check your manual and see it the Smart Teleconverter is Clear Image Zoom. Have you tried it? My CIZ is easy to use and works a little better than cropping.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

imagemeister wrote:

You want/should be using Clear Image Zoom, 1.1-2X adjustable Sony proprietary AI pixel enlargement software executed IN CAMERA, only available in JPEG and buried DEEP in the menus !

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I was using it. It was just that the birds were so few and far away. I'm not intimately aware of the conservation area or the roads within it. Just followed someone's directions to a park with a walkway because the abandoned bridge was either filled to capacity with photographers or otherwise closed when I got there. I had the same problem when I drove about 2 1/2 hrs to Emiquon wildlife preserve to watch the snow goose migration (met at the local airport to travel to the site). Problem was there were about 150 million birds (OK I might be exaggerating) the week before and only a handful could be found one I got there :(. My relatively new (last year) 150-600 should solve some of those problems in the future, though. Also I'm getting a new camera this afternoon - an a99ii (42MP) which will help when I need to crop in PP.

claytonfm

The only problem with Clear Image Zoom is that it compromises your resolution. If one wants to double the zoom, you'll have to reduce the pixel count by a factor of about 10. For a 42 MP sensor this might be acceptable, but at 24 things get iffy.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

As a a99ii owner as well as formerly owning the a65, a spec is a spec. 42mp vs 24mp. You will just have a little better spec. My rule of thumb is that if the bird, airplane or animal is not at least 1/4 the size of the frame, I don't bother shooting it. That being said, acquiring the 150-600mm made a huge difference in my keepers vs my 70-300. For birds and airplanes, I mostly us my Minolta 500mm AF mirror lens because of size and weight on my a99ii. I noticed a big step up in quality switching from my a65 to the a99ii. When I tested a rental Sony 200-600mm and Sony a7iii I got these shots. all hand held, minimal cropping. The a99ii shot had no PP or cropping. I have used optical TC as well as Clear Image Zoom. CIZ is better than my old film vintage optical TC lenses. I have found that CIZ is better than PP cropping up to 1.5x. Have not tried modern optical TC for the 150-600 or my Sony 200-600. From what I have read and images I have seen they are very very good.

a7iii 200-600 at 600
a7iii 200-600 at 600...

a99ii 600mm mirror, no PP or cropping.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

claytonfm wrote:

The only problem with Clear Image Zoom is that it compromises your resolution. If one wants to double the zoom, you'll have to reduce the pixel count by a factor of about 10. For a 42 MP sensor this might be acceptable, but at 24 things get iffy.

Totally UNTRUE .....Please check the FACTS .....
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claytonfm

In order to use anything but Optical Zoom, you must select JPEG rather than RAW, so while there may be no loss in resolution, your post processing options are compromised. Smart Zoom requires the resolution to be reduced to M (10MP) or S (2.6MP). Clear Image Zoom and Digital Zoom can be used at JPEG L (24) MP,but now the Metering Mode is set to Multi and the Focus Area is disabled although it is shown in the VF by a dotted line. So, while the resolution may not be reduced, my limited experience suggests that image quality may be degraded as there has been a substantial amount of in camera processing, i.e. interpolation and that may or may not yield the best image quality. Bottomline is that, assuming one has the time, one should take images at the various settings, then post process lower mag shot by cropping and pick the best of the bunch. Probably not a good solution for moving objects. Unfortunately, long lenses are the best choice but are expensive and can be cumbersome. I feel your pain!

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I've tried CIZ with my 150-600 shooting the moon with my a77. Looks like I'll be able to try it with my new a99ii if the moon is out (on a tripod, of course). I have a couple SOOC and cropped images from last fall to compare them to.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

claytonfm wrote:

my limited experience suggests that image quality may be degraded as there has been a substantial amount of in camera processing, i.e. interpolation and that may or may not yield the best image quality.

Yes, IQ will be degraded - but so will it be by using the affordable alternatives ! In my opinion, CIZ must be compared to either using TC/extenders or cropping without pixel enlargement ( total pixel LOSS) - in which case NEITHER one is going to be "best" - because "best" can only come from a longer/bigger/more expensive lenses ! IMO, CIZ ( FREE and most convenient) or other AI pixel enlargement software is marginally - to MY eyes "better" than the alternatives. The CIZ on the older cameras is a "better" implementation than on the newer cameras - IMO also.
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