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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 8:15 am Post subject: Vivitar Series 1 135/2.3 |
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SonicScot wrote:
My usual testing ground, Dunrobin Castle falconry display.
Using a Canon 7D.
Harris Hawk, Gyr Falcon, Saker Falcon, Bengal Eagle Owl and Steppe Eagle.
All shot under f4.
I've tried many different lenses for this kind of shooting, this one is my favourite.
_________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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WNG555
Joined: 18 Dec 2014 Posts: 784 Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 8:39 am Post subject: |
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WNG555 wrote:
Outstanding photos! I've not managed to produce such sharp focused and detailed images from my copy of this lens.
Mine is the first version without the VMC. I've shelved it in favor of other lenses.
Of course, skill and experience plays a big factor. Judging from the photos, you're light years ahead of me. _________________ "The eyes are useless when the mind is blind."
Sony ILCE-6000, SELP1650, SEL1855, SEL55210, SEL5018. Sigma 19/30/60mm f2.8 EX DN Art.
Rokinon 8mm f3.5 Fish-Eye, 14mm f2.8 IF ED UMC. Samyang 12mm f2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-Eye.
And a bunch of Manual-Focus Lenses
My Flickr |
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piggsy
Joined: 04 May 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Vivitar Series 1 135/2.3 |
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piggsy wrote:
SonicScot wrote: |
I've tried many different lenses for this kind of shooting, this one is my favourite. |
Damn dude, those are fantastic.
What have you used for this kind of shooting before and what's the best about the 2.3? I am just about at the point where I can get a decent shot of a bird if it's on the ground (not only that - I can even consistently remember which way to turn to focus the lens!). How do you get good at this? _________________ https://www.flickr.com/photos/piggsyface/
You can't fax glitter. |
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DigiChromeEd
Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3460 Location: Northern Ireland
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 8:51 am Post subject: Re: Vivitar Series 1 135/2.3 |
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DigiChromeEd wrote:
piggsy wrote: |
How do you get good at this? |
Practice, practice and more practice. _________________ "I've got a Nikon camera, I like to take a photograph" - Paul Simon |
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piggsy
Joined: 04 May 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 9:08 am Post subject: Re: Vivitar Series 1 135/2.3 |
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piggsy wrote:
DigiChromeEd wrote: |
piggsy wrote: |
How do you get good at this? |
Practice, practice and more practice. |
Haha I am sure that is part of it - but just off the top of my head, say, something that really helped was being told, "just get up earlier in the morning or do it just before the sun fully rises, and get a flash" to do insect macro. I genuinely had no idea that this was how people did the stuff they were doing. Or say, how did my buddy lose so much weight? It turns out, the answer was methamphetamine the whole time. _________________ https://www.flickr.com/photos/piggsyface/
You can't fax glitter. |
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tb_a
Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 3678 Location: Austria
Expire: 2019-08-28
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 10:27 am Post subject: |
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tb_a wrote:
The second picture is my personal favorite because it lacks of the rather nervous bokeh of the others.
However, fantastic shots. All of them. _________________ Thomas Bernardy
Manual focus lenses mainly from Minolta, Pentax, Voigtlaender, Leitz, Topcon and from Russia (too many to be listed here). |
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yusuf
Joined: 19 Jan 2013 Posts: 68 Location: India
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 11:16 am Post subject: |
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yusuf wrote:
very nice pictures _________________ Few Film & Digital pics here https://www.facebook.com/frozenents |
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cooltouch
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 11:38 am Post subject: |
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cooltouch wrote:
I am amazed. I know from personal experience just how damned difficult it is getting in-focus shots of birds on the wing. Back in my film days, I felt good if maybe one or two out of a dozen would be in focus. Very impressive. And the lens is no slouch either. _________________ Michael
My Gear List: http://michaelmcbroom.com/photo/gear.html
My Gallery: http://michaelmcbroom.com/gallery3/index.php/
My Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/11308754@N08/albums
My Music: https://soundcloud.com/michaelmcbroom/albums
My Blog: http://michaelmcbroom.com/blogistan/ |
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tb_a
Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 3678 Location: Austria
Expire: 2019-08-28
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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tb_a wrote:
cooltouch wrote: |
I am amazed. I know from personal experience just how damned difficult it is getting in-focus shots of birds on the wing. Back in my film days, I felt good if maybe one or two out of a dozen would be in focus. Very impressive. And the lens is no slouch either. |
That's one of the beauties of modern digital photography. You can simply make 100 pictures to get the excellent one. At no cost!
In the old times it happened sometimes that the film was finished, before the one and only "great" picture was taken. Unfortunately that happend also to me. _________________ Thomas Bernardy
Manual focus lenses mainly from Minolta, Pentax, Voigtlaender, Leitz, Topcon and from Russia (too many to be listed here). |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 7:58 am Post subject: |
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SonicScot wrote:
WNG555 wrote: |
Outstanding photos! I've not managed to produce such sharp focused and detailed images from my copy of this lens.
Mine is the first version without the VMC. I've shelved it in favor of other lenses.
Of course, skill and experience plays a big factor. Judging from the photos, you're light years ahead of me. |
I didn't know there was a version without VMC.
Thanks for the compliment _________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:06 am Post subject: Re: Vivitar Series 1 135/2.3 |
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SonicScot wrote:
piggsy wrote: |
SonicScot wrote: |
I've tried many different lenses for this kind of shooting, this one is my favourite. |
Damn dude, those are fantastic.
What have you used for this kind of shooting before and what's the best about the 2.3? I am just about at the point where I can get a decent shot of a bird if it's on the ground (not only that - I can even consistently remember which way to turn to focus the lens!). How do you get good at this? |
Thanks
If you look at my Flickr set of falconry you'll see I have tried dozens of different lenses when shooting these birds. Various focal lengths between 85-300mm.
This particular lens can produce some very nice pop, it's also quite sharp and it feels good in my hand. The focus throw works in my favour too, it has just the right amount of movement to follow focus over short distances.
The VMC isn't the best so I've added a longer metal hood than the built-in one, I think it helps a lot. _________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:06 am Post subject: Re: Vivitar Series 1 135/2.3 |
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SonicScot wrote:
DigiChromeEd wrote: |
piggsy wrote: |
How do you get good at this? |
Practice, practice and more practice. |
Absolutely true _________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:13 am Post subject: |
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SonicScot wrote:
tb_a wrote: |
The second picture is my personal favorite because it lacks of the rather nervous bokeh of the others.
However, fantastic shots. All of them. |
I have to agree, the bokeh isn't always the best. That second image was the best that day, the background is much further away than in the other images.
Thank you _________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:14 am Post subject: |
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SonicScot wrote:
@yusuf & cooltouch thank you _________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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BeardsAreBest
Joined: 09 May 2014 Posts: 286 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:16 am Post subject: |
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BeardsAreBest wrote:
Just WOW! |
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TrueLoveOne
Joined: 30 Sep 2012 Posts: 1839 Location: Netherlands
Expire: 2013-12-24
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:18 am Post subject: |
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TrueLoveOne wrote:
Really great pictures! I tried shooting flying birds with manual focus many times, no success so far! _________________ My Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chantalrene/
Sony A7, Canon 5D mkII, Minolta 7D + RD3000 and some more.....
Minolta and Konica collector.... slowly selling all the other stuff! |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:34 am Post subject: |
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SonicScot wrote:
For those wondering 'how', experience and lots of practice help a great deal. Having a vague idea which general direction the birds will fly is a bonus too, although no two flights are exactly the same. Muscle memory is important, knowing how far to turn the focus ring as a bird either flies past or flies towards you is invaluable.
Owls are the slowest, followed by hawks, but falcons are speed merchants. If it's a windy day the falcons use this to accelerate, some can reach 90 mph in level flight, much faster if they're stooping (diving straight down). Falcons can reach over 200 mph in a stoop
I shoot birds with both the 7D and 5D Mkll, I usually shoot a short burst of 2-4 shots, there's no point firing off 10 frames if I haven't got the timing right. On this particular day I came home with about 110 images, these were the best but there's another 20 or more in focus. My percentages have improved greatly over the last four years since I first visited the display.
Two days ago Bonsai the Bengal Eagle Owl landed on my hat, then he shit on me
(photos taken by a friend)
_________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 8:36 am Post subject: |
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SonicScot wrote:
TrueLoveOne wrote: |
Really great pictures! I tried shooting flying birds with manual focus many times, no success so far! |
With practice your success rate will rise. I've tried using a Canon 70-200L f2.8 with my 7D and it's ok for owls and hawks, it can't keep up for the falcons though.
Thanks _________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 2697 Location: Scottish Highlands
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 10:14 am Post subject: |
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SonicScot wrote:
This lens is ok for Steppe Eagle portraits too shame I missed focus on the eyes in the first one, but you get the idea.
(the background is a rough stone wall, around 4m away)
_________________ Gary
Currently active gear....
Sony a7
E-M1 Mkll
Rubinar 1000/10 + 2x matched extender
Tamron 500/8 55BB
Sigma 100-300/4
Vivitar Series 1.... 200/3, 70-210/3.5 (V1 by Kiron), 135/2.3, 105/2.5 macro, 90/2.5 macro (Bokina), 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Carl Zeiss.... 180/2.8, 135/3.5, 85/1.4, 35/2.4 Flektagon, 21/2.8 Distagon
Nikon.... 55/3.5 micro, 50/1.2
Elicar 90/2.5 V-HQ Macro
Zhongyi Speedmaster 85/1.2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios.... 58/2 44-3
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Nodal Ninja 4, Neewer leveling tripod base
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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tb_a
Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 3678 Location: Austria
Expire: 2019-08-28
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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tb_a wrote:
SonicScot wrote: |
For those wondering 'how', experience and lots of practice help a great deal. Having a vague idea which general direction the birds will fly is a bonus too, although no two flights are exactly the same. Muscle memory is important, knowing how far to turn the focus ring as a bird either flies past or flies towards you is invaluable. |
Having done a lot of bird shooting in the ancient times of film and MF photography I can only support what you are stating here.
Though I was always considering the end of the film and the associated cost, before I pushed the button.
My preferred birds have been the gulls in the surrounding of my living place due to lack of other birds, except doves.
However, some of the shots have been also successful against all odds.
Maybe I should search my negatives and do a scanning job. Will see.
Nowadays I somehow prefer to do it the easier way: Digital with AF. Tricky enough. _________________ Thomas Bernardy
Manual focus lenses mainly from Minolta, Pentax, Voigtlaender, Leitz, Topcon and from Russia (too many to be listed here). |
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cooltouch
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 4:38 am Post subject: |
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cooltouch wrote:
I used to "bait" seagulls. Or I'd get my wife to do it. We'd lie flat in the sand or grass and she'd toss up bits of food into the air, the gulls would swoop down and pluck it out of the air. It made for some good captures.
Canon F-1, Vivitar S1 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5, Kodachrome 64:
_________________ Michael
My Gear List: http://michaelmcbroom.com/photo/gear.html
My Gallery: http://michaelmcbroom.com/gallery3/index.php/
My Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/11308754@N08/albums
My Music: https://soundcloud.com/michaelmcbroom/albums
My Blog: http://michaelmcbroom.com/blogistan/ |
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