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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-14-2022, 02:08 PM
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I imagine no-one wants to follow that masterpiece, but someone has to!
Trespassers in the bokeh are often the last to move. Nikkor 600mm F/5.6, Leitax conversion with K3III.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-28-2022, 11:39 AM
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My thanks again to all the the forum members who offered advice. After a couple of prototypes, I have found a very effective way to balance the Nikkor.
The main components are the Sunwayfoto DPG-210R Arca rail, as recommended by WPRESTO, and a Vanguard QS-61 Arca plate to mount the lens onto a Vanguard Alta PH-114V video head. I have the head mounted on a Vanguard Alta Pro 253CT carbon tripod.
It may appear that I am passing up one Arca connection in favour of another, but the Vanguard video head has a fixed section that doesn't accommodate the rail - the maker's own plate works far better. The QS-61 has both a slotted and a tapped connection, rather than a video pin, which permits the two to be bolted together in a one-up-one-down configuration using two long 1/4" screws.
The Nikkor's own tripod mount is very deep. A third long bolt is used here and grips far better than the stock 1/4" fixing. There is no video pin socket in the tripod foot so the backstop is essential.
In testing, the stock 1/4" screws worked loose too easily. These long versions have far more purchase. I did think of using threadlock, but it has not proved necessary.
My Nikkor came in a metal trunk. Quite fortuitously, I also found that the Nikkor fits into the dedicated case for the DA560. I put a beanbag in for extra padding and place the hood extension (HE-4) over the mount cap. I have not tried it, but I reckon the DA560 cap would fit as well - the lens diameters are virtually identical.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-17-2022, 03:44 PM
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Nikkor 600mm 1:5.6, Leitax conversion. Single image capture @ F/8.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-14-2022, 04:13 AM
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From the same multi-kite site as yesterday. DA* 300 + HD TC
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-13-2022, 01:46 PM
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Thank you! The bird did help by sitting very, very still.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-13-2022, 12:22 PM
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Through the keyhole shot, looking for the gap between the twigs that were screening me to get a clear shot of the roost. Locating the bird was easy - there are over 30 of them in this one site, due to an overgenerous sheep farm right next door to a forest managed on a 15-year cycle.
Nikkor 600mm AI-S, Leitax conversion, MF hand held at over 70m range. ISO 640 (set to take advantage of the KP's accelerator - though some say it comes in at ISO 800).
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-02-2022, 02:36 PM
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Hehe....there is probably a Nobel Prize in it for me if I can sharpen water....
But yes, sharpening is spreading in the community. Photoshop's auto button adds 40% as a default, Windows Photos' magic wand sharpens, the rear LCD even sharpens the instant review to draw you in.....
Now what would happen if I were to be tempted by Enhance Details or the new Super Resolution function in Photoshop?
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-02-2022, 10:52 AM
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I don't think the artifacts are from Photoshop's Sharpen - I rarely use it. Is it moire?
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-02-2022, 10:26 AM
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Nikkor AI-S 600mm, Leitax conversion. Heavy crop from ca. 90m. Focus is critical with such a thin DOF. If anything, the MF is too smooth - I'd like a bit more resistance.
This was just supported on a bean bag - next time I'm going to use Live View, focus peaking, a cable release and a tripod.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-23-2021, 07:48 AM
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The PF-CA35 is a rare beast without a very strong reputation. It's a teleconverter, in effect. I haven't seen one advertised for sale in years.
You can get good results with stepping rings and a pancake lens attached directly to the eyepiece. Keep the power low and trust the high ISO performance of your sensor.
You will also need to support the camera as stepping rings are a weak link. I have this: Long-Zoom Lens Support Holder + Camera Quick Release Plate for Tripod Mount Ring | eBay |
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-22-2021, 02:46 AM
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I stumbled on this by accident, in a way. I had become used to including the Photoshop SR step in the processing of digiscoped images, then mechanically followed the same sequence.
Eyepiece projection relays no information of the 'scope in front of the lens. The camera applies SR according to the lens attached to it, in my case an HD 40 Ltd.
The PS SR filter seems to be able to work out what it needs to do to compensate for the 'scope. I sometimes smooth the result with 2 pixels worth of Dust and Scratches, rather than pushing my luck with sharpening.
This image was taken at at 27x (PF65-EDII and XW 14mm).
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-21-2021, 12:36 PM
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I applied the SR before any sharpening. All sorts of artefacts appear if you try it the other way round.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-21-2021, 11:38 AM
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Side by side, with the SR version on the right. Then just the version without the SR filter applied.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-21-2021, 05:50 AM
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The contribution of Photoshop's Shake Reduction filter to this image is far more than I thought it would be. It was quite a windy day and the tree was moving a fair bit. Perhaps it was moving in a predictable way, as far as Photoshop's blur trace was concerned. Either way, this is about as sharp an image as I have ever obtained from the KP/DA300/HD TC.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-15-2021, 10:06 AM
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The balancing of the very, very front heavy Nikkor 600/5.6 AI-S is nearly done. Thanks to everyone for their various suggestions. I'll post a picture of the rig soon - I need two long bolts for security but only have one.
This lens is a serious contender in the bang for buck stakes. Here is a heavy crop from 15m range, wide open.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-27-2021, 12:08 PM
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Actually, the Amazon Global Store will supply the Sunwayfoto plate for £27, shipped from the US. The price is in line with the usual £/$ switcheroo plus postage.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-26-2021, 12:25 PM
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A kind offer indeed. I'll PM you...
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-26-2021, 04:23 AM
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Thanks for the suggestion! I had a 120mm plate but it was (a) too short and (b) had already shown the twist and shout you were highlighting.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-25-2021, 12:43 AM
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Any tips on how to balance it?
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-24-2021, 04:39 AM
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There is a 2017 thread on here discussing long lens options for the K1. In it, Walt suggests a Leitax conversion of Nikon's compact 600/5.6. Prices for these are far below the 1:4; I acquired a mint copy in its trunk for $900 plus shipping and taxes.
The conversion is easier than most because this lens uses a "clicker" rather than a ball bearing, but you have to be very careful removing the five original screws not to strip the heads. Fans of Moody tools look away now - hopeless. Fortunately I also have Wera Kraftform.
As Walt described, the converted lens operates as if it were a fixed aperture mirror lens. The good news is that this lens is sharp in the centre from f/5.6. It is a front heavy lens and takes some balancing on a tripod. It can be handheld in good light, for example for a snap shot in a hurry, but I wouldn't recommend that approach unless you have to.
The Photoshop profile for the DA 560 seems to work quite well. Here is my lens target at 12m distance, handheld, cropped.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-23-2021, 03:11 PM
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I was closing the distance between myself and the intended subject when this beauty took off from dead ground. DA*300 and KP handheld.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-27-2020, 01:40 PM
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Bright winter sun and a high perch make fieldcraft very difficult, so this is quite a crop. KP and DA*300.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-06-2020, 02:30 PM
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Very helpful again, thanks.
A quick review of the samples in the gallery suggests that I should probably be using half a stop less of aperture to buy back a bit of shutter speed and dynamic range (from lower ISO).
The sharpness of the lichen suggests that I'm there or thereabouts for focus adjustment and stability (not that I can't get better). Time to be bolder on subject isolation; there are some amazing photos wide open.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-06-2020, 02:16 AM
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Wow, do I have a lot to learn! I'll try and repeat your process step by step. Thanks Luftfluss, what an advert for the forum you are!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-05-2020, 12:29 PM
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It was only ISO640 to get 1/800th @ f/6.3, then a x2 crop, but I don't like the OOF areas much at all. Photoshop has more filters than I know how to use - perhaps one of the Blur options would have improved the result?
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