TAIR-3 300mm - an impressive performance

SXR_Mark · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 506 Location: England

There have been a number of good results posted here with this lens, so I decided to try one myself. Results with DSLRs can vary due to the interaction with the difference sensors, but I am happy to report that I am very impressed with the performance with my Olympus E3.

First, I will post results with my test chart. The chart was 7.8 m from the camera. Below is the full picture. Focus is on the 48 line per inch markings. Live view was used for precise focusing and the lens was securely mounted on a very sturdy tripod. A remote release was used and 5 sec anti-shock enabled. The lenses own hood was fitted. The sun was strong and behind and to the left of the camera, shining on to the target

The 100% crops below are shown alongside the results taken at the same time with my Olympus Zuiko OM 300mm f4.5 lens.

The absence of colour fringing from the TAIR at all apertures is very impressive. Fringing is not really a problem with the Zuiko at f8 and smaller apertures, but I avoid using it at f4.5 and f5.6. It lloks like there should be no such restriction with the TAIR. The TAIR is also as sharp as the Zuiko (at least in the centre). An excellent lens!

SXR_Mark · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 506 Location: England

For some real world tests, I improvised a double hood system to minimise flaring issues, see below. The original hood is fitted on the end of a 72mm Sonia hood that is threaded on both ends and so makes a convenient hood extension.

The pictures below are a sample of the results I obtained on a very sunny day. I used f5.6 throughout and supported the lens with a monopod. Please note that the focusing is not always perfect - my eyesight is not too good and I relied on the AF confirm chip to tell when the focus was correct. These chips are very useful but not always dead accurate. The pictures were taken with my E3 again.

The small crop below shows how little colour fringing there is.

This crop shows green fringing in out of focus edges.

I've applied no post processing to any of these pictures and was amazed at the deep saturation of the colours.

The focus is not quite right on this last one but I do like the shot.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

It's a good lens, especially for the money they go for. Good test, it shows exactly what it's capable of.

fuzzywuzzy · Expire: 2013-11-30

The only negative words I've seen about this lens were about the weight Twisted Evil

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Took a similar seagull picture yesterday with my 300mm Meyer Orestegor, but your seagull has sexier legs.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Does anyone have experience with the Konica 300mm f/4.5?

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

WolverineX · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:52 pm Post subject:

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Thanks for the test, you did an excellent job.

I haven't got a 72mm hood to fit mine, must get one!

However, I find the Tair's coatings excellent and the contrast excellent, even without a hood.

Handheld without a hood, first pic I ever shot with the Tair, I think this speaks for itself as to the sharpness of this lens, no sharpening here, exactly as it came out of my EOS 10D:

I think it also shows the lack of CA of the Tair which I also find very impressive, the other Japanese 300s I have all have lots of CA fringing, the Tair is head and shoulders above them all.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I forgot I also have some shots of Swans taken with my Tair:

One other thing, I've yet to hear of a bad copy of the Tair, everyone seems to love theirs and get great results.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

JohnBee · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 179

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I only paid 35ukp inc shipping for mine and it's a beaten-up one with lots of scratches and all the screws are rusty because it sat in a shed for many years I'm told, but it has clear optics, no scratches, fungus etc.

They turn up on ebay all the time, usually for a bit more than I paid for mine, I think other bidders were put off by it's external condition, but let me tell you, these things were built to last, it feels more like a piece of military hardware than a piece of consumer camera equipment and mine even looks like military surplus in it's roughed-up looks.

It's one of my 3 favourite lenses and I use it all the time, I can live with the weight, it's the only bad point imho.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

This is the non photosniper version, with a built in sliding lens hood. You don't see so many about. The photosniper turns up at the local camera fair, I reckon there was about four on sale a few weeks ago, but I've never seen another one like mine on sale there.

Praktica & Tair. by Mudplugga, on Flickr

martyn_bannister · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 1151

LLoydy, that looks the absolute business!

I do like the focus mechanism on the photosniper version though. I find it so easy to use and accurate too.

JohnBee · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 179

martyn_bannister · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 1151

Lucky! - nice catch - I won't ask how much Rolling Eyes

JohnBee · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 179

SXR_Mark · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 506 Location: England

WolverineX · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:19 pm Post subject:

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Hi Mark

Thanks for that info, I didn't realise I had a non-export version nor did I realise it was actually a S model, not as C!

I don't know what that electrical link does, I have shot film with this cam on my Carena M42 SLR and used the lens as a preset.

Congrats on you new purchase, I really like the focussing wheel, makes focussing a lot faster imho and it makes a really good handhold, that is a part of why I find this lens shootable handheld with a 1/500 shutter speed - easy to hold it steady.

I really like the look of those non sniper versions and that sliding hood is a great idea.

I think the lens is a triplet but I might be wrong. Mine also has the purple coating, looks the same colour as my Jupiter-11A and Helios 44M-4 from the same factory. Whether this purple indicates a single or multi coating I don't know but it is certainly an effective coating.

I really want an original hood for my Tair, if anyone has one for sale anytime, please contact me!

In the meantime, I'll have to find a nice 72mm hood.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

SXR_Mark · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 506 Location: England

Here are some quick pictures of the two TAIR-3's that I have, 3-PhS and 3-S

The front trim ring would seem to be the way the infinity focus position is adjusted. This is why the writing on the trim ring is never positioned in the same way. Screwing it further down will limit how far the optical assembly can move toward the image plane. Its position is adjusted so that infinity focus is achieved with the barrel fully home. The rack drive is then fitted set at the infinity position. Due to play in the rack and pinion, a bit of drive beyond infinity is possible (on both my lenses at least).

3-S has (I assume) electric encoder for aperture position. Probably a simple potentiometer. What camera would this have been used with?

I could turn these into an impressive pair of binoculars. Laughing

Coatings seem to be identical