SMC Pentax 500 f4.5

**luftfluss** · 09-03-2019, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by redpit

It seems that you have mastered the SMC 500/4.5 lens and the manual focus technique! Great samples, very beautiful photos. Congrats!

I don't know about "mastered" - I miss more than I hit - but I'm working on it, and thank you!

redpit · 09-03-2019, 09:41 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

I don't know about "mastered" - I miss more than I hit - but I'm working on it, and thank you!

It couldn’t be different. Even AF lenses occasionally miss focus. For me what is important with long lenses where good focus is essential, is to have all the settings right to make the image you have in mind, regardless of whether you achieved or missed focus. So when you have nailed the MF the image will be great and yours successful images are great. As you say as time goes by and you learn your lens you will get higher percentage of keepers. Very good job!

**luftfluss** · 09-12-2019, 09:15 PM - **4 Likes**

Wide open, cropped about 60%

Lens @ f/8, plus A 1.4x-L converter, cropped by 80%

**fs999** · 09-13-2019, 07:12 AM - **1 Like**

Otis is proud of you

**luftfluss** · 09-21-2019, 07:18 PM - **5 Likes**

+ A 2x-L, lens @ f/8

**monochrome** · 09-21-2019, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

+ A 2x-L, lens @ f/8

Well you certainly nailed that shot. I need to get my act together and post up with mine. (+ 1000/8

)

**K2 to K50** · 09-22-2019, 01:36 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

+ A 2x-L, lens @ f/8

Wow, luftluss, you certainly nailed that moon shot - and with a 2x!! The 2x certainly does not appear to have graded the quality of that shot, nor the Turkey Vulture shot just above it. Very jealous of both that 500mm lens you have, and your ability to use it so well.

**luftfluss** · 09-22-2019, 07:31 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by monochrome

Well you certainly nailed that shot.

My poor old Velbon tripod is simply not sufficient to damp vibrations @ 1000mm... I have better results lowering a window, placing a wadded up old towel on it, and resting the lens on it.

One nice thing, though, is the Infinity mark on the lens really is infinity focus. Makes life easier.

Quote:

I need to get my act together and post up with mine. (+ 1000/8

)

Yes, I do remember you possess the Black Dragon, and I would say it's high time you created a Lens Sample thread for it, but then I consider my own neglect in creating a thread for the K 135-600...

**K2 to K50** · 09-22-2019, 05:38 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

My poor old Velbon tripod is simply not sufficient to damp vibrations @ 1000mm... I have better results lowering a window, placing a wadded up old towel on it, and resting the lens on it.

One nice thing, though, is the Infinity mark on the lens really is infinity focus. Makes life easier.

Ho Ho, luftfluss, that is very high tech. Reminds me of a trick of my own when taking some shots at the other end of the focal spectrum. On my knees, leaning over a flower, to get a macro shot of a ladybird - could not stop swaying in and out of focus. No tripod. Used the top of my backpack. (red shows a correction - and the colour of my face!!!)

Ladybird - PentaxForums.com

**luftfluss** · 10-11-2019, 09:19 PM - **4 Likes**

Another moonshot, + A 2x-L, lens @ f/8

**Kerrowdown** · 10-13-2019, 12:18 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

Another moonshot

Trust me these results show that you are doing well, your getting far better results than I am with my "HM The Queen".

Looks like I gonna need to brush up on my technique.

slartibartfast01 · 10-13-2019, 12:45 AM

Originally posted by K2 to K50

Ho Ho, luftfluss, that is very high tech. Reminds me of a trick of my own when taking some shots at the other end of the focal spectrum. On my knees, leaning over a flower, to get a macro shot of a ladybird - could not stop swaying in and out of focus. No tripod. Used the top of my back.

Ladybird - PentaxForums.com

I was wondering how you used the "top of your back" to stabilise the camera. Now I realise you meant backpack.

**K2 to K50** · 10-13-2019, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by slartibartfast01

I was wondering how you used the "top of your back" to stabilise the camera. Now I realise you meant backpack.

Duh, you got me!! I have now corrected my original post (in red, to show it as a correction!)

redpit · 10-17-2019, 06:57 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

Another moonshot, + A 2x-L, lens @ f/8

Impressive and beautiful results!

Charlie Victor · 10-26-2019, 06:46 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

Wide open, cropped about 60%

Lens @ f/8, plus A 1.4x-L converter, cropped by 80%

Bravo! To me that second vulture shot is 'out of this world' good! Thanks for sharing.
Best.

09-22-2019, 05:38 PM - 1 Like	#39
K2 to K50 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ipswich QLD Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,794	Originally posted by luftfluss My poor old Velbon tripod is simply not sufficient to damp vibrations @ 1000mm... I have better results lowering a window, placing a wadded up old towel on it, and resting the lens on it. One nice thing, though, is the Infinity mark on the lens really is infinity focus. Makes life easier. Ho Ho, luftfluss, that is very high tech. Reminds me of a trick of my own when taking some shots at the other end of the focal spectrum. On my knees, leaning over a flower, to get a macro shot of a ladybird - could not stop swaying in and out of focus. No tripod. Used the top of my backpack. (red shows a correction - and the colour of my face!!!) Ladybird - PentaxForums.com Last edited by K2 to K50; 10-13-2019 at 02:15 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wanted - Acquired: Want to get rid of your Sigma 120-400 150-500 50-500 OS?	jhaji	Sold Items	5	06-05-2018 12:35 PM
Sigma 50-500 vs 150-500 vs 170-500	juanraortiz	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	19	10-30-2009 03:32 PM

09-03-2019, 08:30 AM	#31
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by redpit It seems that you have mastered the SMC 500/4.5 lens and the manual focus technique! Great samples, very beautiful photos. Congrats! I don't know about "mastered" - I miss more than I hit - but I'm working on it, and thank you!

09-03-2019, 09:41 AM - 1 Like	#32
redpit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Greece Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,857	Originally posted by luftfluss I don't know about "mastered" - I miss more than I hit - but I'm working on it, and thank you! It couldn’t be different. Even AF lenses occasionally miss focus. For me what is important with long lenses where good focus is essential, is to have all the settings right to make the image you have in mind, regardless of whether you achieved or missed focus. So when you have nailed the MF the image will be great and yours successful images are great. As you say as time goes by and you learn your lens you will get higher percentage of keepers. Very good job!

09-12-2019, 09:15 PM - 4 Likes	#33
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Wide open, cropped about 60% Lens @ f/8, plus A 1.4x-L converter, cropped by 80%

09-13-2019, 07:12 AM - 1 Like	#34
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,638	Otis is proud of you

09-21-2019, 07:18 PM - 5 Likes	#35
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	+ A 2x-L, lens @ f/8

09-21-2019, 08:00 PM	#36
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by luftfluss + A 2x-L, lens @ f/8 Well you certainly nailed that shot. I need to get my act together and post up with mine. (+ 1000/8 )

09-22-2019, 01:36 AM - 1 Like	#37
K2 to K50 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ipswich QLD Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,794	Originally posted by luftfluss + A 2x-L, lens @ f/8 Wow, luftluss, you certainly nailed that moon shot - and with a 2x!! The 2x certainly does not appear to have graded the quality of that shot, nor the Turkey Vulture shot just above it. Very jealous of both that 500mm lens you have, and your ability to use it so well.

09-22-2019, 07:31 AM - 1 Like	#38
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by monochrome Well you certainly nailed that shot. My poor old Velbon tripod is simply not sufficient to damp vibrations @ 1000mm... I have better results lowering a window, placing a wadded up old towel on it, and resting the lens on it. One nice thing, though, is the Infinity mark on the lens really is infinity focus. Makes life easier. Quote: I need to get my act together and post up with mine. (+ 1000/8 ) Yes, I do remember you possess the Black Dragon, and I would say it's high time you created a Lens Sample thread for it, but then I consider my own neglect in creating a thread for the K 135-600...

10-11-2019, 09:19 PM - 4 Likes	#40
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Another moonshot, + A 2x-L, lens @ f/8

10-13-2019, 12:18 AM - 1 Like	#41
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Originally posted by luftfluss Another moonshot Trust me these results show that you are doing well, your getting far better results than I am with my "HM The Queen". Looks like I gonna need to brush up on my technique.

10-13-2019, 12:45 AM	#42
slartibartfast01 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,931	Originally posted by K2 to K50 Ho Ho, luftfluss, that is very high tech. Reminds me of a trick of my own when taking some shots at the other end of the focal spectrum. On my knees, leaning over a flower, to get a macro shot of a ladybird - could not stop swaying in and out of focus. No tripod. Used the top of my back. Ladybird - PentaxForums.com I was wondering how you used the "top of your back" to stabilise the camera. Now I realise you meant backpack.

10-13-2019, 02:13 AM	#43
K2 to K50 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ipswich QLD Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,794	Originally posted by slartibartfast01 I was wondering how you used the "top of your back" to stabilise the camera. Now I realise you meant backpack. Duh, you got me!! I have now corrected my original post (in red, to show it as a correction!)

10-17-2019, 06:57 AM - 1 Like	#44
redpit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Greece Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,857	Originally posted by luftfluss Another moonshot, + A 2x-L, lens @ f/8 Impressive and beautiful results!

10-26-2019, 06:46 AM - 1 Like	#45
Charlie Victor Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Durban Photos: Albums Posts: 1,227	Originally posted by luftfluss Wide open, cropped about 60% Lens @ f/8, plus A 1.4x-L converter, cropped by 80% Bravo! To me that second vulture shot is 'out of this world' good! Thanks for sharing. Best.