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Manual Focus Lenses Forum

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Helios wrote:
Olivier ... Mirror lenses cannot be stopped down ... No diaphragm ! Very Happy

I discovered that ! Laughing


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Nikkor 300mm ED-IF f4.5, Nikon D300. Taken in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.



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Cat by Cat Tamron SP 500 F8 - handheld



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This is my new dog Zorki. EBC Fujinon 1.4/50mm, Chinon CE-3, Ektar 100 @ 80.



~Marc


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gecko with nikon 50/1,8


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with Nikon D90 and Nikkor 135/2.8 @ f2.8



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WOW !!! Shocked

What a wonderful picture !
Congratulations.

How do you call this bird ?
It's beautiful.


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thanks... and about the name heheh I really don't know, it's description and name was on the other side of the "enclosure", this photo was taken in a local ZOO

I was around 2m away from the bird Smile


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With Nikon D40 and Soligor 80-200/4.5 @ 200/4.5



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With Nikon D80 and Mamiya 135/2.8 @ f2.8



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I just realized that I've had many Nikon DSLRs Smile
D40, D50, D70, D80, D90, D2h, D300s... and started with Canon 300D Laughing


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With Nikon D70 and MIR 35/2 @ f2.8



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When using my dSLR (a Pentax k20d) I have made taking pictures of birds in action (with MF-lenses) a speciallity of mine. Here some samples:

First three pictures taken with the Tair-3 4.5/300 at f4.5. The last one with the MC 3M-5CA 8/500 mirrorlens.

1.


2.


3.


4..


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Snow geese in the Skagit Valley. Soligor T4 400mm f6.3, Nikon D300.





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Great shots Gaeger!


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1 and 2 are awesome, Bogie!


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Thanks Newton! Here are some more (all shot with the Tair-3-PhS 4,5/300 at f4.5)

1. Fighting Nilegeese


2. Nilegoose


3. Woodpigeon


4. Tufted Duck


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Shocked WOW WOW WOW !!!

Wonderful photos !
I find it very hard to be in focus on flying birds with MF lenses.
Here at f4.5 you managed to be right in focus. Congrats.

What is your technique ?
How many shots for one good ? Smile


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Thanks!
Olivier wrote:
........................................
Here at f4.5 you managed to be right in focus....

You'll need the biggest aperture possible because you want high speeds.
Olivier wrote:
What is your technique ?
How many shots for one good ? Smile

The hardest part is trying to predict from which direction and on which distance the bird will pass you. Knowing the behaviour of the species helps a lot. The most easy is to let the bird fly into focus. After some practice I usually need about 3 to 5 shots to get a good one.


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Thank you Bogie.
So, it's like in a race when we set focus on a point where cars will come in, but here it's much more difficult to predict where birds will pass. Right ? Smile


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Olivier wrote:
Thank you Bogie.
So, it's like in a race when we set focus on a point where cars will come in, but here it's much more difficult to predict where birds will pass. Right ? Smile

True, but the bigger the distance, the longer the DOF and thus the margin of sharpness.


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Olivier wrote:
Bogie wrote:
Olivier wrote:
Thank you Bogie.
So, it's like in a race when we set focus on a point where cars will come in, but here it's much more difficult to predict where birds will pass. Right ? Smile

True, but the bigger the distance, the longer the DOF and thus the margin of sharpness.

Thank you for reminding this very important point.
Did you crop some ?
I have to give it a try with the different long guns I have. Wink


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All are 25 to 50% crops.


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Another trip to the Skagit Valley. Soligor T4 400mm f6.3, Nikon D300.




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A shot from January during partial eclipse of sun, many birds were flying low.
Shot with Pentacon 200mm 1:4 @f4 I think, can't remember. No PP.