300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses

Greyser · 05-16-2013, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by dadipentak

Red-Shouldered Hawk?

It looks more like a Cooper's to me: longer gray tail and dark eyes (sometimes eyes are even very reddish).

mikem · 05-16-2013, 09:41 PM

Here's a mink from this afternoon from the DA* 300mm. Does anyone else have trouble with "nervous" bokeh like this? Perhaps it's my UV filter. It's a nice Hoya Pro but I've never done anyone testing with it.

Frogfish · 05-16-2013, 10:44 PM - **1 Like**

Very nice shot Mike. I don't remember having a bokeh like that from my DA*300 but virtually any lens can exhibit nervous bokeh if the conditions for it are just perfect. That said maybe the filter is having an affect.

I never use filters - even the best are putting extra glass between the subject and sensor. Your hood is more than enough to protect your front element and despite all the crawling and scrambling through woods and over rocks etc. that I do I have never had a scratched or otherwise damaged front element. The biggest risk is dropping your lens - and in that situation a filter can only make things worse not better. The only time I use a filter on my long lenses is when I'm on the beach / at sea or otherwise very sandy / dusty / salty environment.

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-16-2013, 11:12 PM

Originally posted by dadipentak

Red-Shouldered Hawk?

Originally posted by Greyser

It looks more like a Cooper's to me: longer gray tail and dark eyes (sometimes eyes are even very reddish).

I think dadipentak has it right. Likely an immature red shouldered hawk, the coopers simply do not exhibit the red on the wing that is present here.

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-16-2013, 11:15 PM

Originally posted by Frogfish

Very nice shot Mike. I don't remember having a bokeh like that from my DA*300 but virtually any lens can exhibit nervous bokeh if the conditions for it are just perfect. That said maybe the filter is having an affect.

I never use filters - even the best are putting extra glass between the subject and sensor. Your hood is more than enough to protect your front element and despite all the crawling and scrambling through wodos and over rocks etc. that I do I have never had a scratched or otherwise damaged from element. The biggest risk is dropping your lens - and in that situation a filter can only make things worse not better. The only time I use a filter on my long lenses is when I'm on the beach / at sea or otherwise very sandy / dusty / salty environment.

I think the bokeh is just the result of the background being close enough that it has relatively the same magnification as the subject, and is therefore big and blurry as opposed to small and confusing. I get a lot of complements about bokeh with shots from my long glass when the subject and background are relatively equal in distance from my lens. People seem to forget that bokeh is as much about the difference in magnification between subject and background as it is about a specific lens being good or bad

steve1307 · 05-17-2013, 12:05 AM

Originally posted by mikem

Here's a mink from this afternoon from the DA* 300mm. Does anyone else have trouble with "nervous" bokeh like this? Perhaps it's my UV filter. It's a nice Hoya Pro but I've never done anyone testing with it.

I think that sort of "nervous" bokeh is normal in those condtions.
There are some bright area from the from the direct sunlight reflecting of what looks like dead leaves laying flat on the ground, and and the green foliage which you can see the underside of is in shadow, so there is quite a contrast.
Also these areas are blurry because they are out of the range of the DOF of course, but they are only just out of range so you can still some of the definition or shapes.
This combined with the contrast in light, I think you could not resonably expect "buttery smooth" bokeh in this situation.

Maybe a CPL could cut some of the reflection off the foliage but at the expense of shutterspeed of course.

I get bokeh like that with birds which are amongst "twiggy" woodlands with bright sky background.
I also notice that the bokeh in the foreground of the subject is often "nicer" than that behind the subject. i have no idea why.

Anyway, nice shot of the Mink, you got his attention.

RockvilleBob · 05-17-2013, 04:51 AM

Got this shot of a robin feeding what I think is a baby snake to her two chicks. It was very dark - ISO 12800 at about 100th second K-5 with SMC 500 + Pentax 1.7 adapter.

I will try again today with the 150-500 Sigma - getting closer and using max aperture.

Might even try out the better Beamer - probably wont get a snake for dinner shot

Attached Images

**dadipentak** · 05-17-2013, 05:01 AM

Originally posted by RockvilleBob

a robin feeding what I think is a baby snake to her two chicks

Hmm, that's certainly what it looks like. Presumably, one chick got lucky.

**Weevil** · 05-17-2013, 07:43 AM

OK, now a pic made with Pentax gear + Sigma lens
(Pentax K-5 + Sigma 120-400mm F/4.5-5.6 APO HSM OS telephoto)

From last summer...

EXIF: F10 1/100 ISO100 250mm

(more to come ! Finally got my Flickr account set now...

)

**Weevil** · 05-17-2013, 08:13 AM

And now a recent one (last week-end)
Baby Great Horned Owls on their nest...
(pretty far, about 25 yds, + overcast day)

Taken With a K20D + F* 300mm F/4.5 + AFA 1.7x

EXIF: 1/200 ƒ/8 ISO 800 (300 mm x 1.7x)

Frogfish · 05-17-2013, 08:18 AM

Two excellent shots Weevil .. love them both.

normhead · 05-17-2013, 08:49 AM

From a few minutes ago, there are lots of trees close to our house, I thought I'd sit out on the porch in the black flies and see if I could get some shots from the trees. I learned a lot. 800 ISO is essential, the 2 second delay on the timer is essential as is the tripod. The 1.7 with the A-400 gives me almost 700mm. A little shake goes a long way on this setup.

The first keeper with this setup. Uncropped.

mikem · 05-17-2013, 08:56 AM

I think you may be right about it being depend on conditions and having lots of stuff just behind the subject. Here's another shot from yesterday that's creamy smooth with lots of space behind the swallow.

normhead · 05-17-2013, 10:19 AM

Moving right along...another 1.7 + a-400 = 680mm shot...
White throated sparrow

**Canada_Rockies** · 05-17-2013, 10:52 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Moving right along...another 1.7 + a-400 = 680mm shot...
White throated sparrow

Great work with that combination. I'm still trying to get my M 400 to work well with the 1.7x. I think it can be done, but I've not figured it out yet. Your EXIF shows f/11 - is that the lens setting, or does the 1.7X correct it?

05-16-2013, 10:44 PM - 1 Like	#7878
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Very nice shot Mike. I don't remember having a bokeh like that from my DA300 but virtually any lens can exhibit nervous bokeh if the conditions for it are just perfect. That said maybe the filter is having an affect. I never use filters - even the best are putting extra glass between the subject and sensor. Your hood is more than enough to protect your front element and despite all the crawling and scrambling through woods and over rocks etc. that I do I have never had a scratched or otherwise damaged front element. The biggest risk is dropping your lens - and in that situation a filter can only make things worse not better. The only time I use a filter on my long lenses is when I'm on the beach / at sea or otherwise very sandy / dusty / salty environment. Last edited by Frogfish; 05-17-2013 at 03:19 AM.*

05-17-2013, 07:43 AM	#7884
Weevil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Near Montréal, Québec Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,445	Green Heron OK, now a pic made with Pentax gear + Sigma lens (Pentax K-5 + Sigma 120-400mm F/4.5-5.6 APO HSM OS telephoto) From last summer... EXIF: F10 1/100 ISO100 250mm (more to come ! Finally got my Flickr account set now... )

05-17-2013, 08:49 AM	#7887
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	From a few minutes ago, there are lots of trees close to our house, I thought I'd sit out on the porch in the black flies and see if I could get some shots from the trees. I learned a lot. 800 ISO is essential, the 2 second delay on the timer is essential as is the tripod. The 1.7 with the A-400 gives me almost 700mm. A little shake goes a long way on this setup. The first keeper with this setup. Uncropped. Last edited by normhead; 05-17-2013 at 09:16 AM.

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05-16-2013, 08:37 PM	#7876
Greyser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,150	Originally posted by dadipentak Red-Shouldered Hawk? It looks more like a Cooper's to me: longer gray tail and dark eyes (sometimes eyes are even very reddish).

05-16-2013, 09:41 PM	#7877
mikem Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 101	Here's a mink from this afternoon from the DA* 300mm. Does anyone else have trouble with "nervous" bokeh like this? Perhaps it's my UV filter. It's a nice Hoya Pro but I've never done anyone testing with it.

05-16-2013, 11:12 PM	#7879
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by dadipentak Red-Shouldered Hawk? Originally posted by Greyser It looks more like a Cooper's to me: longer gray tail and dark eyes (sometimes eyes are even very reddish). I think dadipentak has it right. Likely an immature red shouldered hawk, the coopers simply do not exhibit the red on the wing that is present here.

05-16-2013, 11:15 PM	#7880
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by Frogfish Very nice shot Mike. I don't remember having a bokeh like that from my DA*300 but virtually any lens can exhibit nervous bokeh if the conditions for it are just perfect. That said maybe the filter is having an affect. I never use filters - even the best are putting extra glass between the subject and sensor. Your hood is more than enough to protect your front element and despite all the crawling and scrambling through wodos and over rocks etc. that I do I have never had a scratched or otherwise damaged from element. The biggest risk is dropping your lens - and in that situation a filter can only make things worse not better. The only time I use a filter on my long lenses is when I'm on the beach / at sea or otherwise very sandy / dusty / salty environment. I think the bokeh is just the result of the background being close enough that it has relatively the same magnification as the subject, and is therefore big and blurry as opposed to small and confusing. I get a lot of complements about bokeh with shots from my long glass when the subject and background are relatively equal in distance from my lens. People seem to forget that bokeh is as much about the difference in magnification between subject and background as it is about a specific lens being good or bad

05-17-2013, 12:05 AM	#7881
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	Originally posted by mikem Here's a mink from this afternoon from the DA* 300mm. Does anyone else have trouble with "nervous" bokeh like this? Perhaps it's my UV filter. It's a nice Hoya Pro but I've never done anyone testing with it. I think that sort of "nervous" bokeh is normal in those condtions. There are some bright area from the from the direct sunlight reflecting of what looks like dead leaves laying flat on the ground, and and the green foliage which you can see the underside of is in shadow, so there is quite a contrast. Also these areas are blurry because they are out of the range of the DOF of course, but they are only just out of range so you can still some of the definition or shapes. This combined with the contrast in light, I think you could not resonably expect "buttery smooth" bokeh in this situation. Maybe a CPL could cut some of the reflection off the foliage but at the expense of shutterspeed of course. I get bokeh like that with birds which are amongst "twiggy" woodlands with bright sky background. I also notice that the bokeh in the foreground of the subject is often "nicer" than that behind the subject. i have no idea why. Anyway, nice shot of the Mink, you got his attention.

05-17-2013, 04:51 AM	#7882
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	Got this shot of a robin feeding what I think is a baby snake to her two chicks. It was very dark - ISO 12800 at about 100th second K-5 with SMC 500 + Pentax 1.7 adapter. I will try again today with the 150-500 Sigma - getting closer and using max aperture. Might even try out the better Beamer - probably wont get a snake for dinner shot Attached Images

05-17-2013, 05:01 AM	#7883
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by RockvilleBob a robin feeding what I think is a baby snake to her two chicks Hmm, that's certainly what it looks like. Presumably, one chick got lucky.

05-17-2013, 08:13 AM	#7885
Weevil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Near Montréal, Québec Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,445	And now a recent one (last week-end) Baby Great Horned Owls on their nest... (pretty far, about 25 yds, + overcast day) Taken With a K20D + F* 300mm F/4.5 + AFA 1.7x EXIF: 1/200 ƒ/8 ISO 800 (300 mm x 1.7x)

05-17-2013, 08:18 AM	#7886
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Two excellent shots Weevil .. love them both.

05-17-2013, 08:56 AM	#7888
mikem Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 101	I think you may be right about it being depend on conditions and having lots of stuff just behind the subject. Here's another shot from yesterday that's creamy smooth with lots of space behind the swallow.

05-17-2013, 10:19 AM	#7889
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Moving right along...another 1.7 + a-400 = 680mm shot... White throated sparrow

05-17-2013, 10:52 AM	#7890
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by normhead Moving right along...another 1.7 + a-400 = 680mm shot... White throated sparrow Great work with that combination. I'm still trying to get my M 400 to work well with the 1.7x. I think it can be done, but I've not figured it out yet. Your EXIF shows f/11 - is that the lens setting, or does the 1.7X correct it?