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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-31-2016, 10:57 AM
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There are many SDM lenses that I would like to own but I can't see how I would explain it's failure to my wife. I now have 3 AF Sigma lenses all FF. An FA 50 and all the rest are MF lenses. Of my 4 wide angle focal length only one needs to be focused, the others have very short focusing ranges before infinity. All my longer stuff is fast enough for focus confirmation to help. Yes a lot of it is Legacy lenses but the images are great so why not use them?
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-29-2016, 01:55 PM
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I would have to pay someone to convert FD mount lenses since my old hands are not very steady any more. I am trading my entire Canon FD collection including a T90 with lots of it's accessories to a guy that doesn't like his K-3. Quite a lot of lenses and accessories plus 2 Adaptall-2 lenses for his Nikon gear. I did love shooting with the T-90.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-29-2016, 01:34 PM
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Marcus I like that Canon Fd 400mm. It is actually rather compact and quick at 4.5. The images look really good! I don't think there is a mount made for Pentax for FD lenses.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-18-2016, 12:46 PM
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No Bet! I don't want his Canon gear. Pentax is easier to use as well as more lenses available for less money except no 400 f/2.8. My big old 400 f/5 gives me good pictures even in grey overcast. That 400 f/2.8 weighs too much to be handheld by this senior citizen so I would gain nothing. But I am confident I would have won the bet!!!!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-17-2016, 04:03 PM
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I recently sold my Tokina 800 mm f/8, a lens that comes in 2 sections, plus the heavy duty tripod and the Velbon "magic arm" with modifications I did to it to enable freedom of motion while getting the mirror slap stabilization down the tube of the 30 inch long lens to a Canon full frame user. He was impressed with my photos using the lens with one film SLR and 2 Pentax DSLRs. During the trip to the same location for him to try out the lens he told me he wasn't getting good results from his Canon 200 mm f/1.8(!!), 300 mm f/2.8, 400 mm f/2.8,100-400 mm f/4. He then said he was mostly using a P&S(?!?!!) with a 20X zoom for good shots at long ranges plus a Nikon spotting scope with a 40X eyepiece. He took his 1DS MK 3 and the 5D MK 2 with us and all the lenses along with 3 tripods(all Carbon fiber) and 4 gimbals! I spent an hour or so demonstrating the 800. It takes about 30 minutes to get it setup, leveled, lens assembled and onto my gimbal, camera body and then attach the stailizing arm to the body. I used my K-5 and not my K-10-D which was one that gave me great images. I set it to f16 after focusing at f8 with focus confirmation. The shots were fair but not up to my best because I had never used a preset lens on the K-5 in "M" Made lots of mistakes. during all that time he never set up a camera! He did set up his spotting scope. I have never used one and could not spot the items I was shooting through it due to extremely narrow angle of view. He thought my shots were great. After several hours of shooting we packed up and went for lunch. When we arrived back at his home I showed the photos all of which were a bit blurry because I was getting focus confirm from trees only 1000 feet away. This was a hot August day with lots of haze over a large lake yet the shots of a marina about 3 miles away were good and the ones of a large condo with balconies 5 miles away were good. I should say snapshot good comparable to a P&S camera. He showed me the shots he had taken with his Canon bodies. All with AF and IS and they were bad. I found out that he didn't understand how to set his cameras at all. I taught him more about his cameras without opening a manual for them than he had known in years of attempted use. He thought the cameras would do it all! He did not know the difference between a MF switch on a lens and a fully manual lens. I found those bodies easy to set up for actual MF. I learned from him that he had been sold this gear from our biggest photo store who push Canon a lot and he attended their classes to learn about the cameras. He had never seen the performance of a Adaptall 70-210 f3.5 19AH lens which is brighter than all of his shorter zooms. I have the Pentax copy of his 28-200 f4-5.6 zoom and my images from it look better. I was not critical of his framing and camera control but did attempt to help him learn that the operator must help the DSLR do it's job. He has about $40,000 invested in his 6 tripods 5 gimbals and 20 or so lenses. He said he didn't care if the 800 ever worked for him after he had paid me. It was cheap and he could resell it or junk it. He wasn't sure good photos could be taken with "old junk lenses". By that time he had learned about all he could and would get angry when I suggested practice with his cameras. I am on my tablet without access to shots taken with my 800 but I will post some!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-14-2016, 09:30 AM
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I found one of these lenses and am thinking about buying. is anyone on here seen this lens and used it. Does anyone own it?? Opinions would be welcome. My second choice is a Tamron 300mm f 2.8 model 60B that is missing the case and TC's which is not a problem but it has a lot of wear but the price is close to what I might pay. I already have Pelican cases for all my lenses and have those TC's but the Tokina is priced less. And my budget is in my thoughts. So i would appreciate feedback from here.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-06-2016, 06:08 AM
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When that happens I just Have to take the the Bald Eagle's picture. However here we have the opportunistic eagles instead of the real hunting raptors. I caught one over the water tower a few days ago about a mile and a half away. Not a good shot for I was experimenting with my 500 at the time and didn't even know it was in frame.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-01-2016, 04:13 PM
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Took these shots yesterday from my backyard just to test the lens. I am still clumsy with the hyper manual on the K-5 but I managed 2 good shots. First one is of the water tower antennas that is about 1.5 mile from my home. Second one is an eagle I found in one of the water tower shots! I think the eagle was actually farther away from me at first. The eagle came a bit closer but those shots didn't turn out so good. I guess I need a MF focusing screen like the Katseye. 3rd photo I put in is of the eagle. There are all edited and greater than 100% crop.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
08-24-2016, 03:16 PM
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Anybody have a 500mm Pentax K mount they would like to sell??
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-17-2013, 10:04 AM
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Oh My those are great shots of that confrontation between two raptors. And then the shot on the nest is enough to make you roll on the floor LOL. That definitely looks like the expression you described Amy!! Great photography!!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
05-14-2013, 12:49 PM
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A lot of members think the new 560mm prime lens is expensive at around 7 grand. I just opened a new email from Adorama announcing the new Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X lens. This means it has a built in 1.4X teleconverter that can be switched into place. It is only 12 grand and if you want the dedicated case that is another 7 hundred. I believe that is close to double the cost of a very Nice Pentax Prime lens which may have better resolution than a tele converted 400mm at 560mm. You can't by a new car for that, or not many, but I think that is a wee bit high price for what is still a zoom lens. This is the reason I do not wish to go down the Canon path to glory, sigh, I still won't have any bragging rights.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-30-2012, 06:36 PM
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Not sure why you would choose to get rid of the nice performing Vivitar since you are posting this in the 300mm+ group?? I personally like prime focal lengths for super telephoto work for you know what you will get from the lens because the only variables are focusing and aperture. My Viv 500mm f6.3 does well when the aperture is wider open but I am always surprised at just how bright the photos are at what should be a small aperture. My personal experience with lenses that zoom 50-500mm or 135-600 give poorer results than quality prime lenses. I am very happy with my 300, 400, 500, 800 set up. Well the 800 is a bit dark and difficult to use but not the others. This Is just my personal choice and opinion about the equipment that I own and have owned and not a technical review.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-21-2012, 11:10 AM
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WOW! It looks like you achieved good DOF with that first shot when using such a long lens. Congrats are due for a well done picture of a fast moving object with a relatively slow lens. I just love the shots on this thread! Plus I need to post some of mine from last Sept. with my 800mm. But time is a precious commodity right now in my life. Great job!!!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-07-2012, 03:25 PM
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I think you would be a photographer that doesn't like the typical teleconverter. I have a front mount, I think 72mm thread, that I used to use in front of a 70 to 260 zoom that didn't interfere with IQ. Mostly because it is in front of the lens plus it only gives a 1.4X magnification or some get as low as 1.2X. The quality screw on TC's are hard to find but it would be a 100 to 150 dollar addition that is quick to change unlike a rear TC plus it may give you just the additional reach you are wishing for with the DA*300. Just a suggestion plus if you don't like it you didn't spend 5,000 on it. The quality ones are usually sold as auxiliary lenses for prosumer or pro video cameras. Good luck.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-08-2012, 02:05 PM
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I just love great shots of birds of prey such as hawks and also eagles. I try to get great shots of bald eagles here but they are elusive. Some place I have some Osprey shots I am going to have to post.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-04-2012, 01:15 PM
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Lowell, I too have friends that hunt and tried to express to them that they needed to use different tools. When one of them came back to work after deer opener here in MN he was bruised with some cuts so we all asked what happened, did the deer fight back?? He had destroyed his Chevy Blazer by hitting the biggest buck any of the 4 of them had ever seen at 65mph. While they were sitting there on the road a DNR guy drove up whom they asked if they could keep it. He said sure but it has to leave the scene with their vehicle which wasn't going anywhere under it's power and they really wanted that big rack of antlers. So they called a big tow truck that helped them hoist up the deer into the Blazer and hauled it all back. It was the only deer any of them saw that year and for 2 of them the only deer they bagged in 3 seasons. Hunt with a 4X4? Sounds very feasible to me, as long as you don't value the 4X4.
Alan
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-02-2012, 01:54 PM
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I was reading the Wikipedia article on "F-number" and found farther down in it an explanation of "T-number" which is a calculation of the actual light transmission of a given lens. Mostly used in cinematography and not seen on still camera lenses it is still educational on what happens in a long lens with many elements and of course a long barrel. Also what happens to the light coming through the complexity of a zoom lens that has a wide focal range. Take a look at the article for it may inform some about what could be happening within the 600mm lens as opposed to the 300mm lens. Enjoy!
Alan W.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-01-2012, 06:11 PM
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I agree with this for I went for something like it. However I wanted to be able to use my 800mm as an astrophotography scope using a 2X or 1.4X so I first found a Velbon arm which clamps on the tripod center column cover then added to it till I was close to the height I require(being tall) and from that I am able to crank up the tripod to all 82 inches and shoot the sky. Now my problem is getting all that magnification onto the planet, star etc. for the angle of view is so narrow that I have trouble finding them. I know a telescope would do it better and I will get mine repaired--- one of these days.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-01-2012, 12:04 PM
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My but I like that 600mm!! It looks like it has the camera body stabilization system like I have for my 800mm. The core of my unit is a Velbon arm that releases or tightens with one wheel. How it managed to release 4 pivots and 2 universal joints is not something I have tried to understand. Does the trigger on the lens support work with you camera body?? Are you using a digital body?? Great shot and keep up the good results.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-26-2012, 12:45 PM
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kenogh. That photo is simply breath taking! Gorgeous bird captured beautifully!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-21-2011, 08:12 PM
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Has anyone heard an opinion or seen sample photos taken with any of these models. I have seen them listed on ebay 500mm f5, 800mm f5 and 1000mm f6.3. Also seen them called a Birns & Sawyer. Most are pricey but for one 500/5 at $195 BIN. I thought this forum would be a good forum to ask for opinions.
Alan.
P.S. An internet search turned up a reference to TEWE of Berlin as manufacturer and Birns & Sawyer were the retailer to the movie industry. Still no info on resolution.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-28-2011, 05:55 PM
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Well I became all excited a little bit ago for I had the First Robin Sighting of this spring. Landed on a tree behind our dining room windows for about 3 minutes and naturally saw me coming with the K-x and the Tak 300mm. Darn:mad: Then I head back to the living room to put away the camera and lo and behold over a dozen deer across the street. They were spooked and ran after I opened the front door. Soon, of soon the ice will be gone,I do hope, and then I will photograph wildlife(sorta).
Alan W.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-24-2011, 04:21 PM
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Yes, I agree and I thought I had explained I was thinking of Maximum focal length from zoom lenses. If I was not clear in explaining My mistake I hope this will help members understand that I made a mistake in what I wrote in that post.
Alan W.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-24-2011, 03:56 PM
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No I don't think so. I believe the Dodo is a much fatter bird. That is one reason they died out so fast once humans discovered how to use a gun and found the poor things. However I ask if they were so dumb, as accounts at the time said, then why hadn't some other enterprising predator come along and killed them off or were they comparing their intelligence to the hunters????
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-23-2011, 04:43 PM
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Yeah, you are probably right about prime lenses. I have seen MFD used when referring to a zoom lens at it's maximum focal distance but it would be more correct to refer to "MFL" as maximum focal length such as 300 on a 70 to 300 zoom lens. Then if I wish to get more confusing there is the old crop factor which so many lens companies used to refer to a 300mm actual focal length lens as a "450mm maximum" which is incorrect. It is only a crop of the frame taken at 300mm. If in PP you crop more and get a resulting enlargement I feel it is a totally different effect than the crop factor imposed by the sensor size. Oh well, I will quit rambling. Once again good luck with you neat new to you 300mm lens. I really like mine. I find it is one that I can use a 1.4X tele converter behind with success.
Alan W.
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