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Recommendations for a decent, cheap 300 or 400mm?
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Given the dull light and f11 - what were your shutter speeds Steve? IME I am continually surprised at how vibration/shake can sneak in!


PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
marcusBMG wrote:
Given the dull light and f11 - what were your shutter speeds Steve? IME I am continually surprised at how vibration/shake can sneak in!


I'm very well aware about that issue. The electronic 1st shutter of the A7II or the fully electronic shutter of the A7RII have solved these problems completely when working indoors (no wind!). And yes, I have been working indoors taking theses shoots. Besides this, the air turbulences were immediately visible in the viewfinder when looking at the enlarged live-view image for focusing!

On very rare occasions the smearings and turbulences are next to nil (also visible in the viewfinder at full magnification). On such days the images taken with the 2.8/400 L or with the T-Noflexar have a spectacular amount of detail. Same is true for indoor images I've been taking e. g. in Italian churches (frescoes 30 meters up on the ceiling). Those lenses combined with the electronic shutter and a stable carbon Tripod (Manfrotto MT 057C3) will provide excellent detail resolution - provided the air is calm and clear.

S


PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 11:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
stevemark wrote:
marcusBMG wrote:
Given the dull light and f11 - what were your shutter speeds Steve? IME I am continually surprised at how vibration/shake can sneak in!


I'm very well aware about that issue. The electronic 1st shutter of the A7II or the fully electronic shutter of the A7RII have solved these problems completely when working indoors (no wind!). And yes, I have been working indoors taking theses shoots. Besides this, the air turbulences were immediately visible in the viewfinder when looking at the enlarged live-view image for focusing!

On very rare occasions the smearings and turbulences are next to nil (also visible in the viewfinder at full magnification). On such days the images taken with the 2.8/400 L or with the T-Noflexar have a spectacular amount of detail. Same is true for indoor images I've been taking e. g. in Italian churches (frescoes 30 meters up on the ceiling). Those lenses combined with the electronic shutter and a stable carbon Tripod (Manfrotto MT 057C3) will provide excellent detail resolution - provided the air is calm and clear.

S


Like 1 Like 1 Indoors massive foundations contribute to stability too. Reminded of lengths some amateur astronomers go to for stability, massive foundations, a fence around the observatory to keep people and pets from walking too close(!), etc..


PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
A vote for the Tokina-built 400mm f6.3 T4 lenses. These are with one Vivitar and one Soligor on a D300. I paid less than $50 for each of them, though that was a while ago.




PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
That DHC 2 Beaver is impressive.


PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 7:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
stevemark wrote:
As promised yesterday, I've been looking at few 300mm lenses, using the 24 MP APS-C Sony A6000:

* Nikkor-H 4.5/300mm
* Nikkor Ai 4.5/300mm ED (non-IF)
* Minolta AF 4.5-5.6/75-300mm (I) "Big Beercan"
* Tamron SP 3.8-5.4/60-300mm
* Vivitar (Tokina) 5.6/300mm

Here are the 100% crops from the center (cropped JPGs directly out of the A6000):

(AS USUAL PLEASE CLICK TWICE ON THE IMAGE TO GET THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION)



It's remarkable how well the Nikkor Ai 4.5/300mm ED (non-IF) performs. When it came to market, it was probably the best 300mm lens for 35mm SLRs available, maybe along with the Canon FD 2.8/300mm Fluorite. On 24MP APS-C it simply is flawless. The Nikkor-H 4.5/300mm is nearly as sharp, but has much more CAs - both lateral and longitudinal. Surprisingly well behaving is the "Big Beercan" Minolta AF 4.5-5.6/75-300mm (I). At currently about CHF (USD/EUR) 30.-- is certainly is quite underrated, especially since the entire barrel is made of metal, and since focusing is super smooth. The well respected Tamron SP 3.8-5.4/60-300mm has a bit more CAs and stronger astigmatism than the Minolta zoom. Finally the Vivitar (Tokina made) 5.6/300mm: Slightly disppointing, especially in the center where I simply couldn't get a decent resolution.

Corner crops will follow.

S


Hi Stevemark, I'm looking at the ED version but ain't easy to find in europe , but I do find easier the AF ED nikkor 300 f4 IF, do you know how would this version work on sony a7 II ,and would I need to buy a different adapter than the Nik AI - Sony ? I understand this version it's an improved ED AI?


PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
kiddo wrote:

Hi Stevemark, I'm looking at the ED version but ain't easy to find in europe , but I do find easier the AF ED nikkor 300 f4 IF, do you know how would this version work on sony a7 II ,and would I need to buy a different adapter than the Nik AI - Sony ? I understand this version it's an improved ED AI?


The Nikkor 4.5/300mm ED (non-IF) is very difficult to find. I've seen it only once during the last ten or fifteen years, and I immediatly bought it. I have no idea about the prformance of the AF ED Nikkor 300 f4 IF, but i assume it to be better than the earlier Nikkor 4.5/300mm ED-IF. Whether it is better than the non-ED version is anoter question.

I have tested current AF lenses such as the Canon EF 5.6/400mm L or the Canon EF 2.8/400mm L II. Their color correction is much better than that of the previous nFD lenses 4.5/400mm and 2.8/400mm L.

Try to find a AF Nikkor 4/300mm, check it out and report your findings!

S


PostPosted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I still haven't found a better cheap 300mm than the good old Tair-3 4.5/300.

It's big and heavy, but performs very well indeed.

My current most often used 300mm lens is a Docter Optics Doctarlux projector lens that I adapted to use on a camera. There are a few excellent 250, 280 and 300mm projector lenses such as the Doctarlux and Doctaron, several ISCOs (also commonly seen with Meridian and Kodak brandings), several Leitz/Leicas and the Golden Navitars. If you can live without an iris, for the very small sums they are available for, they are huge bargains.


PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
My two cents.

I have acquired a Tokina "Tele-Auto" 400mm 6.3 in OM mount which I like very much. I also have a preset Tokina 300mm 5.5 in M42 mount under the Hanimex brand which by its appearance is essentially the same as the 400mm. Also a very nice lens. The later tele-auto version of the Tokina 300mm 5.5 is a different set up (it is shorter and heavier). My results with the (older) preset 300mm are better than with the tele-auto 300mm.

Regards, Christine
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