The 300mm plus lens Club discuss your long lenses. - Page 11

*wtlwdwgn* · 07-13-2009, 04:27 PM

I didn't see any DA*300mm f/4 images so I am going to post one and also one from a SuperTak 300mm f/4.

DA*300 f/4.

SuperTak 300mm f/4

redneckwes · 07-13-2009, 06:09 PM

I had a good day!

The Cambron/Spiratone 400/6.3 is no where near as foggy as it looked in the e-bay picture, I'm pretty sure it's just some external dust!

Hope to try it out tomorrow.

*Squier* · 07-14-2009, 06:29 PM

Viv 100-300mm constant f5 Close Focus. Quite light for a 300mm zoom - integral sliding hood - no mount ring

*8540tomg* · 10-08-2009, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by wtlwdwgn

I didn't see any DA*300mm f/4 images so I am going to post one and also one from a SuperTak 300mm f/4.

DA*300 f/4.

SuperTak 300mm f/4

Love that Super Tak 300/4 image. Those of us who shoot manually most of the time really appreciate the skill/luck it takes to get that shot.

Tom G

pinholecam · 11-03-2009, 07:45 AM

Enna Tele-ennalyt 400/4.5

Not fantastic, but good enough if the focus is right and the subject fills up most of the frame (so that there is no loss in resolution with cropping)
Overall, I did not pay too much for it so I'm happy with it.

*dadipentak* · 11-03-2009, 08:50 AM

That's a very nice photo, pinholedude

Lowell Goudge · 11-03-2009, 09:55 AM

in keeping with the 300+ theme, here is one using the SMC 300F4 and SMC-F 1.7x AF TC

this is shot at 1/40th hand heldd (on a K7). this is a 100% crop

sorry about the PF but this is highest resolution JPEG right out of the camera

this is again with the K7 and 300F4 plus AF TC shot from a kayak (full frame resized to post)

*hinman* · 11-03-2009, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by pinholecam

Enna Tele-ennalyt 400/4.5

Not fantastic, but good enough if the focus is right and the subject fills up most of the frame (so that there is no loss in resolution with cropping)
Overall, I did not pay too much for it so I'm happy with it.

That is a wonderful shot. Can you tell us more about the Enna Tele-ennalyt 400/4.5, I was outbid in the last 20 seconds on a fine copy in Pentacon 6 mount from stil22 in ebay. Please don't remind me if you are that guy and please forgive my previous curse that happened about 4 months back in ebay. Is your converted to M42 mount with an adapter. If you can share us your story with the lens as well as the weight and how you used that lens with tripod, I will appreciate.

There isn't much 400mm that is fast at f/4.5.

Warmest,
Hin

Fixcinater · 11-03-2009, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by wtlwdwgn

SuperTak 300mm f/4

I'm considering adding one of these to the arsenal, do you find it easy enough to work with (compared to say a 50mm manual focus/aperture lens), or do the auto-aperture/AF lenses have a big advantage for your use?

I'd probably be shooting a good amount of surfing/motorcycles/cars on the track with it and I'm debating investing a few hundred in a S-T 300mm when I could buy an AF 300mm f/4 with IS for about double and get quite a few advantages for quick moving subjects.

pinholecam · 11-03-2009, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by hinman

That is a wonderful shot. Can you tell us more about the Enna Tele-ennalyt 400/4.5, I was outbid in the last 20 seconds on a fine copy in Pentacon 6 mount from stil22 in ebay. Please don't remind me if you are that guy and please forgive my previous curse that happened about 4 months back in ebay. Is your converted to M42 mount with an adapter. If you can share us your story with the lens as well as the weight and how you used that lens with tripod, I will appreciate.

There isn't much 400mm that is fast at f/4.5.

Warmest,
Hin

I think it was really me. Same seller same time of auction.
stil22 does manage to dig up quite a few of such stuff and a few Prost 50/1.2, so I would not be surprised if he digs one up for sale again.

It was really a last min decision for me on getting this lens. I figured since its not going cost me an arm or leg, I'd give it a try. I lacked a seldom used very long lens anyway. The condition and build quality of the lens was the thing that impressed me from the ebay photos.

Ok. Here's a summary :

M42 mount (using adapter)

Weight :
Heavy. Never weighed it, but I think ~2.5kg (certainly heavier than a Sigma 100-300/4)
Not suitable for hand held shot imho. I tried it initially and very soon the 'macho' aspect of it faded real fast, with all the shaky photos. Its ok if well braced or using a beanbag or other support.

Min focus distance :
4.5m

Build :
Very solid all metal. 16 aperture blades.

Usage :
1. Focusing is heavy but smooth. This is more to do with the weight than with the lubrication.
2. I find that the aperture and focus ring are not that well laid out. The aperture ring is in front of the focusing ring (are all MF telephotos like this?). Its easy to accidentally turn either one when doing the other. (doh!). A tripod eliminates this problem.
3. Focusing w/o a tripod is a pain. The barrel is thick and you'd have to hold on to it and focus and since focus throw is a lot its a tough juggling act.
With a tripod, it frees up one hand to just do the focusing so its a lot better.

Performance :
Frankly, I'm on the fence on it. It does not have the resolution compared to say a Sigma 100-300/4 even with a 1.4x teleconverter on it. Then again that is 4x the price. Photos for normal viewing for this lens is fine, but no blown ups. I'm still learning to use the lens, but initial impressions are at f4.5 is soft. f5.6-8 is probably where I'd usually choose to shoot. Contrast and colors are weak (seems like this is so for most old long telephotos), but this is easily corrected in PP. On the other hand, when focus is right, and color/contrast adjust in PP, it does give a good deal for the money.

I would summarize the lens as such:
1. Use a tripod
2. Try to fill the frame as much as possible (this is to avoid the need to crop and with it a loss of resolution)
3. Crank up the ISO and use f5.6 (though f4.5 is usable, 5.6 is a better bet overall)
4. Not a pixel peeper's lens. Ok for normal viewing and 1024x768 type sizes.
5. Good enough, but not great

Stratman · 11-03-2009, 08:43 PM

Vivitar 400mm f5.6 TX mount.

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

With a cheap CPC 2 X T/C

*dadipentak* · 11-03-2009, 08:58 PM

Ok I've been shooting the moon this week and wondering how good my shots were. Now I know: I got a lot of work to do.

xjjohnno · 11-03-2009, 10:09 PM

I suppose I should join in on this thread.
Some Bigma pics

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

Some Tair 300a pics.

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

*emilf* · 11-03-2009, 10:18 PM

A little more motor sports from me

Both are Bigma and k20d.

500mm

420mm:

*dadipentak* · 11-07-2009, 10:49 AM

Well, it was worth a try and I gave it my best shot. It's pretty impressive for what it is, I guess, but (while I'm sure the PP could be better) it's just not good enough. It's not surprising, of course, that I'm not going to get super high IQ from this combo (but it would have been so cool ;~)