(Mostly) butterflies with Tair 133/2.8 and Tair 300/4.5

Marek

Despite being undoubtedly sharp and having solid, I would say velvet, bokeh, I'm rather confused about both lenses I have both in the TOP condition. I do believe I did not yet sell them because of being so sexy (133mm) and so weird (300mm) + Photosnapier seems to be a very solid macro-substitution with extension tubes, if used patiently and properly.

If I have to choose one of them so far, I would probably say Tair 300 I took more and better photos with. I intend to get more familiar with them though. Just for being lovely, crazy lovely - and repiared/dusted (Tair 133).

Tair 300/4.5 (aka Fatboy!)

Tair 133/2.8

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

All beautiful , #2 is especially and little girl shoot.

Karhallarn · Joined: 26 May 2009 Posts: 577

Wow! Stunning results! Especially the first two pictures with the Tair 300mm!

eddieitman · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 1247 Location: United Kingdom

These are great, and have that lovely rendering i really like in my russian lenses

SonicScot · Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 10:45 am Post subject:

Velvet bokeh....yeah, I agree with that description.
Great photos. Very Happy

Marek · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 11:06 pm Post subject:

Another Tairovinky Very Happy

All belongs to Tair 300/4.5 + set of extension tubes. Last one is probably a sourcefile as I clearly lost the PP version.

Often in a counter-light but never a strong one (reduced with bushes and scrubs, or under the sun just passing the mountain ridge.) Again, this is a VERY sharp lens (for such an oldie) with VERY low level of aberrations, if any.

On the other hand, Tair 133 is a disappointment so far. Maybe we get close once, as I certainly won't have heart to sell such a cool looking lens in MINT condition Rolling Eyes

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

That nice photos you have here!

Marek · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:55 pm Post subject:

Another three flying darlings with Tair-3 Photosniper. From heaths and rocky steppes of southern Czech Rep.

That Coenonympha glycerion seems to be a limit (at least so far in my hands) for detail with Tair-3 & 3 extension rings.

The fact is results could be slightly better during this trip.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Great photography!!! I really like the Tair-3 shots, especially the one of the girl Smile

Marek · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:50 pm Post subject:

Thank you

It certainly took some time but, in the end, I'm damn satisfied at least with Tair-3 (despite being such a rocket launcher)

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

skida · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:03 pm Post subject:

Wow! Lovely shots with great sharpness, colour and lighting. I wish............

Marek · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:36 pm Post subject:

Tnaks for nice comments. Obviously, my Tair mission continues.

Although #1 is just below average and #2 average, Woodland Ringlet #3 completely fits the standards of modern and expensive macro lens.

Under such circumstances - having very heavy lens without a tripod - I really value every successful photo. Without deeper butterfly behaviour knowledge, it would have been even harder, though.

It's fairly masochistic and I wouldn't recommend to anyone. Still, I still feel an uncertain sick fun coming from such a big challenge.

All shots has been made either in the early morning or in the late evening and under wind-less conditions, indeed.

Marek · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 10:17 pm Post subject:

I recently changed tank-heavy Tair 300 for smaller Tair 133. Photosniper might still have greater IQ, but with worst f and no tripod it does not seem to be that relevant for me. Also, extension tubes obviously does not affect Tair 300 it that much with its telephoto lenghth.

I think I could do better with smaller Tair to the future, as I am still discovering this lovely lens I tended to overlook in my bag so long. And its bokeh is prettier!

Tair 300 rainbow experiments

Tair 133 butterflies

Tair 300 butterflies

Marek · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:28 pm Post subject:

As the time went by, I almost entirely abandoned Tair 300 PhS. Too heavy for my recent butterfly conservation oriented trips.

Fairly interesting how preferences and lens usage changes in short period of time.

That little Fritillary (#3, #4) is very scarce material, btw.

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

Wonderful butterflies and images too. I have read this thread from the beginning and was very surprised at your initial comments, but then saw you come around more to my thinking. Although I like the IQ from my 4/300 Meyer, its size has kept me from using it except with rare instance. The Tair-11 is one of most favorite lenses; certainly among top five from all I have. It has not been my experience that it is soft - I have been very happy with sharpness even at fully open. Bokeh is exceptional. Enjoy your butterflies!!!

Marek · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:40 pm Post subject:

It's a cool turnover for Tair 133.

Tair 133 is quite heavy but also quite small. Tair 300 is very heavy and very big. For butterflies, I see no special profit from its length. I'm still not going to sell the lens though, especially if considering its market price. For shorter walks it's still reasonably OK.

The only lens I rarely use now is Triotar 135 (but Triotar was very unexpensive in my case).

And I barely use my Tairs wide open, especially the small one. Butterflies tend to be too wide and fat for f/2.8 when I use macro rings. Sharpness, aberrations are not a problem even wide open.

Marek · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 5:32 pm Post subject:

Since majority of my Tair photos has been lost, I'm reuploading some of the better ones. To refresh memories a bit, I bought the whole Tair-3 PhS case, slightly worn but from a specialist. Then I bought pretty cheap Tair 133/2.8, many years put off, stiff but "mint+" that got some water drops inside (or perhaps some kind of weird fungus) recently Evil or Very Mad

I would only repeat purchase of Tair 300 recently, if any; both lenses are "too modern". But whereas Tair 300 does a certain creamy bokeh around f/5.6-8 and has sharpness any of my MF lenses are capable of, I wouldn't buy Tair 133 again (although it is such a cool looking, sharp lens).

TAIR 300mm

TAIR 133mm

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

Marek · Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 12:18 am Post subject:

I sold Tair 300mm (as well as Helios 40 85mm) for being heavy ergonomical disaster and only kept sexy 133mm Tair but didn't put my fingers on nearly a year.

Did just so earlier this week and appreciated its fast f, solid ergonomy for a Russian lens and good overall sharpness. Also, its bokeh doesn't necessarily have to be boring wide open:

Float with mouse over the picture to get non-enlargened original version. The butterfly is Southern Festoon.

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